Fabric glossary
Fabric glossary
The words you will hear at a fitting, and where to see each one on a GlamGirl piece.
- Appliquéah-plee-KAY
- A shape cut from one fabric and stitched onto another. Ours are cut and placed by hand, which is why no two sit identically.
- Aso-ebiah-SHOW-eh-bee
- The cloth a family or friendship group agrees to wear to the same celebration. The fabric is shared; the style is where each guest makes it her own.
- Aso-okeah-SHOW-oh-keh
- Hand-woven Yoruba cloth made in narrow strips on a traditional loom, then joined. Heavy, structured and traditionally worn for the most important days.
- Boning
- Flexible strips sewn into a bodice so it holds its shape without a separate corset underneath.
- Bugle beads
- Long, tube-shaped glass beads. Laid in lines they give beadwork direction, which is how a bodice appears to follow the body.
- Duchess satin
- A heavy, lustrous satin with enough body to hold a drape or a wrap without collapsing.Seen inSky Drape Gown
- FailleFILE
- A silk with a fine horizontal rib. It holds a ruffle on its own, so a skirt needs no netting underneath.Seen inMarigold Mermaid Gown
- Fishtail
- A skirt fitted through the hip and knee that flares out at the hem, sometimes called a mermaid silhouette.
- GeleGEH-leh
- The head tie. Stiff fabric sculpted into shape around the head, matched to the outfit, and tied for you on the day if you would rather not.
- Illusion panel
- Sheer, skin-toned mesh that fills a neckline or bodice so a deep cut stays secure.
- Ipeleee-PEH-leh
- The shawl or sash worn over one shoulder with a gele and wrapper, cut from the same cloth.Seen inSilver Gele Ensemble
- Organza
- A thin, crisp, sheer fabric. Cut on the bias and gathered, it makes a ruffle that stands up rather than hangs.Seen inLeopard Cascade Gown
- Owambeoh-WAHM-beh
- A Yoruba party, usually a wedding, birthday or burial celebration, where the dress code is presence.
- Peplum
- A short flared panel at the waist that exaggerates the curve between waist and hip.
- Sweep train
- The shortest train, just brushing the floor behind you. Long enough to photograph, short enough to dance in.Seen inChess Queen Series
- TulleTOOL
- A fine, light netting used for illusion shoulders and as the base for beaded lace.
- VoileVOYL
- A soft, sheer cotton. We line gowns in it because a fully lined gown in Lagos heat is a mistake you only make once.Seen inFuchsia Flame Gown