Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Haberdashery and notions are related but not identical terms. In the Bulgarian trade, “galanteria” (haberdashery) means textile supplies for sewing and apparel – elastics, ribbons, cords, lace, hook and loop. “Kinkaleria” (notions) is the older word for small household and sewing goods – needles, pins, buttons, small scissors, combs, little mirrors. In everyday speech both words often appear on the sign of the same shop, which is why they get mixed up.
Haberdashery and notions – where the words come from
Both terms are loanwords. “Galanteria” comes from the French galanterie, linked to refinement and courtesy; it was used for the fashionable small accessories that completed a lady’s or gentleman’s outfit. “Kinkaleria” comes from the French quincaillerie – small metal goods, hardware. In the early 20th century, notions shops in Bulgaria sold everything small and metal for the home and for sewing, while haberdashery shops carried the more refined textile and fashion items.
Over time the ranges merged. Today a sign reading “Notions and Haberdashery” usually means a shop where you will find threads, yarns, buttons, zips, elastics, ribbons, needles and scissors in one place.
What is passementerie
Passementerie (from the French passementerie) is the decorative side of haberdashery: braids, piping, fringes, tassels, knitted and woven borders, decorative cords. The term is used more in interior textiles – curtains, furniture, cushions – and in theatre, stage and folk costumes. In the garment industry, passementerie is treated as a subgroup of haberdashery and is bought the same way – by the metre, by width and colour.
Leather goods – an entirely different meaning
The Bulgarian expression “kozhena galanteria” (literally “leather haberdashery”) does not mean sewing materials. It refers to finished leather products: wallets, belts, bags, cases, gloves, key rings – what English calls leather goods. Leather goods makers also buy accessories – buckles, rings, eyelets, zips, metal logo plates – but these are metal accessories and fastenings, not textile haberdashery. If you are looking for metal components for such products, browse the accessories category.
The terms compared
| Term | What it covers | Typical items | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haberdashery | textile supplies for apparel | elastics, ribbons, cords, lace, hook and loop | garment production, ateliers, lingerie |
| Notions | small goods for sewing and the home | needles, pins, scissors, buttons, thimbles | retail, home sewing |
| Passementerie | decorative borders and braids | fringes, tassels, braids, piping | interiors, costumes, folk dress |
| Leather goods | finished leather products | wallets, belts, bags | fashion accessories |
Why terminology matters in production
When a brand or factory sends an inquiry, an imprecise word can lead to the wrong quote. “We need trims for the jacket” could mean a cord with cord ends for the hood, elastic for the cuff, tape for the hanging loop – or all of these together. Good practice is to list the items separately and give their parameters.
- Type: knitted or woven elastic, satin or grosgrain ribbon, round or flat cord.
- Width or diameter: in millimetres.
- Composition: polyester, polyamide, cotton, blend.
- Colour: Pantone code or a fabric swatch.
- Quantity: in metres or number of rolls, broken down by colour.
- Application: where it goes and what loads it will bear.
This way the supplier can offer the exact item or an equivalent, and you will be comparing quotes for the same thing.
Haberdashery in a shop vs haberdashery wholesale
Most searches for a haberdashery in a particular city lead to neighbourhood shops that sell at retail – a few metres or a single button at a time. They are handy for home sewing, alterations and small ateliers. Series production, however, needs large, repeatable quantities from one batch, the option of a custom colour and samples before the order. That is what a manufacturer or wholesaler working directly with garment factories and brands provides.
The practical difference also lies in documentation: when you buy wholesale you get an article number that lets you order exactly the same material for the next collection. In a retail shop the stock changes, and next month the same ribbon may no longer be there.
How to order the right haberdashery
If you are not sure what a material is called, send a photo or a piece of it. An experienced supplier will recognise whether it is herringbone tape, knitted elastic or a passementerie braid and suggest a suitable item. For decorative borders and braids see the ribbons section, and for drawstrings and casings – cords.
Other words that are often confused
- Braid and ribbon – a braid is a decorative woven or knitted band, often with relief or a pattern; “ribbon” or “tape” is the broader term and also covers plain functional tapes.
- Piping and bias binding – piping is a round or flat strip sewn into a seam as a decorative edge; bias binding is a strip cut on the bias of the fabric and used to bind curved edges.
- Elastic and elastic tape – in practice they are synonyms, but in a specification it is better to state whether it is knitted, woven or round.
- Trims – in tech packs this is the term for all additional materials, including buttons, zips and labels.
Polkom – haberdashery and accessories from the manufacturer
Polkom is a Bulgarian company from Sofia with over 30 years of experience in manufacturing and wholesaling accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags. We offer more than 10,000 articles – textile haberdashery, buttons, zips, labels and metal accessories – and produce to order with the customer’s logo and colour. We make samples quickly and deliver across the EU. Describe what you need or send a photo via the contact form, and we will help you choose the right material.
