Plettiert

Plettiert is a German term used in textile arts and fashion to describe fabric or surfaces that have been formed into regular folds or pleats. The word functions as both an adjective and the past participle of the verb plettieren. In practice, plettiert fabrics display evenly spaced creases, which may be narrow or wide depending on the technique and the fabric weight. The pleating can be achieved by mechanical devices, heat-setting, or manual stitching to secure the folds, and may be done to create texture, drape, or decorative motifs.

Plettierte textiles appear in clothing such as skirts and dresses, as well as in home textiles like curtains and upholstery. The appearance can range from subtle micro-pleats to bold, architectural folds. The term is often used in German pattern books, catalogs, and descriptions of textile finishes. Plettiert is distinct from related terms such as plissée (French-based pleating, often meaning permanent, heat-set pleats) and Kräusel (ruffling or gathered fabric), though all describe methods of fabric manipulation to create volume and texture.

Etymology: from plettieren, formed with the suffix -ieren, related to the concept of a pleat.

See also: Plissé, Falte, Kräusel.