What are Garment Accessories?
Garment is an ensemble of fabric and accessories. Without accessories, the garment remains incomplete. For manufacturing a garment without fabric various types of materials or accessories are also used; some are part of the garments such as buttons, zippers, and interlining, while others are used for decorating and enhancing the product appearance, such as sequins and embroidery. Accessories are one of them important material to manufacture a garment and contribute to the functionality, aesthetics, and quality of the final product. But maximum people don’t identify which are accessories. They think trimmings and accessories are same. We can define trimmings as; the materials which are attached with garments by sewing are called trimmings. Actually accessories are those which are not attached with the body of garment with sewing. They are used for finishing and packing purposes. Accessories are also used for decorative purposes. It is also essential for marketing garments.
Different Types of Garment Accessories:
Garment accessories can be categorized based on their role in the production process and their function in the finished garment. Different types of garment accessories are used in the apparel industries that are given below:
1. Garment production accessories:
These kind of accessories are used during the garment manufacturing process and help in the creation, shaping, and finishing of garments.
- Needles and Thread: Needles and thread are used for stitching a garment.
- Bobbins: Used in sewing machines for the bottom thread.
- Pins: Before stitching it helps to hold pieces of fabric together.
- Clips: Used instead of pins for delicate fabrics that might be damaged by pins.
- Sewing machine feet
- Scissors and Rotary Cutters: Used for trims and cutting fabric.
- Measuring Tapes and Rulers: Used during cutting, marking and fitting.
- Iron and Steam Press: Used for pressing fabric and removing wrinkles.
- Markers and Chalk: For marking fabric to guide cutting or stitching.
2. Garment components:
Garment components are the parts of final garment. These are the functional and decorative parts of the garment that enhance its look, fit, and usability.
a) Zippers:
- Closed-end zippers: Used for skirts, pants, and dresses.
- Open-end zippers: Used for jackets or coats where the zipper opens completely.
- Two-way zippers: Used in outerwear like jackets and sleeping bags.
b) Buttons:
- Shank buttons: Have a small stem on the back for attaching with thread.
- Flat buttons: Sewn directly onto the garment without a shank.
- Snap buttons: Consist of a pair of interlocking discs that snap together.
c) Hooks and Loops:
- Hooks: Small, metal or plastic fasteners that are used on garments like bras or pants.
- Loop tape (Velcro): Used for closures on a wide variety of garments like activewear, outerwear, and baby clothes.
d) Elastics:
- Waistband elastic: Used in pants, skirts, and shorts.
- Cuffs or Leggings: Used for tight or adjustable cuffs, especially in sportswear.
e) Ribbons and laces:
- Decorative ribbons: Used for decorative purposes like at the waist, neck, or sleeves.
- Laces: Used for both purposes like functional and aesthetic. Ex. corsets, shoes, and certain types of blouses or dresses.
- Shoulder pads: Used to the shoulders of jackets, blazers, and coats.
f) Pockets:
- Patch pockets
- In-seam pockets
- Buttoned pockets
g) Interfacing:
- Fusible interfacing: Used to reinforce fabrics, collars, cuffs, and waistbands.
- Non-fusible interfacing: Used to requires stitching and provides structure.
h) Collars & cuffs:
- Collars: Used in shirts or dresses.
- Cuffs: Used to sleeves.
3. Finishing Accessories:
Finishing accessories are used to enhance the garment’s appearance, finish, or branding.
- Labels and tags:
- Brand Labels: Used to indicate the brand or designer.
- Care Labels: Indicate care instruction like washing, drying, and ironing.
- Piping: Used around edges or seams, create a finished look.
- Sequins, beads and embellishments: Used for decorative purposes.
- Embroidery thread: Used for adding designs or logos to garments.
- Appliqué: To create patterns or images decorative pieces of fabric sewn onto a garment.
- Frills and ruffles: Used to garments for a feminine appearance.
- Studs, rivets and grommets: Used in casual or denim wear for decoration.
4. Garment packaging accessories:
To prepare the item for shipping, storage, or retail display garment packaging accessories are must be needed.
- Hangtags: Used for branding and price details.
- Plastic Bags: For protecting garments during transport and storing finished garment.
- Gift Boxes and wrapping: Often used for luxury garments.
- Clothing hangers: Used for hanging or displaying garments.
5. Protective and safety accessories:
During production it is used to ensure the safety and comfort of workers and the protection of the garment.
- Gloves
- Face Masks
- Aprons
5. Other garment accessories:
- Arrow sticker
- Barcode
- Back board,
- Both side tape,
- Brass pin,
- Buckle,
- Butterfly,
- Carton sticker,
- Carton,
- Collar stand,
- Collar stay/Collar bone,
- Draw cord/ String,
- Folding up pins
- Gum Tape,
- Hand tag,
- Hanger,
- Neck board,
- P.P belt,
- Patch,
- Photo in lay,
- Plastic clip.
- Pocket flasher,
- Poly bag,
- Price ticket/price sticker,
- Safety pin,
- Safety sticker,
- Scotch tape
- Size strip,
- Tag pin,
- Tissue paper,
Some important accessories are denoted below:
1. Barcode: A barcode is an optical machine readable representation of data relating to the object to which it is attached.
2. Carton: Carton is very essential accessory in apparel industry. It is used in packing garments. Carton box is made by using ply board. Number of ply indicates the quality of a carton.
3. Collar Stay: Collar stay is one of the most important accessories which is used in shirt collar. Normally collar stay is used in collar points of a shirt. It is also known as collar bone.
4. Draw string: Draw cord or draw string is a long rope-type item with stopper to tighten a part of the garment.
5. Hang tag: It shows the brand name, style no and other information of that garment. It is regarded as finishing accessories. It is hang with garment by plastic staple or string.
6. Hanger: Hanger is used for hanging the garments. It is important for hang shirt, coat and also different kinds of garments.
7. Pocket Flasher: Pocket flasher is normally used in trouser’s pocket.
8. Poly bag: Poly bag is an important accessory for packing a garment. Without poly bag packing is not complete.
9. Price Tag: Price tag/ticket also known as UPC (Unit price code) ticket in the apparel industry. It is paper-made tag which normally mentions price and bar code. Barcode sticker may be attached separately on it.
10. Tag pin: Tag pin is an important accessory. It is essential for completing a garment. It is used by the help of handgun. Handing the hangtag and price tag, tag pin used.
