Tailoring Glossary
Brief definitions of common sewing and repair terms. Helpful when you want to describe what needs fixing.
Sewing, repair and tailoring terms briefly explained. Helps customers describe the work they need.
- Zipper
- A garment fastener made of two rows of teeth, a slider and stops. Comes in metal, plastic and concealed (invisible) variants. Replacing longer zippers is the most common repair we do.
- Related: Zipper slider , Coil zipper , Metal zipper
- Zipper slider
- The moving part of a zipper that opens and closes the teeth. Often the zipper itself is fine but only the slider has worn out — in that case we can replace just the slider.
- Lining
- The inner layer of a garment — an additional fabric that makes it easier to put on, protects the main fabric, and gives shape. Coat and jacket linings wear out over time and need replacement.
- Hemming
- Folding and stitching the lower edge of a garment. Used to shorten trousers, skirts, dresses and coats. On jeans we can preserve the original hem.
- Alteration
- Changing the size, shape or style of an existing garment. Includes taking in, letting out, shortening, sleeve changes. Different from a repair, which restores the original condition.
- Related: Hemming , Repair
- Repair
- Fixing damage, wear or defects on a garment to restore its original condition. Includes patching holes, fixing seams, replacing zippers.
- Invisible mending
- A specialised technique for repairing holes or tears so that the result is almost invisible. Suitable for woollens and fine fabrics. Time-consuming but saves expensive garments.
- Tailor
- A skilled craftsperson who sews clothing to measure and performs complex alterations. An alteration atelier mostly adjusts and repairs ready-made garments, while a tailor also sews from scratch.
- Related: Sewing atelier / alteration shop , Made-to-measure
- Sewing atelier / alteration shop
- A workshop offering clothing repair, alteration and often custom tailoring. In Estonian, the terms ‘rätsepateenused’, ‘õmblusateljee’ and ‘parandusateljee’ are often used interchangeably.
- Made-to-measure
- A garment sewn to the individual measurements of a specific person, typically through 2–3 fittings. Offers a perfect fit and the freedom to choose fabric, cut and details. Women’s suits, wedding dresses and special-occasion garments are often made this way.
- Reinforcement patch
- An extra layer of fabric stitched from the inside to reinforce a worn or thin area before it tears. Classic example: reinforcing the inner thighs of jeans.
- Waistband adjustment
- Taking in or letting out the waistband of trousers or a skirt. Some constructions allow up to 4 cm of change, others only 1–2 cm — depends on waistband design and fabric.
- Parcel locker
- An automated locker for sending and receiving parcels. The major operators in Estonia are Omniva, SmartPost (Itella) and DPD. You can use a parcel locker to send us clothes for repair and pick them up once fixed — without ever visiting in person.
- Related: Postal service
- Postal service
- Clothing repair and alteration by post or parcel locker. The customer sends the garment to us, receives a quote, approves the work, and gets the repaired item back — anywhere in Estonia, without an in-person visit.
- Express service
- A faster turnaround for an additional fee — typically 1–3 working days instead of the standard 5–10. Good for urgent occasions like interviews, weddings or presentations.
- Coil zipper
- A zipper with plastic coil teeth — strong, flexible and quiet. Used on everyday garments, bags and jackets. Differs from metal zippers in appearance and reparability.
- Metal zipper
- Zipper with metal teeth — strong, durable, suitable for jeans and leather. Replacement is more labour-intensive than for coil zippers and sometimes requires opening the fabric layer.
