Custom headwear involves more vocabulary than you'd think. Fabrics, construction methods, decoration techniques, and compliance certifications all have specific names — and the right choice at each step determines the final product's feel, performance, and price. This glossary covers the terms we use every day on the factory floor.
Cotton Twill
棉斜纹 · コットン・ツイル · 코튼 트윌 · Sarga de algodón · Baumwoll-Twill · Sergé de coton · Sarja de algodão · قطن تويل
What it is: A fabric with a diagonal twill weave, made from cotton or a cotton blend. Its hand feel, durability, shrinkage and shape retention depend on the yarn, weave, weight and finishing.
How we use it: Common for cap crowns and brims. Specify fiber content, fabric weight, weave, finish and color, and verify shrinkage, colorfastness and appearance after the agreed care tests.
Polyester
涤纶 · ポリエステル · 폴리에스터 · Poliéster · Polyester · Polyester · Poliéster · بوليستر
What it is: A synthetic fiber used in woven, knitted and mesh fabrics. Moisture management, drying, colorfastness, stretch and wrinkle resistance vary with the yarn, fabric construction, dyes and finishes.
How we use it: Used in sports and outdoor headwear, bags and cotton-polyester blends. Specify virgin or recycled content, fabric construction and required performance, then verify relevant test results.
Acrylic
腈纶 · アクリル · 아크릴 · Acrílico · Acryl · Acrylique · Acrílico · أكريليك
What it is: A synthetic fiber often used to create a soft, wool-like hand feel in knitwear. Warmth, pilling, shrinkage and care requirements depend on the yarn and garment construction.
How we use it: Common in knit beanies, scarves and gloves. Specify yarn composition, gauge, weight and finishing, and verify measurements, pilling and colorfastness against the product requirements.
Wool Felt
羊毛毡 · ウールフェルト · 울 펠트 · Fieltro de lana · Wollfilz · Feutre de laine · Feltro de lã · لباد صوفي
What it is: A nonwoven material made by matting wool fibers, commonly with heat, moisture and pressure. Density, stiffness and water resistance depend on the felt construction and any applied finish.
How we use it: Used for fedoras, trilbies, flat caps and other millinery styles. Specify wool content, density, thickness, stiffening and finish, and approve the blocked shape and surface quality.
Canvas
帆布 · キャンバス · 캔버스 · Lona · Canvas · Toile · Lona · قنب
What it is: A plain-weave fabric, commonly cotton or a cotton blend, available in a range of weights and finishes. It can provide a firm hand and textured surface, but durability and softness vary by construction.
How we use it: Used for bucket hats, panel caps, tote bags and backpacks. Specify fiber content, weight, weave, coating or wash treatment, and verify shrinkage, seam performance and colorfastness.
Nylon
尼龙 · ナイロン · 나일론 · Nylon · Nylon · Nylon · Nylon · نايلون
What it is: A synthetic fiber used for lightweight woven and knitted fabrics. Strength, drying behavior, water resistance and packability depend on the yarn, weave and finishes; a ripstop weave can be specified where tear resistance is important.
How we use it: Used in running caps, fishing hats, packable hats and bags. Specify fabric type, weight, ripstop construction if needed, and coating or water-repellent finish, then verify the required tests.
Recycled PET
再生 PET · リサイクル PET · 재활용 PET · PET reciclado · Recyceltes PET · PET recyclé · PET reciclado · PET مُعاد تدويره
What it is: Polyester made with recycled polyethylene terephthalate feedstock. Recycled content does not by itself establish the product's full environmental footprint or identical performance in every fabric.
How we use it: Specify the required recycled-content percentage and feedstock where relevant. Verify scope certificates and transaction documents for any claimed chain-of-custody standard, and test the finished fabric for required performance.
Organic Cotton
有机棉 · オーガニックコットン · 오가닉 코튼 · Algodón orgánico · Bio-Baumwolle · Coton bio · Algodão orgânico · قطن عضوي
What it is: Cotton produced and handled according to the requirements of a stated organic program. A product claim depends on certified content and chain of custody, not simply on the fiber name.
How we use it: Specify the applicable standard, such as GOTS or OCS, and the required certified content. Verify certificate scope, validity, supplier coverage and transaction documentation for the order.
Merino Wool
美利奴羊毛 · メリノウール · 메리노 울 · Lana merina · Merinowolle · Laine mérinos · Lã merino · صوف ميرينو
What it is: Wool from Merino sheep, generally selected for fine fibers and a soft hand feel. Warmth, moisture behavior, odor resistance and itch perception vary with fiber grade, yarn, knit and individual wearer.
How we use it: Used in knit beanies, scarves and gloves, alone or in blends. Specify wool content, fiber or yarn grade, knit gauge and care requirements, and verify shrinkage, pilling and colorfastness.
