The fashion terms "collection" and "line" are mistakenly thought to be interchangeable. While both are common terms in the fashion industry, a fashion line refers exclusively to all of the clothing a fashion designer produces for a specific category within her fashion company, while a collection refers to a seasonal production of different styles within a line for that same company.
Collection Within a Line
Collections are found within a line, while a line may be composed of multiple collections. A company may have multiple lines defined by gender, lifestyle or price point while having upwards of eight collections per year per line. Menswear, womenswear and haute couture are considered lines -- the clothing shown in each of these categories during runway shows for a particular season makes up the collection.
Fashion Seasons, Lines and Collections
Every year, a fashion line produces multiple collections related to various seasons. Larger apparel companies often have four or five lines, and each line will have a new collection produced for each season. There are eight seasons in fashion; each season ensures retailers remain stocked year-round with new merchandise. These seasons include Spring and Fall, as well as lesser known seasons such as holiday and resort.
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Writer Bio
Lilian M Raji is a strategic marketing and public relations adviser for luxury lifestyle companies in the areas of fine jewelry and watches, fashion, accessories, beauty, cosmetics, restaurants and hotels. Equally passionate about writing as she is developing and executing business strategy, she has been published on Forbes.com, Luxury Society, "The Village of Merrick Park Magazine" and "Canadian Jeweller Magazine."