Textile, Apparel, Retail, and Trade Terminology

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CAD – Computer Aided Design. Gives designers greater efficiency than is available without use of computers.

CAF – Currency Adjustment Factor. Additional charges by freight carrier to compensate for low valuation of one currency in relation to another.

CAFTA – Central America Free Trade Agreement. US trade agreement giving preferential treatment for selected products imported from selected Central American countries.

Care label – a permanent label or tag, containing regular care information and instructions, that is attached or affixed in such a manner that it will not become separated from the product and will remain legible during the useful life of the product.¹ Such labels are required by US law.

Cash in Advance (CIA) – The buyer pays for goods prior to shipment. This method of payment is usually used for custom – order goods of high value.

CBI – Caribbean Basin Initiative. US trade initiative giving preferential tariff treatment for selected products imported from specified Caribbean nations.

Certificate of Origin – An official document certifying the country of origin (manufacture) of a specific product.

Chenille – A yarn or fabric characterized by a decorative pile created by small bits or yarn sitting perpendicular to the main yarn and creating a three – dimensional effect.

Chargeback – Making deductions from a manufacturer’s bill for contract infractions such as late shipment, damaged goods, expired merchandise. Chargebacks are made at the buyer’s discretion.

Child labor – Use of underage workers. Most countries have laws defining child labor, and many US commercial buyers have corporate policies against suppliers’ use of child labor.

Childrenswear – Category of clothing intended for young children.

¹ Federal Register, 48 FR22743, May 20, 1983; 48 FR 24869, June 3, 1983.

CIF (specified location) - Cost, Insurance, and Freight. The selling price including all shipping and insurance costs to the location specified.

CIP (specified location) – Carriage and Insurance Paid. The exporter’s price, including the cost of merchandise, shipping costs to the inland location specified, and insurance.

Circular knitting - A method of knitting in which fabric is formed in the shape of a tube. This method is often used for making socks, hosiery, and t-shirts.

Clicks and mortar – Internet sales outlets.

Code of Conduct – A written document outlining appropriate and expected human resource management and workplace conditions.

Code of Vendor Conduct – Written document outlining practices to which supplier companies must adhere, concerning labor and workplace conditions and business ethics.

Collective bargaining – Negotiations, by a group of workers, for certain wage, hour, or working conditions.

Color Association of the US (CAUS) – The oldest color forecasting service in the US. Issues trend forecasts in swatch booklets. www.colorassociation.com.

Color breaking – The alteration in shade caused by extended exposure to light, especially sunlight. This alteration often causes a color to appear off shade as it fades, resulting in serious quality problems. For example, a color described as “breaking blue” will appear more blue as it fades with color exposure.

Colorfastness – Retention of color when exposed to moisture, light, or chemical agents.

Color forecast – Prediction of colors that will become popular for a specific upcoming period of time.

Color Marketing Group - A not – for – profit, international association of 1,700 Color Designers involved in the use of color as it applies to the profitable marketing of goods and services. CMG provides a forum for the exchange of non – competitive information on all phases of color marketing: color trends, design influences, merchandising and sales, and education and industry contacts. Trend forecasts are available for purchase by non – members. This site includes information on CMG, membership, and purchase of its color trend forecasts. www.colormarketing.org.

Color measurement – A method of quantifying a specific color.

Company profile – A document describing a company including its legal status, management structure, production capacity, and market profile.

Commercial invoice – A document detailing goods sold, selling price, and any other charges to the seller. This document is prepared by the seller, and may be required by customs of the country into which the goods are being imported. Some countries may require that a commercial invoice

be certified, stamped, or otherwise legalized by a specified agency or office in the country of export.

Compensation – Wages and benefits paid in exchange for work.

Commingling – Packing goods that are subject to different duty rates together for shipment. Doing so may slow the processing of goods through customs, possibly causing goods to be delayed.

Compliance – Adherence to established or agreed – upon regulations or standards.

Consignment – Shipment or delivery of goods to a person without making a sale. In some international trade documentation, a transportation carrier may not know whether the transportation which they are effecting is pursuant to a sale or not; therefore the person to whom the goods are being delivered is referred to as the consignee and the delivery transaction loosely referred to as a consignment.²

Container load – A quantity or volume of product sufficient to fill a cargo container; may be used to refer to a 20 - foot or a 40 – foot length container.

Contractor – An independent producer who performs specific work under agreement, or contract, for another company.

Converter – Company that dyes, prints, and / or finishes greige fabric.