5-Panel
五片帽 · 5パネル · 5패널 · 5 paneles · 5-Panel · 5 panneaux · 5 painéis · 5 قطع
What it is: A cap construction made from five main crown panels, commonly one front panel, two side panels and two back panels. Overall structure, fit and airflow depend on the pattern, lining and materials rather than panel count alone.
How we use it: Common for camp caps and selected streetwear or sports styles. Specify the panel pattern, front-panel construction, crown depth, closure and decoration placement, and approve a fit sample.
6-Panel
六片帽 · 6パネル · 6패널 · 6 paneles · 6-Panel · 6 panneaux · 6 painéis · 6 قطع
What it is: A cap construction made from six main crown panels joined toward the top of the cap. It can be made in structured or unstructured forms, with the center front seam affecting some decoration layouts.
How we use it: Used for baseball caps, snapbacks, dad hats and fitted caps. Specify crown profile, front-panel reinforcement, seam and button details, size range and logo placement, and approve the fit and decoration sample.
Structured Crown
硬顶 · ハードクラウン · 구조화 · Estructurado · Strukturiert · Structuré · Estruturado · منظم
What it is: A crown with reinforcement, commonly behind the front panels, intended to help the cap retain its silhouette. The resulting firmness and appearance depend on the interlining and construction.
How we use it: Specify the interlining type and placement, crown profile and desired front-panel firmness. Check the approved sample for shape, comfort and suitability for the planned decoration.
Unstructured Crown
软顶 · ソフトクラウン · 비구조화 · Sin estructura · Unstrukturiert · Non structuré · Sem estrutura · غير منظم
What it is: A crown made without stiff front-panel reinforcement, allowing a softer shape that follows the wearer's head more closely. Fit and drape still depend on the pattern, fabric and lining.
How we use it: Common for dad hats and soft or vintage-inspired styles. Specify crown depth, fabric, lining and closure, and approve fit, drape and decoration appearance on a physical sample.
Flat Brim
平檐 · フラットブリム · 플랫 브림 · Visera plana · Flacher Schirm · Visière plate · Aba plana · حافة مسطحة
What it is: A visor finished with little or no curvature at production. The final shape can change with handling or wearer adjustment, depending on the brim materials and construction.
How we use it: Often selected for snapback and streetwear styles. Specify brim dimensions, curvature, insert material, edge stitching and packaging, and inspect shape consistency in production samples.
Curved Brim
弯檐 · カーブブリム · 커브 브림 · Visera curva · Gebogener Schirm · Visière courbée · Aba curva · حافة منحنية
What it is: A visor shaped to a defined curve during manufacturing. Curvature, fit and recovery depend on the pattern, insert and stitching.
How we use it: Used in baseball, golf and other sports or casual caps. Specify brim dimensions and target curvature, and verify symmetry, shape and recovery on approved samples.
3D Puff Embroidery
3D 立体刺绣 · 3D パフ刺繍 · 3D 퍼프 자수 · Bordado 3D en relieve · 3D-Puffstickerei · Broderie 3D en relief · Bordado 3D em relevo · تطريز ثلاثي الأبعاد
What it is: An embroidery technique that typically stitches over a foam insert to raise elements of a design above the fabric surface. Achievable detail depends on artwork, foam, stitch settings and substrate.
How we use it: Best suited to suitably bold artwork rather than unrevised fine detail. Specify foam, thread, design dimensions and placement, and approve a sew-out for coverage, edges, registration and durability.
Flat Embroidery
平面刺绣 · 平刺繍 · 플랫 자수 · Bordado plano · Flachstickerei · Broderie plate · Bordado plano · تطريز مسطح
What it is: Embroidery stitched without a raised foam insert, leaving the design relatively close to the fabric surface. Suitable detail and coverage depend on the artwork, thread, stitch type and substrate.
How we use it: Specify artwork size, thread colors, stitch treatment and placement. Approve a sew-out on the actual material to check small text, density, puckering and backing requirements.
Woven Patch
织唛 · 織りパッチ · 우븐 패치 · Parche tejido · Gewebter Patch · Écusson tissé · Patch tecido · رقعة منسوجة
What it is: A patch or label created by weaving dyed yarns, allowing designs and small text to be formed within the weave. Detail, hand feel and durability depend on yarn, weave density, size and finishing.
How we use it: Specify artwork, dimensions, weave quality, border, backing and attachment method. Approve a physical patch for color, legibility and edge quality, and verify attachment and wash performance where required.
Leather Patch
皮唛 · 革パッチ · 가죽 패치 · Parche de cuero · Leder-Patch · Écusson en cuir · Patch de couro · رقعة جلدية
What it is: A patch made from genuine or synthetic leather and decorated by methods such as laser engraving, embossing or debossing. Genuine leather may develop patina; synthetic materials age differently.
