Glossary - Fashion & Textile
Core terms of the fashion and textile industry for developers building AI/RAG applications in this domain.
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Haute Couture
The most exclusive fashion segment, characterised by made-to-measure garments crafted with premium materials and artisanal workmanship. Regulated in France by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.
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Prêt-à-Porter (Ready-to-Wear)
Luxury fashion produced in limited series with high quality standards. Positioned between haute couture and fast fashion in terms of price and quality.
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Fast Fashion
Business model based on rapid production cycles (2–4 weeks from design to shelf), low prices and frequent collection turnover. Associated with significant environmental impacts.
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Slow Fashion
Philosophy opposed to fast fashion: emphasis on quality, sustainability, ethical production and garment longevity. Includes secondhand fashion, upcycling and sustainable brands.
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Collection
A coordinated set of garments and accessories designed for a specific season (Spring/Summer or Autumn/Winter). A collection develops a coherent stylistic theme.
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Sample Range (Campionario)
A set of physical garment or fabric samples presented to buyers to collect orders. The primary B2B sales tool in the fashion industry.
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Garment
A single clothing article (jacket, dress, trousers). A garment is defined by: material, available sizes, colorways (variants), season and price.
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Fabric
A material obtained by weaving or processing natural, synthetic or blended fibres. Characterised by composition, weight (g/m²), width and durability.
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Yarn
A spun and twisted textile fibre, the basis for knit fabric production. Classified by raw material (wool, cotton, polyester), metric count and twist.
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Fibre
The elementary unit of textile production. Can be natural (cotton, wool, silk, linen) or synthetic (polyester, nylon, acrylic, viscose).
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Supply Chain (Filiera Produttiva)
The value chain that transforms raw material into a finished garment: fibre → spinning → weaving/knitting → dyeing/finishing → cut-and-sew → distribution.
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Cut-and-Sew
The assembly process of a garment through cutting, sewing and finishing. Can be industrial (high volume) or artisanal (small runs/tailoring).
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Size
A standardised measurement system to classify garment dimensions. Varies by country and segment (XS/S/M/L/XL, European numbering 36–58, UK/US sizing).
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Grading
The process of scaling sizes from the sample prototype. Each size is derived by applying defined increments to the base measurements.
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Pattern (Cartamodello)
A flat template in paper or digital form defining the shape and measurements of each piece of a garment. The primary technical file for production.
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Design Phase
The first phase of the production cycle: the designer develops concepts, produces sketches, and defines materials and colour palettes for the collection.
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Tech Pack (Scheda Tecnica)
A document compiling all specifications for a garment: measurements, materials, sewing instructions, construction details and care instructions.
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Designer (Stilista)
A creative professional who designs garments and accessories. Can operate as a freelancer, in-house for a brand, or as an independent designer.
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Manufacturer (Produttore)
A company that physically produces garments to brand specifications. Can be internal to the group (vertical integration) or external (contract manufacturer).
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Buyer
A professional who selects and purchases merchandise on behalf of a retailer or distribution chain. Defines orders based on sales forecasts and trends.
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Merchandiser
A figure who plans assortments, manages stock levels and coordinates sell-through. Operates at the intersection of production and retail.
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Season
The temporal reference cycle for collections: Spring/Summer (SS, deliveries January–February) and Autumn/Winter (AW, deliveries July–August). Some companies also produce Resort and Pre-Fall collections.
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Lead Time
The time between order confirmation and delivery of the garment to the customer. Ranges from 2 weeks (fast fashion) to 6–9 months (artisanal luxury).
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MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
The minimum quantity that can be ordered per article or colour variant. Defined by the manufacturer based on fixed production costs.
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SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
A unique alphanumeric code identifying a specific product variant (style + colour + size). The basis for inventory management.
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PLM (Product Lifecycle Management)
Software to manage the product lifecycle from design to end of production. Centralises tech packs, materials, samples and approvals.
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Fashion ERP
An integrated management system specialised for the fashion industry, covering orders, production, logistics, sales and finance.
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Sell-Through
The percentage of product sold relative to the quantity bought in a given period. A key performance indicator for merchandising.
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Markdown
A price reduction applied to unsold garments to stimulate clearance of end-of-season stock.
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Deadstock
Merchandise remaining unsold at end of season. Can be destined for outlets, sales, donations or recycling.
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Outlet
A retail point selling previous-season garments at reduced prices. A channel separate from the regular retail network.
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Multichannel Distribution
A strategy combining sales in physical stores, own e-commerce, marketplaces (Zalando, ASOS) and wholesale. Requires integrated stock management.
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Drop Shipping
A model where the retailer sells without physically holding stock. The supplier ships directly to the end customer.
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Capsule Collection
A limited line of garments, often in collaboration with an external designer or testimonial. Generates media buzz and purchase urgency.
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Brand Licence
A contractual agreement through which the brand owner authorises a third party to produce or sell products under the brand, in exchange for royalties.
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Royalty
A periodic fee (usually a percentage of revenue) paid by the licensee to the brand owner.
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Co-branding
A collaboration between two brands to produce a joint line. Both brands appear on the garment and in communication.
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Textile Sustainability
A set of practices aimed at reducing the environmental and social impact of the industry: recycled/organic materials, water and chemical reduction, short supply chain, fair trade.
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Textile Certifications
International standards attesting quality or sustainability: GOTS (organic), Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (absence of harmful substances), Bluesign (responsible production), Fair Trade.
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GOTS
Global Organic Textile Standard. Certifies that natural fibres are organically grown and that the entire supply chain meets environmental and social standards.
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Oeko-Tex Standard 100
A certification attesting the absence of harmful substances in the finished textile product. Issued by Hohenstein Group and TESTEX.
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Upcycling
Transformation of waste materials or discarded garments into new products of higher value, without degradation of quality.
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Circular Economy in Fashion
An economic model that keeps textile materials in use as long as possible through reuse, repair, resale and recycling.
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NFC/RFID in Fashion
Wireless identification technologies applied to garments for traceability, anti-counterfeiting authentication and in-store customer experience.
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Digital Twin
A digital replica of a physical garment, used for simulations, virtual customisation and reduction of physical samples.
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3D Sampling
Creation of virtual 3D samples (software such as CLO3D, Browzwear, Optitex) to reduce development costs and timelines.
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Plain Fabric (Tinta Unita)
A fabric of a single colour. Simplifies production planning compared to printed or patterned fabrics.
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Pattern Fabric (Fantasia)
A fabric with a decorative motif (stripes, checks, floral, ethnic). Requires greater attention to positioning during cutting.
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Cut & Sew
The operational phases of garment making: cutting follows patterns; sewing assembles the pieces. Both require specific machinery.
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Finishing
Post-weaving treatments that modify the appearance or properties of the fabric: dyeing, printing, mercerisation, waterproofing, stone-wash.
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Fabric Weight (Grammatura)
Fabric weight expressed in grams per square metre (g/m²). Indicates density and thickness: < 100 g/m² (summer), 150–300 g/m² (medium), > 300 g/m² (heavy/winter).