Corporate merch glossary: the terms we use every day
This glossary collects the technical, fiscal and compliance terms that come up most often in our conversations with corporate clients in Mexico and the United States. It is not a comprehensive dictionary of the textile, drinkware and printing industries — it is a working reference for the words you will hear from our production team, our design team and our compliance team. We update it whenever we add a new term to our internal vocabulary, and we publish the date of the last review at the bottom of the page.
A
Apparel. General term for clothing items produced as corporate merch, including T-shirts, polos, hoodies, jackets, caps, button-down shirts and workwear. Apparel programs are the largest category in our production mix and run the widest range of fabric, decoration and certification requirements.
Aluminum sublimation panel. A pre-coated aluminum sheet used as a printable substrate for recognition awards, signage and name plates. Sublimation dye bonds with the polymer coating to produce vibrant full-colour images. Common thickness: 0.5 to 3 mm.
Anti-pill finish. A fabric treatment that prevents the small fibre balls ("pills") that form on polyester and poly-cotton surfaces after repeated washing. Standard on fleece and on most performance apparel. Specified as "anti-pill" or "anti-pilling" on the technical sheet.
B
Backpack. A bag carried on both shoulders, typically with multiple compartments and padded straps. Common corporate merch item for tech conferences and onboarding kits. Sublimation and embroidery are the dominant decorations. MOQ typically 50 units per design.
Borosilicate glass. A type of glass with high thermal resistance, used for drinkware that needs to handle hot and cold beverages. More expensive than soda-lime glass but survives thermal shock from 0 to 200 degrees Celsius. Standard for premium tea and coffee mugs.
Brand book. The document that defines the brand mark, typography, colour palette, logo usage rules and tone of voice. Most corporate clients maintain a brand book at the global level; the regional brand book, when it exists, governs the local merch program.
C
Carded open-end cotton. Cotton spun using the open-end spinning method, with shorter fibres and a slightly rougher hand feel than ringspun cotton. Lower cost; standard for budget apparel runs.
Ceramic mug. The standard corporate mug material: AA-grade vitrified ceramic with lead-free and cadmium-free glaze. Microwave-safe and dishwasher-safe up to 800 cycles. Suitable for sublimation, pad print and screen print.
CFDI 4.0. Comprobante Fiscal Digital por Internet, version 4.0 — the mandatory electronic invoice format in Mexico. Issued by SAT-approved PACs (Proveedores Autorizados de Certificación). Every merch delivery wave requires a CFDI 4.0 with IVA 16% desglosado, the SAT product key, and the customs code for cross-border shipments when applicable.
Customs broker (agente aduanal). A licensed Mexican professional who handles the import and export paperwork on behalf of the importer of record. Required for any merch shipment crossing the US-Mexico border. The corporate client designates the customs broker for inbound shipments.
D
Decoration technique. The method used to apply the brand mark to the merch item — screen print, embroidery, sublimation, pad print, laser engraving, DTF (direct-to-film), debossing, hot stamping. Each technique has its own MOQ, colour profile and substrate compatibility.
Delta E. The standard colour-difference metric used to measure how close a printed colour is to a Pantone reference. Delta E under 2 is considered a perfect match; under 3 is acceptable for most brand books; above 5 is visible to the human eye. We measure Delta E with an X-Rite spectrophotometer against the chosen Pantone Solid Coated reference.
DTF (direct-to-film). A digital printing technique where the artwork is printed on a special film, coated with adhesive powder, and then heat-transferred to the substrate. Works on cotton, poly-cotton, polyester and most other fabrics. The dominant technique for small-batch runs and complex multi-colour logos.
E & F
Embroidery. Decoration technique where the logo is sewn onto the substrate using polyester or rayon thread. Digitised in a stitch file before production. Suitable for polos, caps, jackets, bags and any item above 180 GSM. MOQ typically 25 units per design; digitizing fee applies per logo.
Embossing. Decoration technique where the artwork is pressed into the substrate to create a raised or recessed design without ink. Common for leather goods, notebooks and premium packaging.
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). International non-profit organisation that certifies responsibly managed forests. FSC certification on paper, cardboard and wood indicates the raw material comes from a sustainably managed source. Required by many corporate sustainability programs.
Fulfillment. The process of picking, packing and shipping individual merch items to end recipients — typically direct-to-employee or direct-to-customer. Often runs from a third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse rather than from the production workshop.
G, H & I
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). The leading worldwide textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria. Backed by independent certification of the entire supply chain from harvesting of the raw material through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing.
GRS (Global Recycled Standard). International voluntary product standard for recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. Applies to recycled cotton, recycled polyester and other recycled fibres.
GSM (grams per square metre). The standard unit of fabric weight. Light apparel runs 140 to 170 GSM; standard runs 180 to 200 GSM; heavy runs 220 to 280 GSM. Heavier GSM generally means a more structured fabric and better print surface.
Heat transfer. Decoration technique where the artwork is printed on a special transfer paper and then heat-pressed onto the substrate. Common for small-batch runs of apparel and for names and numbers on uniforms.
Hot stamping. Decoration technique where a metallic or pigmented foil is transferred to the substrate using heat and pressure. Common for notebooks, packaging and premium recognition gifts.
IMMEX (Maquiladora Manufacturing Industry). Mexican federal program that allows temporary importation of raw materials, parts and components duty-free for use in manufacturing processes, with the finished product subsequently exported. Corporate merch imports for maquiladora operations must follow IMMEX procedures with the customs broker.