How we use it: Specify material type and grade, thickness, color, decoration, edge treatment and attachment. Approve the mark depth and appearance, and verify material declarations and attachment performance.
Sublimation
热升华 · 昇華転写 · 서브리메이션 · Sublimación · Sublimation · Sublimation · Sublimação · طباعة التسامي
What it is: A heat-transfer dye process commonly used on polyester-rich materials, in which dispersed dye coloration becomes integrated with the fiber. Durability and color results depend on substrate, process control and exposure conditions.
How we use it: Useful for all-over and multicolor artwork on compatible materials. Specify fabric composition and color standard, then verify artwork placement, color approval, colorfastness and any cut-and-sew registration requirements.
SA8000
SA8000 社会责任 · SA8000 · SA8000 · SA8000 · SA8000 · SA8000 · SA8000 · SA8000
What it is: A social accountability standard covering areas including child labor, forced labor, health and safety, freedom of association, working hours and compensation. Certification applies only to the organization and scope stated in a valid certificate.
How we use it: Where required by an ethical-sourcing program, verify the certificate number, certified entity and site, scope, issuer and validity with the relevant certification body. Confirm any additional customer requirements.
Sedex SMETA
Sedex SMETA 审核 · Sedex SMETA · Sedex SMETA · Sedex SMETA · Sedex SMETA · Sedex SMETA · Sedex SMETA · Sedex SMETA
What it is: Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit, an audit methodology rather than a product certification. A four-pillar audit covers labor, health and safety, environmental assessment and business ethics; other audit scopes exist.
How we use it: Confirm the customer's required audit scope, site and reporting period. Review the complete audit report, nonconformities and corrective-action status, and verify report authenticity and site identity through the agreed channel.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
OEKO-TEX 100 · OEKO-TEX 100 · OEKO-TEX 100 · OEKO-TEX 100 · OEKO-TEX 100 · OEKO-TEX 100 · OEKO-TEX 100 · OEKO-TEX 100
What it is: An independent textile testing and certification system for harmful substances. Its meaning is limited to the certified articles, components and product class in the certificate scope and is not a blanket legal-compliance guarantee.
How we use it: When specified, verify the certificate number, holder, product class, covered components and validity through the official certificate check. Confirm destination-market legal requirements separately.
AQL 2.5
AQL 2.5 抽样 · AQL 2.5 · AQL 2.5 · AQL 2.5 · AQL 2.5 · AQL 2.5 · AQL 2.5 · AQL 2.5
What it is: An acceptance-quality-limit index used with a selected sampling plan under standards such as ISO 2859-1. It is not a simple allowance of 2.5% defective units; acceptance and rejection numbers depend on lot size, sample-size code and defect classification.
How we use it: Agree the sampling standard, inspection level, lot definition, AQL for each defect class and critical-major-minor definitions before inspection. Record the sampling plan and acceptance decision in the inspection requirements.
FOB (Free On Board)
FOB 离岸价 · FOB 本船渡し · FOB 본선인도 · FOB Franco a bordo · FOB Frei an Bord · FOB Franco à bord · FOB Livre a bordo · FOB التسليم على ظهر السفينة
What it is: An Incoterms rule for sea or inland-waterway transport under which the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment. Risk transfers at that point, with costs allocated according to the rule and contract.
How we use it: State the named port of shipment and applicable Incoterms version in the contract. Also agree vessel booking, export clearance, insurance arrangements if desired, documents and any terminal charges to avoid ambiguity.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
DDP 完税后交货 · DDP 関税込み配達 · DDP 관세 포함 인도 · DDP Entregado con derechos pagados · DDP Geliefert verzollt · DDP Rendu droits acquittés · DDP Entregue com direitos pagos · DDP سلم مدفوع الرسوم
What it is: An Incoterms rule under which the seller delivers goods, cleared for import, to the named destination and bears the applicable transport and import-duty obligations under the rule. Unloading and other contract-specific costs must be addressed separately.
How we use it: State the exact named destination and Incoterms version. Confirm importer-of-record arrangements, duties and taxes, customs data, delivery appointments, unloading responsibility and any excluded charges before quoting.
Pantone TPX/TCX
Pantone 纺织色卡 · Pantone TPX/TCX · Pantone TPX/TCX · Pantone TPX/TCX · Pantone TPX/TCX · Pantone TPX/TCX · Pantone TPX/TCX · Pantone TPX/TCX
What it is: Pantone textile color references: TPX identifies a paper-based format and TCX a cotton-fabric format. Perceived color still depends on substrate, texture, lighting and viewing conditions.
How we use it: Specify the color code, reference format and approved substrate. Agree tolerance and viewing illuminant, then approve lab dips or physical samples before bulk production rather than relying on screen colors alone.