Apparel Accessories Manufacturing

Apparel Accessories Manufacturing

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Companies in this industry manufacture apparel accessories such as hats, gloves, scarves, neckties, and belts. Major companies include BIOWORLD, Bollman Hat Company, New Era Cap, and Randa Accessories (all based in the US), as well as Hermes (France), Mainland Headwear (Hong Kong), and Mulberry Group plc (the UK).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is determined by consumer tastes and the level of consumers' discretionary income. The profitability of companies depends in part on effectively controlling the costs of manufacturing, both in the US and internationally. Smaller companies can compete effectively by specializing. The US industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies account for about 70% of sales.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products include hats, caps, and millinery, which account for about 30% of apparel accessories manufacturing sales; apparel accessories such as apparel findings and trimmings, about 20%; clothing accessories, about 15%; gloves and mittens, about 20%; and belts, about 5%. Other products include women's scarves, suspenders, and aprons.