- ease: factor taken into consideration when drafting a pattern-allowing extra measure at bust, waist, and hips, so garment will fit comfortably, not skintight
- eco-friendly: apparel made from natural fibers that were grown without pesticides, and finished with nonpolluting substances, or from manufactured fibers produced using less polluting processes, or from renewable resources or recycled materials.
- edging: narrow decorative border of lace, embroidery, brain, or fringe used for trimming on clothing
- Egyptian cotton: high-quality long-staple, strong lustrous cotton produced along the Nile River with staple averaging 1/8 to 1 1/2 inch
- embossing: a process to produce a raised design or pattern in relief on fabrics by passing the cloth between hot, engraved rollers that press the design into the fabric
- embroidery: fancy needlework or trimming using colored yarn, embroidery floss, soft cotton, silk or metallic thread. Usually done by hand but may be made on a sewing machine
- Empire: adjective used to describe styles worn by the First Empire in France (c. 1800-1814)
- Empire waistline: high-waisted effect with seam placed directly under the bust
- ensemble: an entire costume, including accessories, which is worn together
- epaulet: ornamental shoulder trim used on military uniforms, originally consisting of gold braid looped to form fringe around the edge
- eveningwear: used in the retail industry to refer to clothes worn primarily in the evening for formal or informal occasions
- eyelet: circular metal ring clamped on fabric through which a lacer is pulled
