Textile Industry Glossary

ulster a long loose overcoat of Irish origin made of heavy material, as frieze

ultrasuede  is a fabric so unique, it's a category all its own. The product of exclusive Toray Group technologies that are as capital-intensive as they are impossible to duplicate, Ultrasuede delivers unparalleled luxury, appeal, performance and ease of care. The magic of Ultrasuede begins with ultra-microfibers so fine they cannot be seen by the human eye, ultra-microfibers so microscopically minute a single pound of them could be stretched from the earth to the moon and back.  Ultrasuede begins with polymer ultra-microfibers spun so light and fine, a strand measuring more than 50 miles long would weigh less than a gram.  These ultra-microfibers are extruded through protective spinnerets, creating what we call the "Islands in the Sea" configuration, with ultra-microfiber filaments "afloat" in each strand.  These strands are then transformed via a complex process that includes ironing, curling, cutting and needle-punching into a soft felt-like material which is then impregnated with a special adhesive binder. Once the material is formed, the protective polymer coating is dissolved with a solvent and the material is further processed to create a fabric that is, almost paradoxically, as soft and supple as it is strong and durable. Magnified thousands of times, this cross-section reveals the densely complex yet mono-layer structure of Ultrasuede.  The end result: Ultrasuede, a richly complex non-woven fabric offering an unparalleled combination of luxury, appeal, performance and ease of care for an extraordinary array of applications.

umber moderate to dark yellowish brown; a moderate brown.

undercoat a coat or jacket worn under another

underclothes underwear

underclothing underwear

underdrawers an article of underwear for the lower body

undergarment a garment to be worn under another

underpants short or long pants worn under an outer garment; drawers.

undershirt a collarless undergarment with or without sleeves

underskirt a skirt worn under an outer skirt, especially a petticoat

underwear clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing.  Boxer shorts, briefs, thongs, bikini, boxer briefs, panties etc.  Learn more about underwear from our underwear glossary section.

undies another word for underwear.  More of a slang word used in the English language.

uniform dress of a distinctive design or fashion worn by members of a particular group and serving as a means of identification; broadly, distinctive or characteristic clothing 

uniform dress of a distinctive design or fashion worn by members of a particular group and serving as a means of identification; broadly, distinctive or characteristic clothing

union suit an undergarment with shirt and drawers in one piece

unitard a close-fitting one-piece garment for the torso, legs, feet, and often the arms

unmentionable [Plural] pants, underwear.

upland cotton  a widely cultivated American cotton plant having short- to medium-staple fibers.

uplift a brassiere designed to hold the breasts up.  A term used for the word "bra".  The word "uplift" is rarely used in modern times.

Textile Glossary