A facing is a piece of fabric used to finish and reinforce the edge of a garment from the inside — the neckline, armhole, front edge, opening — so that the raw edge is neat, the edge holds its shape and the fastening has support. A facing is cut to the shape of the edge it finishes, and is usually not visible from the face side. This 'internal' detail significantly affects the quality of a piece: a properly finished edge lies flat, does not stretch and does not turn out. A facing is often interlined for firmness. Its neatness is one of the marks of professional sewing, noticeable only on a close look inside. A facing is an internal construction detail of edge finishing, in which a hidden piece reinforces and neatly finishes the raw edges of a garment, ensuring a clean look, stability of shape and support for a fastening.
