strip of material around the waist of a jacket

The strip of material around the waist of a jacket is most commonly called the “waistband.”

Common terms

• Waistband – Standard sewing and fashion term for a finished strip at the waist of jackets, coats, trousers, and skirts.

• Elastic waistband / elasticated waist – When that strip contains elastic to cinch the jacket in at the waist or hem.

• Bottom band / hem band – Used especially for bomber jackets, hoodies, and sports jackets where the band sits at the very bottom edge and is often ribbed or elastic.

In jacket context

• On bomber or varsity jackets, the strip around the waist is usually a rib knit waistband or ribbed hem band that hugs the hips.

• On tailored or dressier jackets, the shaping is often done with seams, but if there is a distinct strip, it is still referred to as a waistband or hem band in sewing instructions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.