L, M & N
Laser engraving. Decoration technique where a laser removes the top layer of the substrate to reveal the underlying material or create a frosted effect. Used on stainless steel tumblers, glass drinkware, wood items and coated aluminium. No ink required; durable beyond any dishwasher cycle.
Letterpress. Decoration technique where the artwork is pressed into paper or cardboard using a metal or polymer plate. Common for premium packaging, business cards and greeting cards.
Mockup. A digital image showing the finished artwork on the chosen product, used for brand team approval before production. Mockups are not photographic samples; they are digital previews calibrated against the substrate and the decoration technique.
MOQ (minimum order quantity). The smallest order a supplier will accept for a given SKU, decoration technique or production run. MOQs vary by fabric, decoration, supplier and season. Standard apparel MOQ is 50 to 100 units per design; standard drinkware MOQ is 25 to 100 units per design.
NOM-004-STPS-1999. Mexican official standard governing the labelling of protective clothing, equipment and accessories. Applies to safety apparel and high-visibility garments produced for industrial clients.
P, R & S
Pad print. Decoration technique where a silicone pad transfers ink from an etched plate to the substrate. Suitable for curved or irregular surfaces including mugs, bottles and pens. Up to four colours per pass.
Pantone. Proprietary colour-matching system widely used in graphic design and printing. The Pantone Solid Coated guide is the reference for screen print colour matching; the Pantone Solid Uncoated guide is used for paper substrates. We measure Pantone accuracy in Delta E.
Piqué. A weaving pattern that produces a textured surface with a waffle-like appearance, used in polo shirts. Piqué cotton is heavier and more structured than jersey cotton; embroidery is the dominant decoration.
Plastisol ink. A PVC-based ink used in screen print on apparel. Sits on top of the fabric rather than dyeing it. Highly durable under industrial washing; standard for uniforms and workwear.
Poly-cotton. A blend of polyester and cotton fibres, typically 65% polyester and 35% cotton. Combines the wrinkle resistance of polyester with the hand feel of cotton. Standard for hospitality and airline staff uniforms.
REPSE (Registro de Prestadores de Servicios Especializados u Obras Especializadas). Mexican federal registry of specialised service providers, including subcontracted labour in the apparel and textile sector. Suppliers of subcontracted labour to Mexican corporates must be registered with REPSE before they can lawfully provide labour.
Ringspun cotton. Cotton spun using the ringspun method, with longer fibres aligned for a smoother hand feel. Standard for premium apparel runs; pairs well with water-based discharge ink and DTF decoration.
Screen print. Decoration technique where ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto the substrate. One screen per colour; setup fees amortised across the run. Standard for apparel above 100 units per design.
Sublimation. Decoration technique where dye-sublimation ink is printed on transfer paper and then heat-pressed onto a polyester-coated substrate. The dye bonds at the molecular level, producing vibrant full-colour images that do not fade or peel. Suitable for technical polyester apparel, ceramic mugs, aluminium panels and polyester-coated hard goods.
T, U & V
Technical polyester. Performance polyester fabric with moisture-wicking, anti-microbial and UV-protection finishes. Standard for sportswear, outdoor apparel and active-staff uniforms. Sublimation is the dominant decoration.
Transfer (sublimation transfer). The printed paper that carries the dye-sublimation ink from the printer to the substrate. Printed on calibrated Epson SureColor or similar printers; used once and discarded after the heat press cycle.
USMCA. United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the successor to NAFTA. Merch produced under USMCA rules of origin may qualify for zero customs duty when shipped across the US-Mexico border. We issue certificate of origin documentation on request for apparel made with USMCA-region yarn or fabric.
Vector artwork. Graphic artwork defined by mathematical curves rather than pixels. Standard formats are AI, EPS, SVG and PDF. Required for screen print, embroidery digitizing and most decoration techniques. Raster artwork at 300 DPI is acceptable for sublimation and DTF.
Vellum. A type of paper with a slightly translucent and textured finish, used for certificates, recognition cards and premium packaging inserts. Standard weight 90 to 150 gsm.
W, Y & Z
Water-based discharge ink. A dye-based ink used in screen print on 100% cotton that removes the existing dye and replaces it with the desired colour. Produces a soft hand feel because the ink dyes the fabric rather than sitting on top. Works only on 100% cotton and dark fabrics.
Yarn count. The thickness of the yarn used in the fabric, expressed as a number. Higher counts generally mean finer yarn and smoother fabric. Standard t-shirt yarn counts are 20s, 24s, 30s and 40s; higher-end counts are 50s and above.
Yield. The number of finished items produced per unit of raw material or per unit of production time. Used in capacity planning and unit-cost calculation.
Zip pull. A small branded accessory attached to the zipper pull of a bag or jacket. Common corporate merch item for outdoor brands and travel programs.
Corp-Merch.MX is a corporate merch production shop operated by Swaggy Agency with more than ten years of experience in Latin America. This glossary is an internal reference for the terms used in our day-to-day production work and is provided for the convenience of corporate clients who request it. It is not a regulated industry dictionary, a standards document or a legal reference. Definitions reflect our operating context as of October 2026. Pantone is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC; GOTS, GRS, OCS and RCS are standards maintained by Textile Exchange; FSC is a registered trademark of the Forest Stewardship Council; ISO standards are maintained by the International Organization for Standardization.
Glossary last reviewed: October 2026.
Suggest a term
If you came across a merch term we have not defined here, send it to us through this form. We add new terms to the glossary every quarter based on client suggestions and on new techniques we adopt in the workshop. Suggestions are credited to the contributor unless you prefer to remain anonymous.