The Branded Merchandise & Decoration Glossary

A logistics company that handles warehousing, inventory management, and shipping on behalf of another business. Succinctive operates as a 3PL within its own warehouses.

European-led ethical manufacturing code covering workers' rights, fair wages, working hours, and health and safety. Widely recognized in EU procurement.

Related: WRAP, SA8000, Sedex / SMETA

The statistical sampling standard used to inspect a production run. Defines how many units in a batch can have defects before the batch is rejected.

The area of a printed design that extends beyond the intended trim line, ensuring no white edges appear after cutting or trimming.

Certification for chemical and environmental management in textile production. Indicates a fabric was made under environmentally responsible conditions.

A complete list of every component required to produce an item, fabrics, threads, trims, packaging, decoration elements.

The discipline of ensuring every produced item matches the brand's documented standards, PMS colors, logo placement, prohibited combinations.

Related: Brand Standard, PMS (Pantone Matching System)

The documented set of rules governing how a brand is visually represented, colors, logos, fonts, placement, prohibited usages.

Grouping multiple SKUs into a single shippable unit.

Related: Kitting, Pack-out

US federal law requiring that products purchased for government use be manufactured domestically. Relevant for federal contractors and government suppliers.

Cotton that has been carded (combed) once. Lower quality than ringspun or combed cotton; produces a slightly rougher fabric.

A textured, fuzzy patch with raised looped yarn. Used in varsity letterman gear and retro/throwback designs.

Related: Embroidered Patch, Woven Patch

The four-color process printing model (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) used in digital and offset printing. Different gamut than PMS spot colors.

Related: PMS (Pantone Matching System), Spot Color, Process Color

A fabric or decoration's resistance to fading or bleeding after washing, exposure to light, or other stresses.

Cotton fibers combed to remove short fibers and impurities, resulting in a smoother, stronger, finer yarn than carded cotton.

Related: Ringspun Cotton, Pima Cotton

The country where a product was manufactured. Required documentation for many regulatory regimes including Buy American Act and customs duty calculations.

A protocol used to transmit purchase orders and catalog data between procurement systems and suppliers. Standard for PunchOut catalog integrations.

Related: PunchOut Catalog, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

An international shipping arrangement where the seller delivers to a destination but the recipient handles import duties and fees.

Related: DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

An international shipping arrangement where the seller pays all import duties, taxes, and customs fees. Recipients receive shipments without additional charges.

Related: DAP (Delivered at Place)

A decoration method that presses a design into a material, creating a recessed impression. Common on leather and structured paper goods.

Related: Embossing, Foil Stamping

The process of converting artwork into an embroidery-readable stitch file. A high-quality digitization determines how clean the embroidered logo looks.

A screen printing technique that removes (discharges) the garment's dye and replaces it with new color, resulting in a soft hand-feel. Works only on certain dyed fabrics.

A printing method where artwork is printed onto a film and then heat-pressed onto a garment. Works on most fabrics, supports full color, more durable than HTV.

Related: DTG (Direct-to-Garment), Heat Transfer / HTV

A printing method where ink is sprayed directly onto a garment by a specialized inkjet printer. Best on 100% cotton; supports photo-realistic full color.

Related: DTF (Direct-to-Film)

A decoration method that presses a design into a material to create a raised impression.

Related: Debossing

A patch made of thread stitched onto a twill backing. Classic patch aesthetic; limited to thread colors.

Related: Woven Patch, Chenille Patch

A decoration method where designs are stitched into fabric using thread. Durable, premium feel; works on most fabrics 4 oz and heavier.

Related: Digitizing, Stitch Count

Business management software that integrates procurement, finance, inventory, and operations. Common ERPs in branded merch contexts: Workday, SAP, Oracle, Coupa.

A decoration method that applies metallic or pigmented foil to a surface using heat and pressure. Common on premium leather and paper goods.

The process of receiving an order, picking the items, packing them, and shipping to the recipient.

Related: Pick-and-Pack, Kitting

A garment that was dyed after construction (rather than dyeing the fabric before sewing). Produces a soft, lived-in look and slight color variation between garments.

Related: Pre-Shrunk

The leading certification for organic textiles. Covers organic fiber content, environmental criteria, and social criteria across the supply chain.

Related: GRS (Global Recycled Standard), OEKO-TEX Standard 100

Certification for recycled content in materials. Verifies the percentage of recycled material and tracks chain of custody.

Related: RCS (Recycled Claim Standard), GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)

The metric measure of fabric weight. Higher GSM equals heavier fabric. Common ranges: 140 GSM (lightweight tee) to 350+ GSM (heavyweight hoodie).

Related: Ounce Weight (oz)

A printing technique that uses dots of varying size or spacing to simulate continuous tones or gradients in screen printing. Allows printers to reproduce photographic-style images with limited inks.

An e-commerce architecture where the storefront (front end) is decoupled from the back-end commerce engine. Allows custom user experiences while using a robust commerce backend.

Related: Storefront

A decoration method that applies a pre-cut or pre-printed vinyl design to a garment using heat. Fast turnaround for small quantities; less durable than screen print.

