Acrylic A synthetic fabric often used as a wool substitute. It is warm, soft, holds colors well and often is stain and wrinkle resistant.
Angora Rabbit Hair A soft fiber knit from fur of the Angora rabbit. Angora wool is often combined with cashmere or another fiber to strengthen the delicate structure. Dry cleaning is recommended for Angora products.
Bedford A strong material that is a raised corded fabric (similar to corduroy). Bedford fabric wears well and is usually washable.
Boot Footwear which covers the entire foot and extends to the height of the anklebone or up to the thigh.
Bootie A shoe that resembles a boot in style but is not as high.
Brocade An all-over floral, raised pattern produced in a similar fashion to embroidery.
Cable Knit Patterns, typically used in sweaters, where flat knit columns otherwise known as cables are overlapped vertically.
Cashmere A soft, strong and silky, lightweight wool spun from the Kashmir goat. Cashmere is commonly used in sweaters, shawls, outerwear, gloves and scarves for its warmth and soft feel.
Chiffon A common evening wear fabric made from silk, cotton, rayon or nylon. It's delicate in nature and sheer.
Chintz A printed and glazed fabric made of cotton. Chintz is known for its bright colors and bold patterns.
Circumference The measurement around the shaft of a boot taken at the widest part.
Corduroy Cotton blend fibers twisted as they are woven to create long, parallel grooves, called wales, in the fabric. This is a very durable material and depending on the width of the wales, can be extremely soft.
Cotton A natural fiber that grows in the seed pod of the cotton plant. It is an inelastic fiber.
Crepe Used as a description of surfaces of fabrics. Usually designates a fabric that is crimped or crinkled.
Crinoline A lightweight, plain weave, stiffened fabric with a low yarn count. Used to create volume beneath evening or wedding dresses.
Crochet Looping threads with a hooked needle that creates a wide, open lace. Typically used on sweaters for warm seasons.
Cushioning Padding on the sole of a shoe for added comfort and stabilization.
DenimCotton blend fabric created with a twill weave to create a sturdy fabric. Used as the primary material of blue jeans.
DobbyWoven fabric where the weave of the fabric actually produces the garment's design.
Embroidery Detailed needlework, usually raised and created by yarn, thread or embroidery floss.
Embossed Leather Leather imprinted with a design or exotic skin texture, such as snake, ostrich or croco.
Eyelet A form of lace in a thicker material that consists of cut-outs that are integrated and repeated into a pattern. Usually applied to garments for warmer seasons.
Faille A slightly ribbed, woven fabric of silk, cotton, or rayon.
French Terry A knit cloth that contains loops and piles of yarn. The material is very soft, absorbent and has stretch.
Georgette A crinkly crepe type material usually made out of silk that consists of tightly twisted threads. Georgette is sheer and flowing nature.
Gingham It is a fabric made from dyed cotton year. It is most often know to be woven in a blue and white check or plaid pattern. It is made from corded, medium to fine yarns, with the color running in the warp yarns. There is no right or wrong side of this fabric.
Glen PlaidA woolen fabric, with a woven twill design of large and small checks. A form of traditional plaid originating in Scotland.
Heel Height It is the measurement of a vertical line from the point where the sole meets the heel down to the floor. Heel height is measured in increments of 1/8 of an inch.
Herringbone A pattern originating from masonry, consists of short rows of slanted parallel lines. The rows are formatted opposing each other to create the pattern. Herringbone patterns are used in tweeds and twills.
Hopsack A material created from cotton or wool that is loosely woven together to form a coarse fabric.
Houndstooth A classic design containing two colors in jagged/slanted checks. Similar to Glen Plaid.
Insole The inside lining of the shoe that is underneath the bottom of the foot. Another term for footbed.
Instep The arched section of the foot between the toes and the ankle, or the part of the shoe which covers that area.
Jacquard A fabric of intricate variegated weave or pattern. Typically shown on elegant and more expensive pieces.
Jersey A type of knit material known to be flexible, stretchy, soft and very warm. It is created using tight stitches.
Knit A knit fabric is made by interlocking loops of one or more yarns either by hand with knitting needles or by machine.
LinenAn exquisite material created from the fibers of the flax plant. Some linen contain slubs or small knots on the fabric. The material is a light fabric perfect for warm weather.
