Men's Clothing Manufacturing
Description
Companies in this industry manufacture garments for men and boys made from purchased fabric and from fabric they produce themselves. Major companies include Hanesbrands, Levi Strauss, PVH, Ralph Lauren, VF Corporation (all based in the US), along with Hugo Boss (Germany) and Youngor Group (China).
Global revenue from men's apparel manufacturing is expected to experience an annual growth rate of 2.72% from 2025 to 2029, according to Statista. China is the world's largest apparel manufacturer and exporter, according to Textile Resources.
The US men's and boys' apparel manufacturing industry includes about 450 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $1.5 billion. The industry does not include apparel contractors that cut and sew materials owned by other companies. Men's clothing cut and sew contractors are covered in the Apparel Manufacturing profile.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is largely determined 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 men's or boys' apparel manufacture. There are few economies of scale in manufacture, because of the high labor content of most apparel. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate about 80% of revenue.
Because of the lower costs to manufacture apparel abroad, the US imports more men's and boys' clothes than it makes domestically. The largest suppliers to the US are China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mexico, and Honduras. Many manufacturers ship semi-finished apparel to other countries for sewing into final garments, which are then re-imported into the US. Major export markets for US men's and boys' apparel manufacturers include Canada and Mexico.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include tailored suits which account for about 30% of the industry's revenue, followed by workpants (about 15%), and sports and leisure wear (about 10%). Other products include nontailored coats, jackets, and vests (about 10%).
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 with designers and marketers or may use brokers to get new business.
The operations of most men's and boys' 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 men's and boys' 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 revenue from men's apparel manufacturing is expected to experience an annual growth rate of 2.72% from 2025 to 2029, according to Statista. China is the world's largest apparel manufacturer and exporter, according to Textile Resources.
The US men's and boys' apparel manufacturing industry includes about 450 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $1.5 billion. The industry does not include apparel contractors that cut and sew materials owned by other companies. Men's clothing cut and sew contractors are covered in the Apparel Manufacturing profile.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is largely determined 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 men's or boys' apparel manufacture. There are few economies of scale in manufacture, because of the high labor content of most apparel. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate about 80% of revenue.
Because of the lower costs to manufacture apparel abroad, the US imports more men's and boys' clothes than it makes domestically. The largest suppliers to the US are China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mexico, and Honduras. Many manufacturers ship semi-finished apparel to other countries for sewing into final garments, which are then re-imported into the US. Major export markets for US men's and boys' apparel manufacturers include Canada and Mexico.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include tailored suits which account for about 30% of the industry's revenue, followed by workpants (about 15%), and sports and leisure wear (about 10%). Other products include nontailored coats, jackets, and vests (about 10%).
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 with designers and marketers or may use brokers to get new business.
The operations of most men's and boys' 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 men's and boys' 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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