Related: DTF (Direct-to-Film)

A six-character hexadecimal code representing a digital RGB color (e.g., #1A2B3C). Used in digital design but does not translate to accurate printing colors.

Related: RGB, PMS (Pantone Matching System)

A patch edge sealed by heat-cutting. Thin, modern profile; common on woven patches.

Related: Merrowed Edge, Laser-Cut Edge

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule code used to classify imported goods for customs duty assessment. Determines the duty rate for each product.

The warehouse process of receiving incoming inventory, inspecting it, and entering it into the inventory system.

Shipping single units to individual recipients (vs. bulk shipping to one destination). Standard for onboarding kits, executive gifting, remote-team programs.

A heat-activated adhesive backing for patches. Convenient but less durable than sew-on; not recommended for performance fabrics.

Related: Sew-On Backing, Velcro Backing

Assembling multiple SKUs into a single kit for shipment to one recipient.

Related: Bundling, Pack-out

A decoration method that uses a laser to burn or etch a design into a surface. Common on drinkware, leather, wood, hard goods. Tone-on-tone result.

A patch edge cut by laser for clean, precise outlines in any shape. Most modern patch finish.

Related: Merrowed Edge, Hot-Cut Edge

The time from order placement to delivery, broken into production lead time plus shipping time. Varies by decoration method and quantity.

A patch made of genuine or faux leather, typically debossed or laser-engraved with a brand. Premium aesthetic.

Related: Embroidered Patch

A patch edge created by sewing a thick thread border around the patch perimeter. Classic patch look; limited to simple shapes.

Related: Hot-Cut Edge, Laser-Cut Edge

A type of rayon made from beech tree pulp. Soft, breathable, drapes well. Often blended with cotton for sustainable apparel.

A fabric property that draws sweat away from the skin to the fabric surface for faster evaporation. Common in performance and athletic wear.

The smallest order a manufacturer will accept. Varies widely by decoration method, manufacturer, and customization level.

A certification confirming that a textile has been tested for harmful substances. Indicates chemical safety in finished textiles.

An authentication protocol built on OAuth 2.0, used for SSO integration.

Related: SAML 2.0, SSO (Single Sign-On)

The imperial measure of fabric weight per square yard. Common ranges: 4.2 oz (lightweight tee) to 10+ oz (heavyweight fleece).

Related: GSM (Grams per Square Meter)

The final packaging stage where products are inserted into shipping cartons with any tissue, inserts, or branded packaging.

A printing method that uses a silicone pad to transfer ink from a plate to a curved or irregular surface. Common on drinkware, hard goods.

A Pantone color guide that shows PMS spot colors alongside their closest CMYK process equivalents. Useful when a project requires both digital and print reproductions of a color.

Related: PMS (Pantone Matching System), CMYK

Decorative emblems applied to garments or gear, available in many materials (embroidered, woven, PVC, leather, chenille, sublimated) and attached via various backings.

Related: Embroidered Patch, Woven Patch, PVC Patch, Leather Patch, Chenille Patch

The fulfillment process of selecting items from inventory (picking) and packing them for shipment.

Related: Fulfillment, Kitting

The formation of small balls of fiber on the surface of a fabric due to friction. More common on lower-quality cotton blends.

A premium long-staple cotton with extra softness, durability, and resistance to pilling. Native to the southwestern US.

Related: Supima Cotton

The most common screen print ink. PVC-based, opaque, durable, vibrant on dark garments. Slightly raised feel.

Related: Water-Based Ink, Discharge Printing

The industry-standard color matching system. PMS colors are specified as spot colors with a number and a coated (C) or uncoated (U) designation.

Related: Spot Color, CMYK, Color Fastness

A synthetic fiber known for durability, moisture-wicking, and color retention. Used in performance apparel and sublimation-friendly garments.

Related: Recycled Polyester (rPET)

A physical sample produced before the full production run, used to confirm specs, materials, and decoration quality. Approved by the client before bulk runs.

A fabric or garment that has been treated to minimize shrinkage in future washing.

Color reproduction using CMYK or four-color process printing.

Related: CMYK, Spot Color

A physical or digital sample of a decorated item, produced before the bulk run, used to verify color, placement, and decoration quality.

Related: Pre-Production Sample

A procurement system integration where buyers punch out from their ERP into a supplier's online catalog, then return with their selections as a PO. Standard for enterprise procurement.

Related: cXML, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

A soft-rubber-feel patch with raised 3D effect. Weather-resistant; common on outdoor gear, tactical apparel, headwear.

Related: Embroidered Patch

The inspection process to verify produced items meet specs and quality standards before shipment.

Related: AQL (Acceptable Quality Level), Brand Compliance

A permission model where access to features and products is determined by a user's role. Common in branded storefronts where different teams see different SKUs and budgets.

A certification verifying the percentage of recycled material in a product and tracking chain of custody.

Related: GRS (Global Recycled Standard)

Polyester made from recycled materials, typically post-consumer plastic bottles. Reduces virgin petroleum use.

