Glossary & Definitions
Anklet Socks
Low style socks for men and women that can be worn comfortably with different shoe types.
Bikini Pantyhose
Bikini Pantyhose is a pantyhose style with sheer leg that extends around the hip. It is great for wearing dresses with deep side-slit, shorter hemlines or short pants.
Boarding - Socks
A process where socks are stretched over metal or wooden flat forms while they are still moist to conform to the socks desired size and shape after which they are pressed between heated surfaces similar to ironing to give the sock a smoother appearance.
Body Shapers
Body shapers is the term used for sheer hosiery with more control and support around the thigh and panty areas of the garment.
Body Stocking
A garment covering the torso that could extend up to the toes, also called jumpsuit or leotard. In early times, these were designed to be cosmetic covering that closely resembles skin in color and texture. Nowadays, it is available in various colors and textures but still clings to the contours of the body.
Body Suit
Body suit is a one-piece nylon spandex leotard type of body garment that covers the body from the shoulder to the crotch.
Boot
This is the part of the pantyhose leg below the stocking welt from thigh section to the toe.
Bruised Fabric
Rupture in the fabric resulting from sheer nylons coming to contact and contracted by hard surfaces of objects.
Business Sheer
Durable and moderate sheer pantyhose.
Classic Stockings
Regular stockings and tights for everyday use.
Comfort Top
Comfort Top is a wide ribbed nylon band holding the sheer knee highs without cramping the area around the calf.
Control Top
It is a type of pantyhose with spandex around the upper part for better control effect and soft girdle
Cotton Crotch
Panel made of cotton sewn in pantyhose crotch area.
Cotton Sole
Panels that are made of knitted or sewn cotton inserted into soles of pantyhose or stockings.
Covered Yarn
Core commonly made of rubber or spandex with spun yarn or filament wrapped around it.
Daytime or Dress Sheers
Type of 15-20 denier yarn pantyhose , suitable for daytime dressy looks.
Demi-Toe
Pantyhose or stockings with sheer or nude heel combined with a reinforced toe, used ideally with sling back type of shoes.
Denier
Denier is a unit of fineness for silk fiber, nylon or rayon based on weight in grams/9,000 meter of yarn. Lower denier means the garment is finer, lighter and sheerer but higher denier are more durable types of pantyhose.
Double Covered Spandex
These are Spandex wrapped by polyester or nylon yarn (continuous filament) or other fibers in both directions.
Double Covered (Yarn)
This is the process used to wrap the extended core with non-elastic filament or spun yarn to provide balance and smoother appearance.
Elastic
This is the term used to describe the yarn that is able to return to its original shape and size after it is stretched.
Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability of the garment to recover from its original size or shape after removing applied deforming stress.
Evening Sheers
Kind of pantyhose made from yarn with 10-15 denier, often having a satin finish and ideally worn on special occasions.
Fashion Stockings
Lace-ridden tights or footless sheers and some have zippers in the back.
Finishing
These are the manufacturing steps of all sheer hosiery and socks that include dyeing, bleaching, scouring, pairing, boarding, folding, ornamentation and packaging.
Firm Support
Kind of pantyhose manufactured using heavier weight spandex for better support.
Fishnet
Knee-high pantyhose or stockings with wide open knitting that resembles a fish net. Used for fashion and style but provides little cosmetic covering, protection or warmth.
Fit
Fit is the adaptability of bodywear and hosiery to human form that is determined by the ability of the yarn stretch and recovery.
Flat Yarn
Term used by coverers and knitters to indicate the raw yarn used. Flat yarns do not stretch unless textured. These are likewise used as alternate material in some sheer spandex garmet.
Flocked Hosiery
Hosiery designed with animal prints.
Foot socks
Also called as “footies”, these are hosiery with tops that do not extend above the ankle bones, great if you hate the bare foot feeling but love the barefoot look.
Full-Fashioned
Full-fashioned stockings are knitted with two sides united by a seam at the back with small loops or fashion markings that run parallel to both sides of the seam resulting from decreased number of stitches on the calf area so the hose will be narrower at the ankle. These were very popular up until after the World War II but its popularity declined in the advent of seamless hosiery.
Girdle Top
Girdle top has a tummy firm control Pantyhose with sewn-on girdle.
Glimmer
It is the term used when referring to the light reflection to the trilobal yarn that gives the glimmer effect
Graduated Support
Graduated support has no sudden changes in the tightness of the spandex from the top to the bottom thereby providing more comfortable support hosiery.
Graduation
Graduation is tapering of the leg from top to bottom and tightening of the stitches to give the thigh, knee, and ankle the proper fit.
