GLOVES
Materials:

Leather is still an important glove material. Kidskin, pigskin, calfskin and chamois are the most popular leathers. Cotton, nylon, wool and acrylic are the major fibers used in fabric gloves and these may be woven or knitted. Some gloves combine leather and fabric. Vinyl is also used for gloves.

Sizes:

Glove length is measured by button length (one button is equal to one inch) from the base of the thumb on up the arm. One button reaches to the wrist; eight buttons to the middle of the arm; twelve buttons to the elbow; sixteen buttons to the shoulder. Men's and women's gloves are measured by the quarter inch in leather and half inch in fabric. Sizes range from five and one half to eight for women and seven to ten for men. Children's glove sizes range from zero to seven and are usually equal to half the child's age (that is, a six year old would wear size three). Gloves made of stretch yarns come in even fewer sizes. Most women's knitted gloves come in only one size to fit all. Some dress cuts and sewn styles are available in two sizes, A (six to seven) and B (seven to eight).



Styles:

Driving Glove: Short leather or knit and leather glove with ventilating holes and extra stitching to
provide a better grip while driving. Often has an open back and a snap at the wrist. Originally designed for race car drivers, it has been adapted for a fashion look with sportswear.

Fingerless Glove: A glove with fingers ending below the center joint, or no fingers at all; may be a fashion style or style designed for aerobics or sports activities.

Gauntlet: Glove with a triangular insert so that the glove flares above the wrist.

Mittens: Gloves that delineate the thumb, but do not have the separate fingers.
Used primarily for children's wear.

Mousquetaire: Long glove, usually eight to sixteen buttons, that has a vertical opening with buttons above the wrist. This enables the wearer to slip off the section covering the fingers and tuck it into the arm section, rather than removing the entire glove.

Novelty Glove: A glove with unusual trimming or combination of materials.

Shorties: Wrist-lengh gloves with opening on the side or in the center (palm up); it may be fastened with a button or snap.

Slip-On: Glove that has no fastenings and is easily pulled onto the hand.

Work Glove: Any type of glove designed for a particular work-related activity; may include protective and industrial gloves.



© Copyright 1997, NFAA/FASA, New York, NY.
All rights reserved.