HEM

A hem is the finished bottom edge of a garment (skirt, dress, trousers, sleeve) that determines its length and completes the silhouette. The edge is turned up and secured so that the fabric does not fray and the bottom lies evenly and holds its shape. The way a hem is finished depends on the fabric and the intent: the hem may be blind (invisible from the face), topstitched, finished with bias binding, a rolled hem or lace. The length of the hem is one of the key style decisions that determines the character of a piece (mini, midi, maxi). The evenness and neatness of the hem is an important mark of quality. A hem is a detail of finishing the bottom edge, in which the treatment of the bottom of a piece determines its length, ensures a clean, even edge and completes the silhouette, being at once a technical and a key style decision.