Cooperative advertising – Advertising in which two parties share the costs, for example a manufacturer and retailer. Many manufacturers offer cooperative advertising programs to encourage retailers to buy and advertise the manufacturer’s goods

Corporal punishment – Physical punishment.

Cotton blend – A yarn or fabric that combines cotton with one or more other fibers in order to add desirable properties to the finished product. Common blends are 65/35 or 50/50 cotton / polyester blends that retain much of the physical comfort of cotton fabrics while adding some of the wrinkle resistance of polyester.

Cotton Board – A quasi – governmental organization that oversees the Cotton Research and Promotion Program and provides information to importers and cotton producers funding the program. www.cottonboard.org.

Cotton Incorporated – A not – for – profit organization dedicated to cotton, and “to increasing the demand and profitability of cotton through research and promotion.” www.cottoninc.com.

Counterfeit – A fake product deliberately made to look similar enough to another proprietary or branded product to confuse the consumer. Importation of counterfeit products into the US is illegal.

² Johnson, Thomas E. Export / Import Procedures and Documentation. Third Edition. 1997. American Management Association.

Country of origin – The country in which a product is considered to have been manufactured or produced, as determined by the WTO Rules of Origin.

Couturier clothing – Clothing individually designed and made by well – known fashion designers.

Crocking – Transfer of color by mechanical means such as rubbing, from a fabric to any other surface. Crocking results from improper dyeing, or improper selection of dyestuff, and occurs most commonly with reds, browns, burgundy, and dark blue colors and is a serious quality problem.

Cross merchandising – Selling complementary goods in order to encourage customers to buy more.

Customs Broker – An individual or firm licensed by the government, to handle Customs clearance and other services for importers.

Customs classification – The specific category in a tariff nomenclature (usually the Harmonized System) in which a product is classified for tariff purposes.

Cycle time – The period of time required to complete one full cycle of activities.

Davison’s Blue Book – A directory of textile – producing companies in the US textile industry. (www.davisonbluebook.com)

Davison’s Textile Gold Book – Directory for textile manufacturing equipment, supply, and chemical companies. (www.davisongoldbook.com).

Denier – The mass, in grams, of 9,000 meters of a fibre, filament, or yarn.³ Serves as a measurement of the thickness of a yarn; usually used for filament yarns.

Design team – A group of design and color specialists working together to design one or more products.

Detergent – A chemical product used to launder a garment for the purpose of removing dirt.

Direct store distribution (DSD) – Suppliers ship at least some goods directly to a retail store rather than or in addition to shipping goods to warehouses or central distribution points.

Distributor – A person or firm that purchases goods for the purpose of resale. The distributor earns its income by marking up the price of goods upon resale.

Drape – The way in which a fabric hangs or falls from a body or hanger. Drape constitutes one aspect of design quality of a garment; poor drape generally results from poor selection of fabric for the given garment shape, or improper cutting, such as cutting off grain.

Draping – The process of hanging a fabric over a mannequin, dress form, or model, as part of the pattern – making process, in order that once cut and sewn, the garment will hang attractively on the wearer.

³ www.onlinecatalogue.biz/textiledictionary/contentword.php

Dry cleaning – A commercial method of cleaning garments of fabrics using chemicals instead of water and detergent.

Durable press – A chemical finish applied to a fabric or garment to minimize wrinkling.

Dye lot – One batch of fiber, yarn, or fabric that has been dyed together, thereby assuring a greater uniformity of color.

Dye Lot number – A unique identification number assigned to one batch of fiber, yarn, or fabric that has been dyed together.

EDI – See Electronic Data Interchange.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) - Electronic exchange of sales, inventory, delivery, or other information between suppliers and retailers. EDI helps minimize supply problems.

Embossed – Stamped to impart a design by giving a three dimensional appearance.

Embroidered – Enhanced through the use of decorative stitching, either by machine or by hand.

Enzyme washing – A finishing process used on textiles to provide a “broken” or non-uniform appearance, similar but generally less distinct than that produced by acid washing or stonewashing.

Ethical sourcing – A philosophy and act of selecting and retaining only those suppliers that follow good business ethics and adhere to fair treatment of workers.

EXW (specified location) – Ex Works. Exporter’s price of goods ready for shipment, with ownership and liability for freight costs transferred at the specified location.

Eyelet – A round hole made for the purpose of allowing entry of the tongue of a belt buckle or a lace. Eyelets may be stitched, or may be finished by inserting a small metal circle.

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