Okuzeka
Fashion & Textiles vocabulary · Garments & Their Parts

Waistband

Meaning in fashion & textiles, with examples

/ˈweɪstbænd/nounCore term

In fashion & textiles, waistband means: The band of fabric sewn around the top of trousers, a skirt or shorts, which holds the garment at the waist.

In Turkish: bel bandı, bel kemeri, bel

How it is used

Waistbands can be fixed, elasticated, drawstring or partly elasticated at the back. Fit comments refer to waistband measurements relaxed and extended, and to gaping at the back waist. Belt loops are attached to the waistband.

Example sentences

  1. The elasticated waistband should measure 34 cm relaxed on size S.

  2. Add a back elastic to the waistband to stop it gaping.

Common collocations

  • elasticated waistband
  • drawstring waistband
  • waistband height
  • high-rise waistband
  • zipA fastener made of two rows of metal or plastic teeth that lock together when a slider is pulled along them.
  • take inTo make a garment or part of it narrower or tighter by sewing the seams further in, for example at the waist or side seams.
  • measurementsThe sizes of the body or of a garment at specific points, such as chest, waist, hip and length, used for patterns, size charts and quality checks.
  • trimsAll the materials used on a garment apart from the main fabric, such as buttons, zips, labels, thread, elastic, tape and hangtags.

More terms: Garments & Their Parts

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