Basic Concepts

Question 1

Apparel:

Answer 1

Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, not necessarily fashionable. (In the USA, and particularly in the fashion business, the term apparel and not clothing, is mostly used.)

Question 2

Apparel industry:

Answer 2

The manufacturers, jobbers, and contractors engaged in the manufacture of clothing. Terms also used are: the garment trade, the needle trades, the cutting-up trades, and the rag business.

Question 3

Atelier:

Answer 3

The French word for a designer’s workshop. The term flou is used for soft dressmaking and tailleur for suits and coats.

Question 4

Boutique:

Answer 4

A small shop or area in a retail store with specialised or unusual clothing and atmosphere.

Question 5

Classic:

Answer 5

A fashion that is long lasting. A classic style or design will be accepted as an example of good taste for a long time. It is characterised by a simplicity of design, and never has an exaggerated shape and style. Examples of classics are the cardigan sweater, shirtwaist dresses, court shoes and men’s button-down shirts.

Question 6

Collection:

Answer 6

A designer’s or manufacturer’s group of garments for a specific season. Moderately or lower-priced collections are called lines.

Question 7

Couture:

Answer 7

The French word for sewing, it is sometimes applied to fashion businesses that make clothes to order. By right it can only be used by those dressmakers or seamstresses that use couture techniques. (See also haute couture.)

Question 8

Couturier:

Answer 8

Male French dress designer Ð for example Yves St. Laurant, Marc Bohan, Hubert de Givenchy.

Question 9

Couturiere:

Answer 9

Female French designer Ð for example Alix GrÁes.

Question 10

Custom-made:

Answer 10

Apparel made to the order of individual customers, cut and fitted to individual measurements, as opposed to ready-to-wear.

Question 11

Designer:

Answer 11

A person employed in creating ideas for garments in the fashion industry.

Question 12

Fad:

Answer 12

A fad is a short-lived fashion that affects relatively few people within the total population. It sweeps suddenly into popularity and then quickly disappears. Fads are usually too flashy, badly designed and often extreme or exaggerated. Adolescents are usually far more likely than adults to follow a fad. Examples of fads are mirrored sunglasses, platform shoes, micro-mini skirts and large plastic flower earrings.

Question 13

Fashion:

Answer 13

Fashion in the widest meaning of the term can be seen as a continuing process of change in the styles of dress that are accepted and followed by the majority of a group at a specific time. A fashion also refers to the prevailing style of dress adopted at a particular time.

Question 14

Fashion cycle:

Answer 14

The fashion cycle refers to the rise, popularisation and decline of a fashion.

Question 15

Haute couture:

Answer 15

Those dressmaking houses in Paris that belong to the Chambre Syndicale of the Federation FranFaise de la Couture and meet the criteria laid down by the Chambre Syndicale.

Question 16

High fashion:

Answer 16

The newest fashion designs worn by fashion leaders. High fashion is generally introduced, produced, and sold in small quantities at relatively high prices in exclusive shops.

Question 17

Mass fashion:

Answer 17

Mass fashion refers to widely accepted styles or designs. These garments are usually produced in large numbers and sold at reasonable prices. A high fashion can become mass fashion but this is not necessarily always the case.

Question 18

Merchandising:

Answer 18

The planning required to have the right fashion merchandise available in the proper quantities and place, at the right time and price to meet consumer demand.

Question 19

Ready-to-wear:

Answer 19

Ready-to-wear (also called off-the-peg') is apparel that is mass produced in standardised sizes, as opposed to apparel made to a customer's special order (custom made). The French term prÃet-Áa-porter (pronounced pret-ah-por-tay’) is also often used and literally means ready-to-carry. Ready-to-wear garments are sold in shops such as Edgars, Woolworths, and the OK.

Question 20

Retailing:

Answer 20

The business of buying fashion merchandise from a variety of sources and reselling it to ultimate consumers at a convenient location.

Question 21

Sample:

Answer 21

The model or trial garment shown to the trade.