What is Garment | Classification of Garments

Definition of Garment:
What is garment? It is a common question for many people. Besides, garment is a common term of clothing. Sometimes garment is also called apparel. Actually a garment is a piece of clothing which is manufactured by fabric or textile materials for protecting human body and decorated purpose. These materials can be natural, cellulose and synthetic fibers. Generally, garment is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural products found in the environment, put together. There are many types of garments like woven or knitted with different names and uses. Garments can both metaphorically and literally bear the imprint of its wearers as objects that have been worn, carried or used to adorn, their persons.

Classification of Garments:
Garments could be classified based on several aspects as there is no standard classification system available. However, the garments could be classified based on the gender as male or female, or age as children’s garments. Generally, based on use, style and material, different varieties of garments show different styles.

Presently, the garments are classified based on the following aspects:

1. Types of fabrics:

Knit (T-shirt, sweater)
Woven (shirt, suitings and denim)
Nonwoven (diaper, socks)

2. Season:

Winter (jacket)
Summer (tank top)
Spring (singlet)
Autumn (shirt)
Late Autumn (shirt (design))

3. Events:

Party (fashion wear)
Active (regular wear)
Evening gown (outfit)
Night (soft fit)

4. Application:

Formal (collar shirt)
Swimwear (bikini, cover ups)
Sportswear (trouser)
Lingerie (inner wear, sleep wear)

5. Method of manufacture:

Readymade (complete)
Tailored (measurement)
Furnishing (automated)

6. Source:

Leather (leather)
Natural (leaf)
Artificial (fur fabric)

7. Gender and age:

Women’s (skirts)
Men’s (tongo)
Kid’s (toga)
Toddler (bibs)

8. Shape and styling:

Dresses (sari)
Shirts (neck wear)
Skirts (elastic and stitches)
Suits (official outfit)

9. Length of garment:

Shorts (panty wear)
Three quarters (cargo pant)
Full wear (pant)
Bermuda wear (thigh wear)
Pullover (stockings)

Harmonised System:
A harmonised system (HS) was established under the support of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) on 14 June 1983. The purposes of the HS are to-

Support international trade
Facilitate the collection and comparison of statistics
Facilitate the standardization of the trade documentation and transmission of data
Promote a close correlation among import and export trade statistics and production statistics

Classification and Categories of Garments Under Harmonised System:
The classification of readymade garments is highly complicated due to diverse assortments of fashions and at the same time highly sensitive because of the imposition of quantitative restraint under the Multi Fibre Agreement. The classification of garments under HS is shown in Figure.

Figure: Classification of Garments under Harmonised System (**Click on image for large size**)

References:

Apparel Manufacturing Technology by T. Karthik, P. Ganesan, and D. Gopalakrishnan
Garment Manufacturing Technology by Rajkishore Nayak and Rajiv Padhye

Mazharul Islam Kiron

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.