Helpful Information

Glossary of Glove Terms & Materials

1. Absorbency	16. Inseam	31. Static Dissipative Gloves
2. Abrasion Resistance	17. Kevlar	32. Resiliency
3. Anti-Static Gloves	18. Keystone Thumb	33. Reversible Pattern
4. Aramid	19. Knit Wrist	34. Safety Cuff
5. Cleanroom Gloves	20. Lambskin	35. Sheepskin
6. Clute Cut	21. Leather	36. Sidewall
7. Cowhide	22. Leather Gloves	37. Silking
8. Cuff	23. Liners	38. Specific Gravity
9. Elasticity	24. Nitrile Gloves	39. Split
10. Fourchette	25. Nylon Gloves	40. Straight Thumb
11. Gauntlet Cuff	26. Pigskin	41. Suede
12. Grain	27. Pilling	42. Vinyl Gloves
13. Grip Gloves	28. Pique	43. Welt
14. Gunn Cut	29. Polyethylene Gloves	44. Whipstitch
15. Gussett	30. PVC Gloves	45. Wickability

1. Absorbency:

A fabric's ability to take in moisture. Absorbency is a very important property because it affects characteristics such as skin comfort, static build-up, shrinkage, stain removal, water repellency and wrinkle recovery.

2. Abrasion Resistance:

A fabric's ability to resist wear when continuously rubbed against another surface. Garments made from fabrics that possess both high breaking strength and abrasion resistance can be worn often and for a long period of time before signs of wear appear.

3. Anti-Static Gloves:

Gloves made with fibers that control static generation. Anti-static gloves will not build up nor remove an item's static charge.

4. Aramid:

See Kevlar.

5. Cleanroom Gloves:

Used in precision handling and assembly work. These gloves undergo a special washing and cleaning process to remove particulate matter so they don't contaminate products and their environment.

6. Clute Cut:

A glove style with a one-piece palm and no seam at the base of the finger. There are seams along the inside of the fingers, closer to the working area.

7. Cowhide:

The most durable garment leather; provides the best value. Cowhide leather can be made in all weights and textures. New technologies for finishing cowhide produce a buttery softness and suppleness. Cowhide is available in a wide range of shades and textures.

8. Cuff:

The cuff is the part of the glove extending beyond the palm, covering the wrist and part of the forearm.

9. Elasticity:

The ability to lengthen under tension and then return to the original length when released.

10. Fourchette:

The piece of leather sewn between the fingers on some kinds of gloves. Also known as the sidewall or gusset.

11. Gauntlet Cuff

A glove cuff designed to protect the forearm; generally 4.5 inches long. Easily slides on and off and allows for maximum movement of the forearm.

12. Grain

The once hairy side of the animal skin, i.e. the outside. Full grain has the original surface, whereas corrected grain has been abraded to make the leather smoother and more uniform. Regarded for its soft, grainy texture and appearance.

13. Grip Gloves

Designed for safer and easier material handling. These gloves usually have a raised PVC coating over soft knits to increase grip on slippery surfaces.

14. Gunn Cut

A glove construction with no seams on the back but a seam at the base of the middle fingers. Finger seams are further from the working area.

15. Gusset

The piece of leather sewn between the fingers on some kinds of gloves. Also known as the sidewall or fourchette.

16. Inseam

Seamed inside out and then turned. Strong, even, and not visible on the outside.

17. Kevlar"

Also known as aramid which is a generic name for aromic polyamide fibers. Aramid consists of synthetic polyamides in which at least 85% of the amide linkages are directly attached to the aromatic ring. Aramid fiber is difficult to ignite and does not propagate flame. Decomposes at about 900ﾰF (482ﾰC). Kevlar fibers and Kevlar fiber blends are commonly used in cut, abrasion and heat resistant gloves. Kevlar is a trademark of DuPontﾮ.

18. Keystone Thumb

A type of glove thumb that conforms to the natural shape and position of the thumb, resulting in superior movement and comfort.

19. Knit Wrist

A glove cuff designed to fit snugly to the wrist.

20. Lambskin

A luxurious, silky leather with a soft texture. Lambskin makes for a very wearable garment or great feeling accessory.

21. Leather

A hide or skin that has been preserved by a chemical process called tanning. Leather is the most ancient form of clothing known to man and only certain types are adaptable for gloves.

22. Leather Gloves

Leather gloves protect the hand and at the same time breathe, providing warmth without humidity. They mold to the hand for a custom fit, but move with the hand for dexterity and comfort. Most leather gloves are made with cowhide, lambskin, pigskin, or deerskin.

23. Liners

Generally worn as an underglove to avoid clamminess, perspiration and other irritations. They eliminate odors and reduce allergic reactions and rashes associated to latex and rubber gloves.

24. Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile is a soft elastic material with better puncture and abrasion resistance than latex or vinyl disposable gloves.

25. Nylon Gloves

Nylon fiber gloves are useful for their high strength, durability, low moisture absorption and comfort.

26. Pigskin

A durable leather. When tanned on the sueded side, pigskin produces luxurious lightweight and tight suede. When tanned on the grain side, it produces a durable Nappa. New tanning advances have yielded wonderful textures and gems of color, adding to pigskins's appeal and versatility.

27. Pilling

The formation of groups of short or broken fibers tangled together in the shape of a tiny ball (called a pill) on the surface of a fabric. Hydrophobic (water repellent) fibers tend to pill much more than hydrophilic (water absorbing) fibers.

28. Pique

(pronounced Pee-KAY) One edge of leather lapped over the other and chain stitched by a special machine with a small "post" for sewing inside the fingers. Used in sewing fine dress gloves and to sew leather palms to knitted gloves.

29. Polyethylene Gloves

Made from a high-density plastic and an economical choice for short term, low cost use where durability is not required.

30. PVC Gloves

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a widely-used plastic. An economical choice for short term, low cost use where durability is not required.

31. Static Dissipative Gloves

Gloves that eliminate and control static. Unlike anti-static gloves, static dissipative gloves will remove static buildup from an item.

32. Resiliency

The ability of a material to spring back to shape after being creased, twisted or distorted. It is closely connected with wrinkle recovery. An example of good resiliency is polyester.

33. Reversible Pattern

A type of glove construction that allows the glove to be worn by either hand since the thumb is situated perfectly on the side of the glove.

34. Safety Cuff

A glove cuff designed for general purpose. Usually a 2.5 inch cuff.

35. Sheepskin

Under the classifications of cabretta, capeskin and suede. Sheepskin taken from the hardy animals of cold and high altitude climates.

36. Sidewall

Narrow panel running down index finger and/or little finger side of glove for fuller fit and rugged look.

37. Silking

The draw stitch or design on the back of the gloves.

38. Specific Gravity

A fabric with a low specific gravity is one that can be thick and lofty but still lightweight. A good example is acrylic.

39. Split

When one thick skin is split into two thinner pieces, the top piece has the grain on one side while the bottom piece is sueded on both sides. It is the bottom piece that is referred to as "the split."

40. Straight Thumb

A type of glove thumb with a basic design that points vertically and is good for gripping.

41. Suede

The hair side of the leather that has been buffed by an abrading machine to give a soft, burnished effect.

42. Vinyl Gloves

See PVC Gloves.

43. Welt

A thin piece of leather sewn into the seam to strengthen it. Often a welt is used in the seam at the crotch of the thumb and the base of the finger. A welt protects threads against sparks and abrasion.

44. Whipstitch

Overseam. Most popular in casual and sport styled leather gloves.

45. Wickability

A fiber's ability to transport moisture away from the skin.