LiningThe leather, fabric or synthetic material used on the inside of a shoe.
Lamé A metallic or plastic fiber woven into material to give the garment shine.
Lycra ®TMSpandex fibers add stretch to fabric when the fibers are woven with other fiber blends. These materials are lightweight, comfortableTM and breathable, and the stretch will not wear away.
Madras Originating from Madras, India, this fabric is a lightweight, cotton material used for summer clothing. Madras usually has a checked pattern but also comes in plaid or with stripes. Typically made from 100% cotton.
Marled Typically found in sweaters, marled yarn occurs when two colored yards are twisted together.
Matte A matte finish has a lusterless surface.
Merino Wool Wool sheered from the merino sheep and spun into yarn that is fine but strong.
Modal A type of rayon that is made from natural fibers but goes through a chemical treatment to ensure it has a high threshold of breakage. Modal is soft and breathable which is why it's used as a cotton replacement.
Non-iron A treated cotton that allows our Easy Care Shirts to stay crisp throughout the day and does not need ironing after washing/drying.
Nylon A synthetic fiber that is versatile, fast drying and strong. It has a high resistance to damage.
Ombre A color technique that shades a color from light to dark.
Paisley A pattern that consists of crooked teardrop designs in a repetitive manner.
Patent Leather Leather made from cattle hide that has been varnished to give a hard and glossy finish.
Placket The piece of fabric or cloth that is used as a concealing flap to cover buttons, fasteners or attachments. Most commonly seen in the front of button-down shirts. Also used to reinforce openings or slits in garments.
Piping Binding a seam with decoration. Piping is similar to tipping or edging where a decorative material is sewn into the seams.
Pointelle An open-work knitting pattern used on garments to add texture. Typically a cooler and general knit sweater.
Polyester A fabric made from synthetic fibers. Polyester is quick drying, easy to wash and holds its shape well.
Ponte A knit fabric where the fibers are looped in an interlock. The material is very strong and firm.
Poplin A strong woven fabric, heavier in weight, with ribbing.
Pump Classically a high, medium, or low heeled, totally enclosed shoe. Variations include an open toe or ornament.
Rayon A manufactured fiber developed originally as an alternative for silk. Rayon drapes well and looks luxurious.
Sateen A fabric woven with sheen that resembles satin.
Seersucker Slack-tension weave where yarn is bunched together in certain areas and then pulled taught in others to create this summery mainstay.
Shaft Height Measurement of the shaft of the boot, which is from the top of the boot to the inside seam where the instep and the sole meet.
Shirring Similar to ruching, shirring gathers material to create folds.
Silk One of the most luxurious fibers, silk is soft, warm and has shine. It is obtained from the cocoons of the silkworm's larvae.
Sole The outsole, or bottom part of a shoe.
Space dyed Technique of yarn dyeing to produce a multi-color effect on the yarn itself. Also known as dip dyed yarn.
SpandexElastomeric fiber, this material is able to expand 600% and still snap back to its original shape and form. Spandex fibers are woven with cotton and other fibers to make fabrics stretch.
Stacked Heel A heel made of leather or leawood covering that gives the appearance of wood.
Synthetic Materials Man-made materials designed to look or function like leather.
Tipping Similar to edging, tipping includes embellishing a garment at the edges of the piece, hems, collars etc.
Tissue Linen A type of linen, which is specifically made for blouses or shirts due to its thinness and sheerness.
Tweed A loose weave of heavy wool makes up tweed, which provides warmth and comfort.
Twill A fabric woven in a diagonal weave. Commonly used for chinos and denim.
Variegated Multi-colored fabrics where colors are splotched or in patches.
Velour A stretchy knit fabric, typically made from cotton or polyester. It has a similar soft hand to velvet.
VelvetA pile fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it a distinct feel.
Velveteen A more modern adaptation of velvet, velveteen is made from cotton and has a little give. Also known as imitation velvet.
ViscoseA cellulosic man-made fibers, viscose is soft and supple but can wrinkle easily.
Wale Only found in woven fabrics like corduroy, wale is the long grooves that give the garment its texture.
Wedge Heel A heel that lies flat to the ground and extends from the shank to the back of the shoe.
Windowpane Dark stripes run horizontal and vertical across a light background to mimic a window pane.
Woven A woven fabric is formed by interlacing threads, yarns, strands, or strips of some material.