Gusset
Pantyhose crotch paneling which is an extra piece sewn at the crotch. It can be made from nylon or combination of nylon and cotton. Can be in any shape, from full back panel to diamond. just extra padding sewn in the crotch area.
Hole
This is damaged or ruptured hosiery from cutting, bruising, burning or abrasion of fabric that develops into a run.
Hosiery
Any kind of socks or stockings.
Irregulars
Hosiery containing minor color, dimension, knitting or size imperfections with no significant damage, obvious breaks, mends, runs to the yarn.
Knee-Highs
Knee-highs are short hosiery coming up just below the knee that became common with the advent of women’s slacks. Usually come with styled, elastic tops that stay up even without garters.
Knit-In Waistband
A type of waistband made from a combination of nylon and spandex inserted into a garment top during knitting so it doesn’t get tighter. It is also non-binding which makes it comfortable to wear.
Lace
Sheer hosiery with knitted patterns that resemble lace and hosiery with a lace seam at the leg top or waistband.
Leg Warmers
Stocking-like knitted leg coverings that are footless. Commonly worn over boots, tights or trousers for warmth.
Leotard
Leotard is a one-piece bodywear that covers the torso, commonly worn by dancers. Leotards today are also used as a fashion accessory or swimwear. These are also available in various designs and styles.
Light Support
Light support is a spandex pantyhose with light compression that are usually 40 denier or lower
Lurex Leg Warmers
Legwarmers made of premium yarn in various colors.
Lycra 3D
DuPont Hosiery brand garments containing lycra, yielding smooth appearance and exceptional fit.
Lycra Spandex
A DuPont Company registered trademark spandex fiber, commonly used for half-hose, sheer hosiery and socks for its superior stretching and recovery property. This provides better comfort, fit, support and shape retention.
Man-Made Fibers
A fiber created from chemical processes or natural materials which include continuous filaments. These are differentiated in 3 kinds:
1. Synthesized polymers from chemical compounds like polyvinyl, polyurethane, polyester, nylon and acrylic fibers;
2. Modified Natural Polymers – cellulose and alginic based fibers like rayons and acetates;
3. Minerals – such as glass.
Maternity
Type of pantyhose specifically made for pregnant women providing expanded panty plus a higher waistband for comfort during pregnancy.
Matte
This is a type of hosiery with a non-shiny or dull finish.
Metallic Yarn
Yarn made of polyester plastic and coated with metallic paint normally used as novelty socks accent.
Microfiber
Microfiber is a generic term indicating yarns for yarns made of filament commonly used in polyester and nylon products with less than one denier per filament.
Mock Seam
Mock seam is a false seam sewn at the back of the sheer hose or fishnets to give it shape as a design element.
Non-Run
Pantyhose or stockings having special interlocking stitches that helps to prevent runs. Also known as run-proof or run-less, these are manufactured using special processes that give pantyhose and stockings more durability.
Non-Stretch
Garments made from non-stretch yarns that are composed of non-stretch, rigid, natural fibers. These garments have no stretch ability and is desirable for medical reasons.
Nude Heel
Nude heels are stockings and pantyhose with no heel reinforcement but with the same knitting used in the boot or leg area. Have become very popular because they are ideally used with sling-back or open-heeled shoes.
Nylon
Nylon is a man-made fiber which is the oldest and true synthetics introduced in 1938. It is chemically derived from air, coal, and water and resistant to abrasion, strength, dimensional stability, elasticity. Nylon garments are also easily washed and dry quickly. There are 2 basic nylon types used in hosiery. Type 6 is softer with less memory when textured compared to Type 6,6 which has the maximum memory to the fabric and mostly used in ladies hosiery.
One Piece Pantyhose
Pantyhose knitted in continuous operation from a single seamless piece
One Size
Stockings or pantyhose that fits from very small to large sizes.
Opaque
Pantyhose or stockings made from yarn weighing 40 denier or more that gives them a heavier appearance.
Over the Knee Socks
Long style socks that cover up to the lower calf. In various colors and designs.
Panty / Pantyhose
Pantyhose garment with heavier weight cotton or nylon with knitted-in panty
Pantyhose
Garment combining panties and sheer nylon stockings with waist-high that extends to the feet,
Pre-Boarding
Is a process done after knitting and before dying where pantyhose and socks are given the heat treatment in a steam chamber to permanently set every stitch and loop. Stockings are placed on metal leg forms called "boards" and heat treated with steam.
Printed Hosiery
Hosiery with floral, cartoon or multi-color prints.
Proportioned Fit
Hosiery that is specifically designed with different lengths and circumferences to fit each size wearer.
Pulled Threads
Also known as “snags” which accounts for 80% of ruined hosiery products because snagged thread will result to tight stitches that break under strain resulting in holes that runs.
