The waistband is a detail that finishes a garment along the waistline, securing the fit of trousers, a skirt or a dress. The waistband holds the whole garment on the body, determines its rise (high, classic or low) and at the same time shapes the waist. Structurally it can be rigid (attached, with an interfacing) or soft (elasticated or a drawstring casing). In folk dress the woven sash belt (kraika) had a special, even sacred meaning — it was woven or plaited and served as a talisman. Beyond function, the waistband sets the rhythm of the silhouette: a wide one accentuates the waist, a thin one stays unnoticed. It is the basic tailoring detail on which whether a garment sits comfortably and correctly depends.
