Fundamentals of technology for apparel manufacturing

FUNDAMENTALS OF TECHNOLOGY FOR APPAREL MANUFACTURING

Traditionally, the textile-apparel industry is horizontally structured with the manufacture of cloth not distinct. The flow sequence begins with fibre producers supplying raw materials to yarn manufac-turing plants, and then to weaving and knitting facilities. Manufactured fabric is then sold to the fabric finisher, and then to the garment manufacturer.

Today, the textiles and apparel market is increasingly global, operating in a highly competitive spirit, requiring specialization and targeting market niches. The industry has restructured from one of the many small firms to one of the few large integrated firms. More significant is the array of new production and control technologies, controlled through a 'quick response' network that effectively reduces the distance between producers and retailers. Industry trade groups see technological advancements, as the key to increased competitiveness in the global marketplace.

According to the Standard Industrial Classification, textile has nine separate textile mill prod-ucts sub sectors (three-digit) and twenty three market segments (four-digit) defined by broad product categories. Each of the 6,134 textile establishments operating in the United States was placed in one of these nine industry sub sectors.

They are the following:

            Broad woven fabric mills, cotton.

Broad woven fabric mills, manmade fibre and silk.

            Broad woven fabric mills, wool, including dyeing and finishing.

            Narrow fabric and other small wares mills: cotton, wool, silk, and manmade fibre.

            Knitting mills including knit women's full-length and knee-length hosiery, socks, outerwear, under-wear and nightwear, weft (circular) fabrics, lace and warp (flat) knit fabrics, and knitting gloves and other.

            Dyeing and finishing textiles, except wool fabrics and knit goods including finishers of cotton broad woven fabrics and finishers of broad woven fabrics of manmade fibre and silk.

            Carpets and rugs.

            Yarn and thread mills.

            Miscellaneous textile mills including non-rubberized coated fabrics, tire cord and fabrics, non-woven fabrics, cordage and twine, and other textile goods such as linen, jute, gelt, padding and upholstery filling and processed waste and recovered fibres.

According to the Standard Industrial Classifications, apparel has nine separate apparel and other finished products sub sectors and 31 market segments defined by broad product categories.

The eight repare apparels are the following:

            Men's and boy's suits, coats, and overcoats.

            Men's and boy's furnishings, work clothing, and allied garments including shirts, underwear and nightwear, neckwear, trousers, pant, and work clothing.

            Women's, misses' and juniors' outerwear including blouses dresses, suits and skirts.

            Women's, misses', children's, and infants' undergarments including underwear, nightwear, bras-sieres, girdles and allied garments.

            Hats, caps, and millinery.

            Fur goods.

            Miscellaneous apparel and accessories including dress and work gloves, robes and dressing gowns, waterproof outerwear, leather and sheep clothing, apparel belts, suspenders, garters, handker-chiefs, and other apparel.

            Miscellaneous fabricated textile products including curtains and draperies, house furnishings, tex-tile bags, canvases and related products, pleating and decorative stitching, automotive trimmings, schiffli machine embroideries, and other fabricated textile products.