Glossary of Hosiery Terms

Boarding - The process applied to hosiery to improve the final presentation. When the hosiery is still damp from drying, it is pulled over a metal form and subject to pressure and heat. This sets the garment to its familiar leg and foot profile. (This is used only with non-stretch or polyamide products)

Circular Knit - Process in which modern seamless hosiery is made, which results in a tapered tube which is then sewn closed at the toe.

Control Top - Pantyhose or Tights produced with the body section composed of a heavier lycra content and weight to act as a light control garment.

Cotton Gussett - Cotton or cotton compound fabric sewn into the gusset or crotch of pantyhose to allow them to "breathe."

Cuban Heel - A rectangular design with a reinforced heel, usually with a backseam.

Denier - Related to the weight or fineness of the yarn which in turn relates to the sheerness of the hosiery. 20 Denier is standard, 15 denier is more sheer as in an Ultra Sheer.

Fiber Content - The composition of the yarn used in the garment. Most are nylon-lycra blends for more memory and durability or 100% nylon for sheerness and silkiness.

Flat Knit - The process used in making full-fashioned stockings, where the yarn is knitted flat on the machine and literally sewn together to form the backseam.

Fishnet - A smaller net design, which is taken form the construction of a fisherman's net, usually made with nylon-lycra blends. These are available both seamless or seamed, with various designs of lace or garter tops on both stockings and thigh-hi's. They are also available in pantyhose or tights.

Garterhose - The European term for suspender pantyhose. Made like a pantyhose but without the panty. The leg runs all the way to the waistband, but the panty portion has been eliminated.

Hold Ups - Also known as thigh hi's, stockings that stay up without the need for garters. True hold-ups usually consist of a decorative stretch lace top with a silicone band inside of the lace to help grip the leg.

Hosiery - General term meaning leg covering such as stockings, pantyhose, thigh-hi's, tights or socks.

Lacetop Stockings - These are traditional stockings with a lace top for added detail. They need to be held up with a garters.

Lycra - A term trademarked by Dupont for a man-made fiber which they developed. It can be produced in a range of types and deniers. It is most commonly combined with nylon for use in the hosiery industry.

Nylon - A man-made fiber made from petroleum. It is noted for its strength, sheerness and bright luster.

Nylons - A traditional term often used to describe the high gossamer stockings of the 50's and 60's. The time when stockings were made of 100% non-stretch ultra-sheer nylon.

Pantyhose - A one piece hosiery garment consisting of two sheer legs connected to a panty and waistband. Pantyhose are usually made of a 15 or 20 denier yarn and are transparent. Tights which are usually constructed of 40 denier yarn, are opaque and solid in color.

Polyamide - The European term for nylon yarn.

Sandlefoot - Also known as sandle-toe, they give the appearance of a nude foot. They can be worn with open toe or sandle style shoes.

Seamed - The term refers to hosiery which has a back seam sewn on it.

Sheen - This is a term sometimes called gossamer given to the glitter-like appearance of the stockings. 100% nylon non-stretch stockings and nylon-lycra blends have a very high sheen, which is their trademark.

Silicone - A rubber like polymer which maintains its elasticity over a wide range of temperatures. Used inside the lace top of thigh-hi’s to cling to the skin and keep the stocking up without garters.

Stockings - The popular use of this word has come to be anything worn on the legs. The traditional style can come with a plain top or a lace top and should be attached with garters.

Suspender Hose - Also known as garter hose. They are similar to a pantyhose but have no panty. The nylon leg runs all the way to the waistband while the panty portion has been eliminated.

Tights - These are pantyhose made of a heavier denier in opaque or semi-opaque yarns. They are usually dyed in deep colors and are more sporty and durable than pantyhose.

Ultra Sheer - This term refers to the very light deniers with very light transparency possessing a high sheen. Usually made of 100% nylon.