term	description
CALF SKIN	Leather from the hides of young cattle. It has a soft, smooth texture which makes it desirable for the finest quality handbags.
CANVAS	Canvas is durable and attractive. It is probably the most popular fabric used in handbags. It is a heavy to light fabric with tight smooth weave. Canvas can be made of synthetic fibres, natural fibres, or a blend of the two. Often, canvas is chemically treated to make it repel moisture and resist stains.
CARPET BAG	A large bag made of carpet fabric. This was a popular travelling bag  used mainly in the US during the 19th century.
CHINTZ	A plain tightly woven cotton fabric with fine yarns and processed with a glazed finish, and is dyed in a print or solid colour.
CLASP	A fastening device used to hold two parts together. Many handbags have shoulder straps that are removable and with a clasp at each end to attach and detach the strap to and from the bag.
CLOSURE	A device such as a latch or snap, or method such as a draw string used to keep a compartment or pocket of a handbag closed.
CLUTCH BAG	A small designer handbag with no straps or handles, and is carried in the hand or tucked under the arm.
COMPARTMENT	A larger section of the interior of a handbag.
CORDUROY	A pile fabric with the pile cut into continuous narrow ridges. It was invented in France, and for years it was a favourite of royalty. The name of the fabric means "cord of the king".
COSMETIC CASE	A small piece of luggage, usually hard sided, designed to carry cosmetics and small accessories when travelling.
COWHIDE	The hide from a matured cow. It is grained leather especially popular for casual handbags.
CROCHET	Needlework fabric made by looping yarn with a hooked needle. Soft-sided handbags made with crochet needlework come in many different styles, colours, sizes, and textures because of the variety of stitches in crochet and knit needlework.
CREPE	Crepe is a light crinkled fabric made of various types of fibres.
DEMI-BAG	A small handbag with a carrying handle at the top which is designed to be carried in the hand or on the shoulder.
DENIM	A durable cotton twill fabric woven with fibres dyed indigo blue with white filling threads. The name of this fabric is said to have originated from the French - "serge de Nîmes".
DESIGNERS	A person who designs high-fashion clothing and accessories. Often the designer is also the manufacturer of the clothing and/or fashion accessories associated with the name of the individual designer.
DRAW STRING	A thin strip of fabric, leather, cord, or string that is woven through eyelets and when pulled it gathers together the top of a handbag or compartment in order to close it.
DUCK	Duck is similar to canvas, but heavier.
DUFFLE BAG	A large fabric bag with a cylindrical shape designed to carry personal belongings when travelling.
DUST COVER	Cloth bags with a drawstring made to store and protect a handbag when not in use. Many high fashion handbags come with dust covers with the designer's name or logo printed on the outside of the bag.
EDGE TRIM	A decorative material along the edges of a handbag such as leather, fabric, synthetic, etc. Edge trim can have the same colour but different texture than the main panels of the handbag such; as textured black leather with smooth black leather edge trim. It can have a contrasting colour such as; dark brown leather with tan leather edge trim. Edge trim can be made of a different material than the main panels such as; monogrammed canvas with leather edge trim.
EEL SKIN	A leather made from the long narrow skins of eels.  Skins are sewn together to make solid pieces in the construction of handbags or wallets.
EMBOSSED LEATHER	Embossing reproduces grain and other patterns on the leather surface. It may be used to duplicate a natural phenomenon-reptile grain may be embossed on smooth leather, or it may be used to create an entirely new effect. One popular embossed grain is Saffian, which gives a crosshatched texture to the leather surface.
EMBROIDERY	Fabric decorated with needlework
EYELET	A small hole or perforation rimmed with metal, plastic, cord, fabric, or leather, used for fastening with a cord, lace, drawstring, or hook.