Queen Size
Hosiery size to fit heavier women. These are standard garments extended to larger sizes. This is different from outsize which is a separate merchandize category.
Raw Yarn
Raw yarn is untextured filament yarn that has no stretch ability.
Reinforced
Stress areas like the panty or toe that are strengthened with heavier denier yarns.
Ribbed
Vertical alternating ridges formed through differences in opacity, weight and knit stitch in hosiery and socks to add texture to your outfit.
Run-Resistant
Pantyhose or stockings knit in tuck stitch or micro mesh that resists upward runs.
Runs
Unchained stitches due to stitches that were broken.
Sandal foot Hosiery
Nude toe hosiery, which means that the yarn in the leg is the same as the yarn in the toe.
Seamed
Seamed are sheer stretch or ultra sheer stockings manufactured with seam running down the back of the legs.
Seamless
Seamless stockings are knitted in one continuous operation that requires no seaming at the back.
Semi-Boarded
Semi-boarded hosiery has not been subjected to a full heat setting process and is shapeless and wrinkled in appearance until stretched over the body and legs.
Sheer Support
This is the term used in describing support garment that are sheerer than original support garmets, made possible by improvements in manufacturing techniques and yarn.
Sheer-To-The-Waist
Pantyhose that is all sheer from waist to toe because it has no reinforcement or visible panty line around the panty area.
Sheers
Sheer hosiery is made from 15-20 denier yarn suitable for daytime glamour. Evening sheers, on the other hand are hosiery made of 10-15 denier yarn suitable for special occasions.
Silken Sheers
Soft and silky well-fitting pantyhose combined with Lycra spandex fine denier.
Single Covered Spandex
Spandex with nylon or other type of yarn wrapped in one direction.
Single Covered (Yarn)
This is the process of wrapping a spun yarn or non-elastic filament around the extended core.
Snag
Same as tear or pulled thread.
Spandex
Man-made fiber used instead of rubber which was first developed in 1959 by DuPont offering the superior capacity to stretch and recover five times over its relaxed form then fully recovers. It is also used in support products providing energy to shape and compress the leg. Spandex yarns are usually covered by nylon yarns for protection. Spandex is commonly used for pantyhose waistbands and sock tops because of its stay up holding power and stretch/recovery properties. It is used increasingly for better comfort, fit and size range than textured nylon as plaiting yarn.
Spandex Sheers
Sheer hosiery style with the leg yarn composing of single covered light 20 denier spandex or less and sheer nylon that gives this hosiery good sheerness, softness and fit. Spandex sheers do not normally support the legs but to enhance the comfort and fit.
Stocking
Close-fitting leg covering that is knitted.
Strand
Strand is a single natural or synthetic fiber filament.
Stretch Hosiery
Knit stockings made of filament yarn treated to give permanent stretchability to change size to perfectly fit the woman whose dimensions are either too slender or too heavy.
Support Hosiery
Hosiery or socks made from polyester or nylon with added spandex and other elastic fiber for better leg support. These use spandex for reducing leg fatigue. It provides graduated leg compression and control in the panty portion apart from leg support. Today, support doesn’t mean heavy, surgical garments but sheerness, color, and durability.
Tactil Microfibres
DuPont microfiber hosiery yarn brand delivering ultimate softness.
Tactile Multifils
DuPont yarn brand blending softness with sheer, clear looks.
Thigh-Highs
Thigh-highs are socks or stockings reaching up to the thighs held up with elastomer bands.
Tights
Heavy, opaque one-piece garments made of 40 denier yarn covering hip to toe worn for dance, exercise, etc.
Toe lets
Knitted hosiery designed to cover the toe portion of the foot and ideal for wearing with special shoe types like clogs.
U Seams
Hosiery sewn with continuous U seam joining the legs
Ultra Sheer
Fine denier fiber usually 20 denier or lower with low filament count to give maximum sheerness.
Unboarded
Unboarded hosiery has shapeless and wrinkled appearance until stretched because it has not been subjected to boarding or pre-boarding operations.
Ventilation
Also known as Aeration, it is a knitting process that allows fabrics to breathe and is commonly utilized in pantyhose for cotton soles or crotch panels.
Waistband
Knitted or sewn elastic band to hold up the garment or hug the waist.
Welt
Separately knitted fabric made of heavier yarn then machine sewn to the hem at stocking tips, and double folded for supporter fastening and strength.
Wicking
Fiber capacity to draw moisture away.
Wrapped Yarn
A one fiber yarn wrapped with spun yarn or filament for improved durability and strength.
Yarn
Assemblage of filaments or fibers either manufactured or natural and laid together or twisted to form continuous strands suitable for producing fiber
