Lots of terms are thrown around while you make your apparel purchasing decisions. This glossary of terms, put together by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), will keep you from getting lost the next time you talk with a manufacturer or distributor.

Anti-Pill: Treatments applied to garments primarily to resist the formation of little balls on the fabric’s surface due to abrasion during wear.

Denier: Density of the weave in a nylon or polyester product.

Dry-Fiber: A high-activity sportswear fabric that absorbs, wicks and dries faster than average golf wear.

Dyed-To-Match: Buttons or trims that are the same color as the garment onto which they are sewn.

EcoSpun: A fleece outerwear fabric made from at least 50% materials reclaimed from recycled plastic soda pop bottles.

End-on-End: A two-ply weave of different color yarns running parallel against each other so that both colors are visible.

Enzyme Washed: A laundering process in which a catalytic substance is added to create a chemical change in the fabric resulting in a very soft finish, smoother appearing surface and reduced shrinkage.

Extended Tail: This is seen when the back portion of the garment is longer than the front. It assists in keeping the garment tucked in during normal activity.

Fabric Finishing: The processes through which fibers, yarns and fabrics are passed to improve their appearance, feel and/or performance in preparation for their end use.

Full Cut: Refers to a garment’s fit as being generous and roomy.

Garment Washed: A wash process where softeners are added to finished garments to help the cotton fibers relax or bloom. The result is a fabric with a thicker appearance, reduced shrinkage and a softer hand.

Garment Dyed: A dyeing process that occurs after the garment is assembled.

Low Profile: A cap style with a low slope that is more closely fitted to the head. It can be either structured or unstructured.

Pigment Dyed: A type of dye used to create a distressed or washed look.

Placket: The part of a shirt or jacket where the garment fastens or buttons together.

Raglan Sleeves: Sleeves set with a diagonal seam from the neck to the armpit.

Ring Spun Yarn: Yarn made by continuously twisting and thinning a rope of cotton fibers. The twisting makes the short hairs of cotton stand out, resulting in a stronger yarn with a significantly softer hand.

Sandwashed: A washing process in which the fabric is washed with very fine lava rocks or rubber/silicon balls, resulting in a softer fabric with a relaxed look and reduced shrinkage.

Stonewashed: While similar to sandwashing, in this washing process the fabric or garment is heavily washed with lava rocks or rubber/silicon balls. The result is a softer fabric with a distressed or weathered look and reduced shrinkage.

Water-Repellent Fabrics: A term applied to fabrics that have been treated with a finish that causes them to shed water but they are still air-permeable.

Weathered Twill: A special dye process resulting in a softer fabric with a weathered appearance that will continue to enhance with each wash.

2-Way Zipper: A zipper with two zipper pulls so that it can be unzipped from either direction.