Related: Polyester, GRS (Global Recycled Standard)

The alignment of multiple color layers in screen printing. Tight registration is critical for multi-color designs to look clean.

An automated threshold that initiates a reorder when inventory drops below a defined level. Common in active program management.

A digital color model based on Red, Green, Blue light. Used in screens, not in physical print.

Related: HEX, CMYK

Cotton yarn produced by ringspinning, fibers twisted together for strength and softness. Standard for premium tees.

Related: Combed Cotton, Carded Cotton

A social accountability certification covering child labor, forced labor, health and safety, freedom of association, discrimination, working hours, and compensation.

Related: WRAP, amfori BSCI

A protocol for SSO authentication via XML-based assertions. Commonly used with Okta and similar identity providers.

Related: OIDC (OpenID Connect), SSO (Single Sign-On)

A protocol for automating user provisioning and deprovisioning across systems. Often paired with SSO for enterprise identity management.

A decoration method where ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto fabric. Best for higher volumes and 1 to 6 solid colors.

Related: Plastisol, Water-Based Ink, Halftone

Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit, a comprehensive ethical audit covering labor, health & safety, environment, and business ethics. Audit reports available to client compliance teams.

Related: WRAP, amfori BSCI

A patch backing intended for stitched attachment. Most durable patch attachment method.

Related: Iron-On Backing, Velcro Backing

A garment construction style where the side panels are sewn together with a separate seam (vs. tubular construction). More tailored fit, common in premium apparel.

Related: Tubular Construction

A unique identifier for a specific product variant, e.g., the navy small polo is one SKU; the navy medium polo is another.

A fabric texture characterized by intentional irregularities in the yarn, creating a slightly nubby surface. Common in heathered tees.

A detailed document specifying every dimension, material, color, and construction detail of a garment or product.

Related: Tech Pack, BOM (Bill of Materials)

A solid color reproduced using a single pre-mixed ink (typically a PMS color). Used in screen printing and other spot-color-based decoration methods.

Related: PMS (Pantone Matching System), Process Color

An authentication method allowing users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials. Common providers: Okta, Microsoft Entra, Google.

Related: SAML 2.0, OIDC (OpenID Connect), SCIM (System for Cross-Domain Identity Management)

The typical production lead time for a given decoration method at a given quantity, before any rush or expedite fees.

Related: Lead Time

The total number of stitches in an embroidered design. Drives embroidery cost more than logo size. Typical: 6,000 to 15,000 stitches for a left-chest logo.

Related: Embroidery, Digitizing

A branded e-commerce site where end-users (employees, customers, partners) order branded merchandise. Often built on Shopify or headless platforms.

Related: Headless Commerce

A patch with photo-realistic full-color print on a white polyester base. Best for designs requiring photographic color or complex gradients.

A decoration method where dye is heat-transferred and infused into polyester fabric. Photo-realistic full color; only works on light-colored polyester. Permanent, won't crack or fade.

Related: DTG (Direct-to-Garment), DTF (Direct-to-Film)

A trademarked premium variety of American Pima cotton. Extra-long staple, exceptionally soft.

Related: Pima Cotton, Ringspun Cotton

A care label designed to be removed cleanly without leaving residue or damaging the garment. Common in private-label and resale apparel programs.

A detailed document used to communicate every aspect of a garment's design and construction to a manufacturer.

Related: Spec Sheet, BOM (Bill of Materials)

A sustainable wood-pulp-based fiber made by Lenzing through a closed-loop production process. Soft, drapes well, biodegradable.

A fabric blend combining cotton, polyester, and rayon (typically 50/25/25 or similar). The softest commercially available tee fabric; slight vintage feel.

A garment construction style without side seams (the body is woven as a continuous tube). Less expensive than side-seamed; baggier fit.

Related: Side-Seamed

A white or light-colored ink layer screen-printed beneath the main design colors on dark garments, ensuring the top colors appear vibrant rather than dull.

A classification system for products and services used in procurement and reporting. Branded merchandise has its own UNSPSC codes for catalog cataloging.

A patch attachment using the hook side of Velcro on the patch and the loop side sewn to the garment. Allows removable/swappable patches. Common in tactical gear.

Related: Sew-On Backing, Iron-On Backing

A screen print ink that uses water as the solvent rather than PVC. Softer hand-feel than plastisol, more eco-friendly, but less opaque on dark garments.

Related: Plastisol, Discharge Printing

The certification body for women-owned businesses in the US. Many enterprise procurement programs include WBENC suppliers in supplier diversity initiatives.

Software that manages warehouse operations, inventory tracking, picking, packing, shipping, receiving. Provides the real-time visibility behind active program management.

A patch made of tightly woven threads (no raised texture, no stitching). Higher detail capability than embroidered patches; thinner profile.

Related: Embroidered Patch

The leading certification for ethical manufacturing in apparel and sewn-product industries. Audits cover labor practices, workplace conditions, environmental compliance, and security.

Related: amfori BSCI, SA8000, Sedex / SMETA