What Khakis Are Made Of
Published on 08.05.2020
Seams
How it all comes together.
Basic Seam
Where pieces of fabric are connected and sewn to form a garment.
Felled Seam
The smoothest seam out there, felled seams are perfect for making strong clothing with a streamlined, smooth shape.
Gusset
An extra piece of fabric that reinforces for strength.
Pleat
The inner seam of a garment. In khaki pants, it runs from the crotch down to the bottom of the leg.
Rivet
A piece of metal hardware that helps reinforce a garment.
Vents
Little vertical slits cut into the sides of a shirt. This provides a more streamlined fit, and is often found on men’s polo shirts.
Hems
The bottoms of pants and shirts.
Basic Hem
The edge of the fabric, where it’s been turned in and sewn.
Clean/Finished
The most classic of the bunch, this is what you’re used to: a simple, straight stitch that prevents fabric from fraying. You’ll see this on everything from button up shirts to chino pants.
Cuffed/Folded/Rolled
When you turn up the bottom of your pants and roll to your liking. Cuffing, folding and rolling are great for showcasing your boots, shoes, socks or ankles — and look great with tapered pants.
Raw/Frayed
An unfinished edge, this is meant to get distressed over time in keeping with your personal style.
Stitches
How fabric is secured.
Bartack
A dense set of stitches at common points of stress or weakness in a garment. This technique adds strength and durability.
Chain Stitch
A looped design that forms a chain-like pattern with the thread. This stitch is great for embroidery and creating visually arresting detail.
Lock Stitch
The most common mechanical stitch. It’s done with a single needle and 2 threads that “lock” together and bind pieces of fabric to create a seam.
Top Stitch
If a garment is top stitched, it means you can see the thread on the outside of it. It’s usually finely done on the outer edges of things like pockets and necklines. You’ll notice this detail on many tees, button up shirts, and polo shirts for men.
Fit Terms
How we talk about fit.
Cropped
A garment that has been cut to a shorter length.
Inseam
The measurement along the length of the inner leg. When looking for the right pair of men’s pants, knowing your inseam is key; if you like to cuff the bottom, go with a slightly longer inseam than usual.
Leg OpeningLeg Opening
Where your feet come out of your pants. The smaller the leg opening, the more “tapered” the khaki.
Outseam/Sideseam
The measurement along the length of the outer leg from the top of the pants to the bottom of the pants.
Rise
The measurement from the bottom of the crotch to the center top of the waistband.
Seat
In the back of a pair of pants, the seat extends from the top of the pants to just below the pockets, where the legs begin.