PVC
Treatment — one of 37 in the glossary
Polyvinyl chloride, a plastic used in apparel as a waterproof coating on shell fabric and as the material for moulded patches, prints and bag panels. It blocks water completely, which is why it appears on rainwear, aprons and industrial garments, and it is cheap. It does not breathe, it stiffens in cold, and it is heat-sensitive: a standard press temperature will soften or mark it. Decorate PVC-coated goods with low-temperature transfers or sewn-on patches, and test one piece before running an order.