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paris green a brilliant yellowish green.

pareu   a wraparound skirt usually made from a rectangular piece of printed cloth and worn by men and women throughout Polynesia; the Tahitian equivalent of the Samoan lavalava

parfleche   a case or robe made of parfleche, namely rawhide with hair removed by soaking in water and lye

parka   a hooded fur pullover garment for arctic wear; a usually lined fabric outerwear pullover or jacket

partlet   a 16th century chemisette with a band or collar

Partially oriented yarn is produced from the melting and extrusion (melt spinning) of the polyester chip or flake. During the spinning process the filaments are stretched or drawn as much as five times their original size to orient the polymer to meet the desired evenness, strength, shrinkage, and elongation properties. So the term partially oriented yarn refers to multi-filament that is only partially stretched. POY is generally lower tenacity and less uniform than fully oriented yarn (FOY).  POY is mainly used in texturizing to make textured yarn and can also be used in draw warping for weaving and warp knitting of fabrics.

pashmina  the Persian name for the softest, warmest, and most delicate type of wool is popularly known as Cashmere in the west. Actually Cashmere is the modern interpretation of pashmina wool. Pashmina comes from the goat Capre Hircus which thrive best in the heights of 14000 16000 to of Himalayan ranges of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, Tibet and Mongolia. Majority of the pashmina shawls are made in the Kathmandu valley the capital city of Nepal. This goat hair is blessed with extreme softness and insulation capacity. It is only 12-14 microns thick and is spun and then blended with the silk to give it a versatile look and strength. Hand woven Pashmina shawls blended with the silk has become the darling of the western fashion for its finest touch and elegance. This elegant blend of goat hair and silk is an unmatched fabric all over the world. Pashmina is a luxurious mix of soft Pashmina wool which is first spun and then hand woven over silk and is transformed into various end uses such as fabrics, shawls, stoles etc. shawls is generally 36 inches wide and 80 inches in length. The smaller one is called stole which is 28 inches to 80 inches. After being taken out of the looms according to the sizes required these fabrics are washed and are finally fringed with twisted silk tassels to make them into shawls, stoles, scarves. The most common blend contains 70% pashmina and 30% silk. There are also 60:40, 80:20 quality and 100% ones. Pashmina is the perfect accessory for any outfit and for any occasion.

patten   a clog, sandal, or overshoe often with a wooden sole or metal device to elevate the foot and increase the wearer's height or aid in walking in mud

pattern an outline of a garment on paper.  It embodies usually all the pieces necessary to cut a complete garment from material.

pattern makers take an existing sketch and create a 2-dimensional paper pattern. This pattern is used to cut pieces from cloth that will be sewn into a garment or other products.

pauldron   a piece of plate armor to protect the shoulder

PDM system Product Data Management system

peacock blue  a moderate greenish blue.

pea green  a moderate yellow-green.

peach  a variable color averaging a moderate yellowish pink.

pea jacket   a heavy woolen double-breasted jacket originally worn by sailors [Also called, pea coat]

pearl  a nearly neutral slightly bluish medium gray.

pearl gray a yellowish to light gray; a pale blue.

peau de soie   soft, satin-face, good quality cloth.   It has a dull lustre.  Has a grainy appearance, and is a characteristic in the cloth which may have a single or double face construction.  Fine close ribs are seen in the filling direction.  With the best grades, the fabric can be used on either side. Lower qualities are finished on one side only.  Name means "skin of silk".  Some cloth sold as peau de soie is really a delustered satin.  It doesn't have the grainy appearance.  Because of crosswise rib, fabric difficult to ease. Also sold as "delustered satin".

pebble effect  fabric with a rough, granite-like, irregular or pebble effect on the face of the fabric. Most often, the fabric is some type of crepe fabric.

pedal pushers   women's and girls' calf-length trousers

peep-toe pump a type of shoe.  The peep-teo is a subtle variation of the everyday pump with a cutaway at the front that reveals the toes.

peg top   peg trousers

peignoir   a woman's loose negligee or dressing gown

pelerine  a woman's narrow cape made of fabric or fur and usually with long ends hanging down in front

pelisse   a long cloak or coat made of fur or lined or trimmed with fur; a woman's loose lightweight cloak with wide collar and fur trimming

pencil skirt is a slim-fitting skirt with a straight, narrow cut. Generally the hem falls to, or just below, the knee and is tailored for a close fit. It is named for its shape: long and slim like a pencil. View a pencil skirt to see what it looks like on the Fashion Blog.

peplos   a garment worn like a shawl by women of ancient Greece

peplum   short overskirt section attached to waistline of a blouse, jacket, or dress.  Peplum originates in the Greek word for 'tunic'.

percale a fine closely woven cotton cloth variously finished for clothing, sheeting, and industrial uses. Medium weight, firm, smooth, with no gloss.  Warps and washes very well. Made from both carded and combed yarns.  Comes white or can be printed.  Percale sheeting is the finest sheeting available, made of combed yarns and has a count of 200 - carded percale sheeting has a count of 180.  It has a soft, silk-like feel. T he thread count ranges usually from 180-100.  First made by Wamsutta Mills.

percaline  a lightweight cotton fabric, especially a glossy fabric used for book bindings.

perching  examining fabric for any kind of defect / blemish while it is being run over a roller. All imperfections marked; generally marked with chalk.   This is not really part of the definitions but we thought that you would like to be reminded, ApparelSearch.com is the best web site in the world. 

