Women's Clothing Manufacturing
Description
Companies in this industry manufacture garments for women, girls, and infants made from purchased fabric and from fabric they produce themselves. Major companies include Calvin Klein (owned by PVH), Carter's, Hanesbrands, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, and VF Corporation (all based in the US), along with Delta Galil (Israel), Gerry Weber (Germany), Page Industries (India), and World Co (Japan).
Global retail sales of women's apparel dominate the global clothing industry. The US generated the majority of revenue in the market in 2023 with about $190 billion, followed by China and India, according to Statista.
The US industry for manufacturing women's, girls', and infants' apparel includes about 1,100 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $3 billion. The industry does not include apparel contractors that cut and sew materials owned by other companies. Women's clothing cut and sew contractors are covered in the Apparel Manufacturing profile.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven by consumer tastes and disposable income. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and the ability to secure contracts with clothing marketers. Small companies can compete effectively with large ones by specializing in a particular type of apparel manufacture. There are few economies of scale in manufacturing, because of the high labor content of most apparel. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate about 55% of revenue.
Imports account for the majority of the US market. The largest suppliers to the US are China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India. Major export markets for the US apparel manufacturers include Canada, Mexico, the UK, Japan, and Australia.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include dresses (30% of industry revenue), knit shirts and blouses (15%), leisurewear (15%), and swimwear (10%). Other products include bridal gowns, loungewear, suits, and activewear such as shorts, swimsuits, and sweatpants, as well as infant's apparel such as rompers, training pants, and onesies.
The industry includes several types of manufacturers. Integrated manufacturers, like Levi Strauss, design, and market their own clothing brands, and make products both in their own manufacturing plants and in those of independent contractors. Licensees like Warnaco (a subsidiary of PVH) operate their own manufacturing plants and market clothing under license from the brand owner. Many clothing designers market their own brands but contract out the manufacturing. Contract manufacturers may have long-standing relationships (but not actual contracts) with designers and marketers or may use brokers to get new business.
The operations of most women's, girls', and infants' apparel manufacturers are similar. Designs for a piece of clothing are converted into cloth patterns along with a plan for the sewing steps needed to produce the finished product. Cloth is cut in various sizes in a cutting room (or cutting plant) and is then sewn (or "made-up") into finished items by individual workers at sewing stations, in a series of assembly-line steps that may require special sewing equipment. Finished goods are pressed, inspected, and packaged for delivery.
The large labor content of the finished product has encouraged manufacturers to use the lowest-cost labor available. The US women’s, girls', and infants' apparel manufacturing industry has shrunk in recent years, as clothing companies have either moved plants offshore or outsourced production to foreign manufacturers. Wages in many countries are much lower than in the US; consequently, more apparel is now imported than produced domestically.
Global retail sales of women's apparel dominate the global clothing industry. The US generated the majority of revenue in the market in 2023 with about $190 billion, followed by China and India, according to Statista.
The US industry for manufacturing women's, girls', and infants' apparel includes about 1,100 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $3 billion. The industry does not include apparel contractors that cut and sew materials owned by other companies. Women's clothing cut and sew contractors are covered in the Apparel Manufacturing profile.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven by consumer tastes and disposable income. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and the ability to secure contracts with clothing marketers. Small companies can compete effectively with large ones by specializing in a particular type of apparel manufacture. There are few economies of scale in manufacturing, because of the high labor content of most apparel. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate about 55% of revenue.
Imports account for the majority of the US market. The largest suppliers to the US are China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India. Major export markets for the US apparel manufacturers include Canada, Mexico, the UK, Japan, and Australia.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include dresses (30% of industry revenue), knit shirts and blouses (15%), leisurewear (15%), and swimwear (10%). Other products include bridal gowns, loungewear, suits, and activewear such as shorts, swimsuits, and sweatpants, as well as infant's apparel such as rompers, training pants, and onesies.
The industry includes several types of manufacturers. Integrated manufacturers, like Levi Strauss, design, and market their own clothing brands, and make products both in their own manufacturing plants and in those of independent contractors. Licensees like Warnaco (a subsidiary of PVH) operate their own manufacturing plants and market clothing under license from the brand owner. Many clothing designers market their own brands but contract out the manufacturing. Contract manufacturers may have long-standing relationships (but not actual contracts) with designers and marketers or may use brokers to get new business.
The operations of most women's, girls', and infants' apparel manufacturers are similar. Designs for a piece of clothing are converted into cloth patterns along with a plan for the sewing steps needed to produce the finished product. Cloth is cut in various sizes in a cutting room (or cutting plant) and is then sewn (or "made-up") into finished items by individual workers at sewing stations, in a series of assembly-line steps that may require special sewing equipment. Finished goods are pressed, inspected, and packaged for delivery.
The large labor content of the finished product has encouraged manufacturers to use the lowest-cost labor available. The US women’s, girls', and infants' apparel manufacturing industry has shrunk in recent years, as clothing companies have either moved plants offshore or outsourced production to foreign manufacturers. Wages in many countries are much lower than in the US; consequently, more apparel is now imported than produced domestically.
Table of Contents
- Industry Overview
- Quarterly Industry Update
- Business Challenges
- Business Trends
- Industry Opportunities
- Call Preparation Questions
- Financial Information
- Industry Forecast
- Web Links and Acronyms
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