Inseam

The inseam is the element that binds the interior leg of pants made for both men and women. As part of the tailoring process, the inseam is the inside stitching that creates a seal between the sections of fabric that form the front and back portions of the leg of the garment. In most cases, the inseam is created using a double row of stitching, providing a strong seal between the two sections of material.
The inseam is one of the important measurements to consider when creating a pair of pants. The length of an inseam is measured from the bottom of the crotch area to the point where the hem of the garment would hit on the lower ankle. Many people use the slightly protruding bone of the ankle as the extreme end of the inseam. Essentially the determination of the inseam of the garment will also help to determine the overall length of the leg of the garment.

Tailors, when making alterations for a pair of pants or creating a new garment for a customer, will begin by taking a measurement. This will involve using a tape measure to determine the length between the crotch and the ankle. Once the customer has been measured, it is possible for the tailor to make the necessary cuts and changes to the construction of the pants so that the fit of the leg is both comfortable and in keeping with the current fashion dictates regarding the length of the leg.
Consumers also pay close attention to the length of the inseam when purchasing ready-made slacks, casual pants, jeans, and any other garment that involves legs. Generally, mass produced clothing of this type will feature both the waist size and the inseam. People who are not sure of the right inseam length can easily measure themselves by holding one end of a tape measure at the crotch, and then dropping the other end of the tape measure to the floor, by the foot. Checking the reading where the tape seems to be more or less in line with the ankle will provide an inseam reading that can be used as a benchmark.
It is then possible to visit a store and try on a pair of pants with an inseam that is close to that reading. By trying on pants with an inseam slightly less than the reading, and a second pair that is equal to or slightly more than the reading, it is possible to determine the right inseam for future purchases.