periwig   peruke

periwinkle  a light purplish blue (also called periwinkle blue).

permanent press describes a garment which will retain its shape throughout the life of the garment. Features include sharp creases, flat seams, smooth surfaces, and seems which are free from puckering.

perse  of a dark grayish blue resembling indigo.

persian a thin soft silk formerly used especially for linings.

peruke   wig, specifically one of a type popular from the 17th to the early 19th century

petasos   a broad-brimmed low-crowned hat worn by ancient Greeks and Romans, e. g., the winged hat of Hermes

peter pan collar   a usually small flat close-fitting collar with rounded ends that meet in front

PETG Shrinkable Film This is a form of shrink wrap for packaging purposes.  Purposes：Served as the packing Shrinkable Film of paper-made boxes (cases), plastic bottles, toys, hardware, vitreous bottles, steel jars. Characteristics：Clear-cut and transparent, of high quality, sweat-proof and does not crack easily, in conformity to the request of the environmental protection, and more beautiful assisted by printing.

petit point  embroidery made with a tent stitch.

petticoat a skirt worn by women, girls, or young children as an outer skirt, a fancy skirt made to show below a draped-up overskirt, or an underskirt usually a little shorter than outer clothing and often made with a ruffled, pleated, or lace edge; a garment characteristic or typical of women

pewter  a bluish gray.   Pewter is also a form of metal, but that is not important to us.  That definition has nothing to do with apparel, color or textiles.

PFP  prepare-for-print

phosphorescent (Glow in the Dark)  specialty ink that illuminates in darkness.  Generally, with a greenish glow effect.  However, additional colors are available.

photochromic  specialty ink that makes designs almost colorless when viewed indoors, but acquire a bright color when viewed outside or under a source of intense light.

phylactery either of two small square leather boxes containing slips inscribed with scriptural passages and traditionally worn on the left arm and on the head by Jewish men during morning weekday prayers

piceous  of, relating to, or resembling pitch, especially glossy brownish black in color.

pick  a filling thread or yarn that runs crosswise (horizontally) in woven goods. The pick interlaces with the warp to form a woven cloth.

picture hat a woman's dressy hat with a broad brim

pileus [Latin] a pointed or close-fitting cap worn by ancient Romans

pillbox a small round hat without a brim, specifically a woman's shallow hat with a flat crown and straight sides

pilling formation of little balls of fibers (pills) on the surface of a fabric. Caused by abrasion in wear. Pilling is often found when producing flannel. Better quality, has less pilling.

pillor lace being worked over a pillow on which the pattern is marked.  Lace made with a bobbin.

pillow lace  lace made with a bobbin.

pima cotton  a cotton that produces fiber of exceptional strength and firmness and that was developed in the southwestern U. S. by selection and breeding of Egyptian cottons.  An excellent long staple variety grown in Arizona , New Mexico, Texas and California.  It is a cross between Sea Island Cotton and Egyptian Cotton with fiber length averaging 1 1/2". The "SuPima" certification mark is used only when the product is made entirely from Southwestern extra-long staple cotton grown by members of the SuPima Association of America.

pin like a needle but without the eye, it has a circle top

pin check, pinhead, pick and pick   worsted, also made in cotton and rayon.  Twill.  A minute check effect caused by a combination of weave and color.  It has the appearance of tiny white dots repeating in rows, vertically, and horizontally. Holds a sharp crease, tailors and wears exceptionally well.  In time, it is inclined to shine with wear.  Men's suits, women's tailored suits and skirts. In cotton, it usually has a white dot on a blue ground and it is used for work clothes.

pi
a cloth  a lustrous transparent cloth of Phillipine origin that is woven of silky pineapple fibers.

pinafore a sleeveless usually low-necked garment fastened in the back and worn as an apron or dress

pink  of a group of colors bluish red to red in hue, of medium to high lightness, and of low to moderate saturation.  A fox hunter's coat of a scarlet color distinctive of this sport and called pink

pinking a method of adorning dress by decorative perforating fabric with tiny slits. In use from mid 16th century until 1630s.

pinking shears  scissors that are used for cutting fabric. The blades of which are saw-toothed instead of straight. Learn more from the Wikipedia definition of pinking shears.

pinkish somewhat pink.

pinner a woman's cap with long lappets worn in the 17th and 18th centuries

pinny pinafore [Usually a child's term]

pinstripe a suit with pinstripes, namely a very thin stripe especially on a fabric [Often used in plural].  A pattern of very thin stripes running in parallel found in cloth is also called pin stripes. Although found mostly in men's suits, any type of fabric can be pin striped.

piping a narrow tube of fabric, sometimes enclosing a cord, used for trimming seams and edges, as of slipcovers or suits. 
piping cuff a narrow tube of fabric enclosing a sleeve.

piqu
  durable ribbed clothing fabric of cotton, rayon, or silk.  Lengthwise rib, English crosswise rib or cord weave.   Originally was a crosswise rib but now mostly a lenghtwise rib and the same as bedford cord.  Ribs are often filled to give a more pronounced wale (cord weave).   Comes in medium to heavy weights.  It is generally made of combed face yarns and carded stuffer yarns. It is durable and launders well.  Wrinkles badly unless given a wrinkle-free finish.  Also comes in different patterns besides wales. The small figured motifs are called cloque.  Some of the patterns are birdseye (small diamond), waffle (small squares), honeycomb (like the design on honeycomb honey). When the fabric begins to wear out it tends to wear at the corded areas first.

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Textile Glossary