Use the term, then define the method
Manufacturing vocabulary becomes useful only when it identifies a product, method, scope or approval. “Seamless,” “AQL,” “GSM” and “OEM” are starting points for a question—not proof of quality or capability.
The glossary
- AQLAcceptance quality limit
- A sampling parameter used with a named inspection standard and lot size. AQL does not define product quality by itself; the defect classes, sampling route and acceptance rule must also be agreed.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- Approved sampleApproved sample
- The identified physical sample and revision accepted as a reference for the next stage. Its approved and still-open details should be written, not inferred from the garment alone.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- BOMBill of materials
- The controlled list of body fabrics, linings, elastics, trims, labels, artwork components and packaging items used in a style, each tied to a stable reference and approval status.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- Bulk baselineBulk-production baseline
- The current set of approved sample, specification, BOM, colors, artwork, labels, packaging and allowed deviations that production is expected to reproduce.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- Color standardColor standard
- The identified physical target and viewing condition used to judge lab dips, material lots and finished garments. A screenshot is not a stable production color standard.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- Cut and sewCut-and-sew construction
- A route in which fabric is produced first, cut into pattern pieces and joined into a garment. It differs from knitted-to-shape seamless production and creates a different pattern, seam and approval workflow.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- FlatlockFlatlock seam
- A seam construction with a comparatively flat profile that can be useful in contact zones. Its suitability depends on material, stretch, seam location, machinery and intended appearance.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- GaugeKnitting gauge
- A machine and construction variable related to needle density. In seamless development it should be considered with diameter, yarn, stitch program, garment size and required zone behavior.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- GSMGrams per square metre
- A material mass-per-area measurement. GSM is useful for comparison but does not, by itself, identify yarn quality, knit construction, finish, recovery, opacity or garment performance.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- GradingPattern grading
- The controlled change from a base pattern into other sizes. Extended size ranges may require separate blocks or structural decisions rather than proportional enlargement alone.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- GussetGarment gusset
- A pattern piece used to redistribute seam intersections, add movement room or shape a high-strain area. Its benefit depends on the complete pattern, material and seam route.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- Lab dipLab dip
- A small dye submission reviewed against an identified color target on the declared substrate and under agreed light sources before a bulk shade lot is approved.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- MOQMinimum order quantity
- The minimum quantity a supplier will accept under a specific style, material, color and production route. It is a project quotation variable, not a permanent quality signal.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- ODMOriginal design manufacturing
- A development route in which the supplier contributes an existing design direction or product-development input. Ownership, allowed changes and branding scope should still be written.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- OEMOriginal equipment manufacturing
- A production route in which a supplier manufactures to the buyer's controlled product direction or specification. The term does not prove factory ownership, capability or brand authorization.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- OpacityGarment opacity
- The degree to which a garment prevents the body or backing from showing through under a defined color, size, strain, movement and lighting condition.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- PPSPre-production sample
- A sample used to confirm the production-intent combination of materials, construction, color, branding and workmanship before bulk. It is not automatically the same as a size-set approval.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- RecoveryStretch recovery
- How closely a material or garment returns toward its original dimension after a defined extension and rest period. The method, direction, load and timing affect the result.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- SeamlessSeamless activewear knitting
- A knitted-to-shape route that can reduce selected cut-and-sew seams and create programmed zones. “Seamless” does not mean seam-free and does not prove a specific machine or owned facility.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- SpiralitySpirality
- Rotational distortion that can appear after laundering or processing. It should be reviewed with dimensional change, seam twist and the named wash-and-dry method.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- Tech packTechnical package
- The version-controlled drawings, measurements, material and construction references, colors, trims, branding, packaging and approval information used to quote, sample and reproduce a style.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- ToleranceMeasurement tolerance
- The permitted variation around a specified measurement or requirement. Tolerance should be realistic for the material and construction and must not replace a correct target measurement.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- Wear testGarment wear test
- A structured on-body review using the intended activity, duration and representative sizes to record comfort, coverage, movement, pressure, moisture response and post-wear condition.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
- White labelWhite-label activewear
- A route in which an existing or lightly adapted product is sold under the buyer's branding. Confirm what can change, who owns the base design and how labels, packaging and repeat orders are controlled.Use it in a buyer workflow ↗
Turn vocabulary into a controlled brief
Buyer questions
Does OEM mean the supplier owns a factory?
No. OEM describes a manufacturing relationship. Verify the contracting entity, production facility, process ownership and subcontracting route separately.
Is a higher GSM always better for leggings?
No. GSM is one material measurement. Yarn, knit construction, elastane distribution, finish, recovery, opacity and the garment pattern also affect the result.
Activewear, sportswear and athleisure: category words are not specifications
Use these as working descriptions in a buyer brief. Their retail meaning overlaps across countries and collections. Activewear usually points towards activity-oriented clothing; sportswear can mean technical sport clothing or sport-inspired casual dress; athleisure emphasizes the crossover into everyday use. None is a test result or a manufacturing credential.
Translate the chosen term into a task: the intended activity, movement, wearer, coverage, climate, layering and care. Then list the product requirements separately from the public marketing language. “Athleisure” does not remove the need to check seams and recovery; “performance sportswear” does not establish that testing has occurred.
| Term in an enquiry | Follow-up that makes it useful | What it cannot establish |
|---|---|---|
| Activewear | Which activities and garment functions are intended? | Measured performance of the finished product |
| Sportswear | Technical sports kit, everyday clothing, or both? | A universal material or factory capability |
| Athleisure | Which everyday and exercise situations must it cover? | Suitability for every sport |
| Yoga wear | Which movements, coverage and support requirements matter? | One required silhouette or fibre blend |
More buyer questions
What is the difference between activewear and sportswear?
The terms overlap and their retail use is not a reliable technical boundary. In a sourcing brief, replace either label with the activity, garment, wearer and required evidence. Ask whether the supplier means sport-specific kit or sport-inspired everyday clothing. Compare the resulting specification and sample; the category word alone cannot demonstrate material performance or manufacturing capability.
Is athleisure the same as athletic wear?
Not necessarily. Athleisure emphasizes clothing used across casual and activity settings, while athletic wear may describe a more specific sporting purpose. Define the actual situations your product must serve, including movement, coverage, layering and care. Do not assume that a casual-looking garment lacks function or that a sporty appearance proves suitability for a demanding activity.
What counts as activewear, and what are some examples?
Activewear is clothing designed to be worn for physical activity: leggings, sports bras, tank tops, running shorts, zip jackets and two-piece sets are typical examples. Intended use defines the category, not a fiber or cut. Gym wear is the part aimed at training sessions, and many activewear pieces are also worn casually, which is where athleisure begins.
Do workout clothes make a difference compared with everyday clothes?
They can, when the design matches the activity. Stretch and recovery, gusset and seam placement, a waistband that stays put, support, opacity when stretched and the way fabric handles sweat all change how a garment moves with the body. The word “workout” guarantees none of this, so compare garments on the specific features and evidence your activity needs.
How are gym shorts different from normal shorts?
Gym shorts are built for a wider range of motion. Expect stretch or a gusset in the crotch, a waistband that holds through squats and jumps, a hem that resists riding up and sometimes a liner or secure pocket, while casual shorts put appearance and everyday durability first. When developing either, list the movements and test the sample in them rather than trusting the name.
What does sourcing mean in manufacturing?
Sourcing is the work of finding, qualifying and contracting the suppliers that provide a product’s materials, components and production. In apparel it spans fabric mills, trim makers, printers and the garment factory, plus the terms, samples and evidence that connect them. Good sourcing leaves each supplier’s role, responsibility and approval visible before the order is placed.
