A structural fold in a garment used to manage volume, shape a silhouette, or allow for movement. The fabric is folded over and stitched down at the top, leaving the rest of the fold free to expand. They are essential in skirts, trousers, and tailored shirt backs to reduce waist bulk while providing fullness over the hips or shoulders.
Heard on the job
Baste the pleat down to the hip line before pressing it, otherwise the fold will warp under the iron.
Do not mix it up with
- Dart: A dart tapers to a point to contour fabric over a curve, while a pleat maintains a continuous fold line to control volume.