Detailed Guides
The following terms have in-depth guides:
flak jacket a jacket containing metal plates for protection against
flak; broadly, a bulletproof
vest. [Also called,
flak vest]
flame a strong reddish orange.
flared heel a heel that is narrower where it leaves the sole of the shoe and flares outward in a curved sweep as it descends, so the base on the ground is wider than the top; a member of the Louis heel family. detailed flared heel definition →
flat-felled seam a strong flat seam with raw edges enclosed and two rows of stitching, used on jeans, shirts and workwear.detailed flat-felled seam definition →
flaxen resembling flax especially as in a pale soft strawy color.
flannel Soft twilled wool or worsted fabric with a loose texture and a slightly napped surface; a plain or twill woven cotton fabric napped and of soft yarns simulating the texture of wool flannel; a stout cotton fabric usually napped on one side. [Plural] flannel underwear; outer garments, especially men's trousers, of flannel, namely soft twilled wool, cotton, or worsted fabric with a loose texture and a slightly napped surface. The cotton flannel must be made from cotton with a fiber long enough to hold in the yarn, otherwise the fibers will shed from the flannel or pill into little balls on the surface.
flannelette a cotton flannel, soft material with a napped finish, usually only on one side. It may be bleached, dyed, printed, or woven in colored stripes. Plain and twill weave.
flap pocket a pocket whose opening is covered by a flap of fabric hanging down over it, used on tailored jackets and utility clothing alike.detailed flap pocket definition →
flat a shoe or slipper having a flat heel or no heel
flat crepe also called French Crepe or Lingerie Crepe but not exactly the same. It is the flattest of all the crepes with only a very slight pebbled or crepe effect hard twist alternating 25 x 22 in filling; warp has ordinary twist. It is very soft and pliable, which makes it good for draping. It is very light weight - 2 times as many ends as picks. It may be white, colored, or printed. Most of it launders well.
flat pattern flat pattern a pattern drafted on paper using measurements and geometric principles.detailed flat pattern definition →
flax is often considered the oldest fiber used in the Western world. Remnants of flax fabric (linen) have been found in excavations at the historic lake regions of Switzerland, which date back to about 10,000 B.C. Although the archaeologists dispute the origins of flax , some believe that it came from the region of Tepe Sabz, Iran (Mesopotamia), ca. 5500 - 5000 B.C. By 4,000 B.C. the Egyptians were cultivating and processing flax and ancient wall carvings show laborers harvesting flax. Examples have been found that were spun so fine that more than 360 threads joined together to form one warp thread. The rather incredible characteristics and properties of flax are once again being recognized. Although linen has been primarily considered as a fashion fabric in modern times, the industry and the markets are beginning to understand its potential as a performance fiber, delivering high strength and durability, abrasion resistance and high moisture regain, as well as a luxurious hand and appearance.
fleece a soft bulky deep-piled knitted or woven fabric used chiefly for clothing. Has a deep, soft nap or pile, obtained by heavily napping with wire brushes or with a pile weave. This provides air space giving good insulating properties without too much weight. The interlacings are covered by the nap. The nap wears out in time, but good quality cloth gives good wear. Range from cheap to expensive clothes. Material is often cumbersome and bulky, therefore it may be difficult to manipulate. Also, the name for the entire coat of wool taken from a sheep at shearing time. Check out women's fleece clothing.detailed fleece definition →
flight suit a usually one-piece garment especially of fire-resistant fabric worn especially by military aircrews
flip-flop a rubber sandal loosely fastened to the foot by a thong
flipper a flat rubber shoe with the front expanded into a paddle used in skin diving
Flocking is the application of fine particles to adhesive coated surfaces. The majority of flocking done worldwide uses finely cut natural or synthetic fibers. A flocked finish imparts a decorative and/or functional characteristic to the surface. The variety of materials that are applied to numerous surfaces through different flocking methods create a wide range of end products. The flocking process is used on items ranging from retail consumer goods to products with high technology military applications. Historians claim that flocking can be traced back to circa 1000 BC, when the Chinese used resin glue to bond natural fibers to fabrics. fiber dust was strewn onto adhesive coated surfaces to produce flocked wall coverings in Germany during the middle ages. In France, flocked wall coverings became popular during the reign of Louis XIV. (Check out the American Flock Association)
floor ready floor ready merchandise arriving at the retail store ready to sell - tagged, pressed, and on hangers.detailed floor ready definition →
florid tinged with red; ruddy.
flush of a ruddy health color.
flutter sleeve a short sleeve cut wide and loose so it flares and flutters from the shoulder instead of following the arm.detailed flutter sleeve definition →
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