Selecting the Right Accessories for Garment Industry

In garment manufacturing, fabrics are not the only material to make garments. Several types of equipment are used here for both decorative and functional purposes.

Garment accessories are those items other than the main fabric of the garment that are an essential component of the production of the garment.

Accessories are the materials used to give a finishing touch to your clothing products. These are mainly used to finish, decorate, price, and pack the clothing.

Functions of Garments Accessories

Accessories are quite important in the garment production process, being utilized to fulfill several roles within a garment. Some of the functions are:

Used as ornamental items.
Make clothing more wearable and flexible.
Contribute to the durability of the clothing.
Various accessories are incorporated to meet client demand.
Make garments suitable for use.
Make them attractive and good-looking to increase sales.

Types of Garment Accessories

There are three types of garment accessories in general:

Basic accessories
Decorative accessories
Finishing accessories

1. Basic accessories

Buttons: is a little round device that is frequently affixed to an article of clothing to close a gap or to add decoration.

Zippers: often known as a zip fastener, is a common mechanism used to temporarily unite to ends of fabric. It’s found in apparel, luggage and other bags, sporting goods, camping equipment, and other everyday objects.
Linings: used to keep the garment’s shape while hanging and to give comfort by allowing it to slip over other clothing.
Interlinings: is a flannel fabric layer that is sewn between the face fabric and the standard lining. It provides insulation while also adding luxurious weight and softness, improving fabric drape, and protecting delicate fabrics.
Ribbons: is a thin band of flexible material, usually cloth but sometimes plastic or metal that is used primarily for binding and tying.

Velcro: The hook and loop fastener is made up of two woven polyamide tapes, one with very fine hooks and the other with very fine loops. They cling (stick) securely to each other when pressed together. This fastener can also replace buttons or zippers.
Elastic: makes clothing more comfortable for wearers. It is composed of rubber or elastic cores that are wrapped in polyester, nylon, or cotton fiber and then knitted, weaved, or braided.
Rivets: has two parts and requires an appropriate device to attach to denim or jeans garments for decorative and reinforcement (support).
Labels: provide customers with fundamental information regarding garment products such as size, material composition, brand name, care recommendations, and so on.
Toggles: is a small piece of wood or plastic that serves as a button. It is commonly found in coats or bags.

Sewing thread: is one of the most common types of trims used in garments and is a basic raw material used to form a garment and hold body parts together by making seams. It has a considerable impact on the end product’s appearance and durability.

Collarbone: is a thin, plastic made accessories which are inserted into the collar point for keeping the original shape.

2. Decorative accessories

Elastic tape: It is an elastic cotton strip which is highly elastic, flat, braided, and contains rubber or elastomeric fibers.
Buttonhole tape: is simply tape with holes in the center into which a button can be inserted.
Piping: an edge treatment made from strips of bias fabric used as a tailoring aid for edges, reveres, and collars.
Moiré ribbon: usually made of silk, but it can also be made of wool, cotton, or nylon. It has a wavy appearance, which is typically made by the calendaring technique.
Seaming tape: is a cotton or viscose twill woven tape to stop moisture and liquids from getting through.
Welted tape: a cotton or viscose tape has a narrow welt at the edge and is covered by a sewed cord.
Ribbed tape: is mainly made of cotton, silk or viscose, with evident ribs for decoration or for waistbands.
Bias binding: a tape cut on the bias (diagonally) in various widths and materials, plain or patterned, either flat or folded for use as binding. It is mainly used in making piping, binding seams, finishing raw edges, etc.
Stamped tape: interlining tape has pre-stamped marks made with specific designs, and the designs are transferred to the tape by heating arrangement to show sewing width and seam allowance.
Taffeta ribbon: is a luxury fabric which can be made of rayon, silk, or polyester. It is used in gowns and wedding dresses, and also in curtains and wall coverings.
Galloon: is a decorative accessory made of metallic gold or silver thread lace or embroidery for piping or binding in outerwear.
Fringes: is a narrow edging of projecting yarns and ornamental garment accessories hanging from a revealed edge or separate strip of garments.
Cords: circular braided materials of various thicknesses in viscose, cotton, or synthetics. Used as decoration for clothing, in household textiles, and in sporting goods.
Tassels: expensive, handcrafted silk or viscose items. A blend of fringes, cords, and braids.

Rosettes: is a decorative accessory, used either alone or in combination with ornamental textiles.
Soutache: a narrow, flat ornamental braid is mainly used to conceal a seam.
Pompons: bunches of wool, silk or synthetics are used as trimmings, hanging alone or in groups.

3. Finishing accessories

Carton: particular types of containers that are often made of paperboard are sometimes termed “cardboard”. Many different types of cartons are used to package clothing for transportation. The size of the cartons is determined by the buyer’s specifications, and the number of garments in each carton is specified on the order sheet.

Hanger: is a device in the shape of a human shoulder designed to aid in the wrinkle-free hanging of a coat, jacket, sweater, shirt, blouse, or dress, with a lower bar for hanging trousers or skirts and a clamp for hanging trousers, skirts, or kilts. Both types of hangers can be integrated into a single one.
Back board: is used inside of a shirt fold.
Butterfly: used to improve collar spread quality at the neck bottom.
Patch:is a kind of trim made from fabric, leather, or other materials, which is attached to the garment by sewing or heat transfer. Patches are generally used on jeans and tops items.
Polybag: is a type of plastic bag used to pack apparel. The garment is folded as directed on the order sheet before being packed. There are two types of polybags used in garment packing: single polybags (which contain only one garment) and blister polybags (which contain more garments). When placing the clothing into blister polybags, the packing guidelines must be followed.
Safety Pin: includes a light spring mechanism and a hook and is used to bind the pieces of fabric or clothing together.
Tag pin: used to attach a “price tag” to a garment, stuffed toys, textile articles, shoes, carpets, ladies’ purses, and other articles.
Tissue paper: is used during the finishing and wrapping processes for packing, stuffing, pleating, cushioning, interleaving, draping, wrapping, and void filling. Packing tissue paper provides protection during shipping

Hand tag: are intended to draw attention to the garments and are typically hanging on the side of the garment, sometimes in front of the button line, so that shoppers can easily see them. Hangtags are printed paper tags fastened to clothing with a plastic staple or string. They normally display the brand name, style number, and so on. It is considered one of the final touches.

Price tag: a type of tag that is printed with the garment’s sale price. It is typically supplied by the buyer. Typically, the merchandiser takes it from the buyer and delivers it to the folding section.
Scotch tape: is a clear sticky tape that is sold in rolls and that you use to stick the carton covers filled with garments.
Plastic clip: are transparent clips that are used in the textile industry to keep clothes and textile swatches neatly folded.
Collar insert: is a part of the packaging given to provide firm support to shirt collars.

Selection of Garment Accessories

Manufacturing garments and transporting them to the buyer, accessories play an important role in apparel manufacturing. Trims and accessories are typically chosen based on the type of accessory, the type of product, and whether the accessories are intended for men’s, women’s, or children’s clothing. Typically, for value-added items, clothing accessories should be picked from certified suppliers after passing quality inspection in accordance with international standards. When choosing clothing accessories for youngsters, exercise caution.

These must be chosen in such a way that they complement the outer fabric both aesthetically (in terms of decoration) and practically (in terms of ensuring that the garment performs as expected in its intended end use).