Apparel Accessories Manufacturing
Description
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).
The global fashion e-commerce segment is expected to reach over $920 billion in 2025, according to Statista. Asia is the largest market for fashion e-commerce, which is expected to account for over $467 billion by 2030.
The US apparel accessories manufacturing industry includes about 580 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $1 billion.
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.
Imports account for about the entirety of the US market. The largest suppliers to the US are China, Mexico, Vietnam, Canada, and India. Major export markets for US apparel accessories manufacturers include Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UK, and Australia. Exports account for about 35% of US production.
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.
Besides manufacturers, the industry includes jobbers, who assist manufacturers through buying raw materials, designing samples, arranging for the accessories to be made from the materials, and marketing finished accessories. Some accessories manufacturers, such as Isotoner, design and market their own accessories brands; licensees such as USPA Accessories make and market clothes primarily under license from brand owners. Others, such as Randa, source and market their own proprietary brands as well as licensed brands.
The accessories manufacturing process involves developing the design and pattern of the item, obtaining desired materials, cutting the pattern and assembling the product. Manufacturing often involves specialized sewing machines, and some products require extensive hand-finishing and detail-work. Finished goods are inspected and packaged for delivery.
Accessories manufacturing is labor-intensive. Many companies have moved their manufacturing plants to countries where labor costs less than in the US or outsourced production to foreign manufacturers.
The global fashion e-commerce segment is expected to reach over $920 billion in 2025, according to Statista. Asia is the largest market for fashion e-commerce, which is expected to account for over $467 billion by 2030.
The US apparel accessories manufacturing industry includes about 580 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $1 billion.
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.
Imports account for about the entirety of the US market. The largest suppliers to the US are China, Mexico, Vietnam, Canada, and India. Major export markets for US apparel accessories manufacturers include Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UK, and Australia. Exports account for about 35% of US production.
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.
Besides manufacturers, the industry includes jobbers, who assist manufacturers through buying raw materials, designing samples, arranging for the accessories to be made from the materials, and marketing finished accessories. Some accessories manufacturers, such as Isotoner, design and market their own accessories brands; licensees such as USPA Accessories make and market clothes primarily under license from brand owners. Others, such as Randa, source and market their own proprietary brands as well as licensed brands.
The accessories manufacturing process involves developing the design and pattern of the item, obtaining desired materials, cutting the pattern and assembling the product. Manufacturing often involves specialized sewing machines, and some products require extensive hand-finishing and detail-work. Finished goods are inspected and packaged for delivery.
Accessories manufacturing is labor-intensive. Many companies have moved their manufacturing plants to countries where labor costs less than in the US or outsourced production to foreign manufacturers.
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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