Apparel and Accessories Industry Information Key Terms

Learn apparel and accessories industry key terms to increase productivity and efficiency

There are many facets to the apparel and accessories industry since this industry is made up of companies that design and manufacture clothing for men, women and children, as well as handbags, footwear, leather items, luggage, jewelry and watches. Knowing what accessory industry key terms mean is vital for those who work in retail and distribution of fashion accessories. Using these key terms in your business dealings with designers, cutters and manufacturers will make your business communications and production more efficient and profitable.

 

Samples

Samples of clothing and accessories show buyers and merchandisers what finished products will look like. There are companies that specialize in creating clothing and accessory samples for those who plan to purchase the finished products to sell in their retail stores and businesses.
Try: Learn about clothing samples at Elite Samples.

Raw materials

There are three kinds of raw materials that are used to create apparel: materials that come from natural plant resources; those that come from animals, such as furs and leathers; and those that are man-made.
Try: Gather information about how raw cotton has been used at Cottonman.

Knitting mills

Since knitting by hand is time-consuming and not cost-effective for a large clothing apparel business, items are often created at knitting mills. Knitting mills produce knit goods such as hats, sweaters, scarves and mittens in high volume for apparel manufacturers. There are knitting mills that specialize in creating certain items, such as hosiery, sweaters or undergarments.
Try: Read about the history of Ohio Knitting Mills.

Cut-and-sew contractors

Cut-and-sew contractors create clothing for apparel businesses. Many cut-and-sew contractors can mass produce items for shipment to clothing and retail stores.
Try: Read about a cut-and-sew contractor at Colorado Contract Cut & Sew.

Pattern drafting and grading

Pattern drafting is the ability to create patterns from clothing sketches to create clothing designs. Pattern grading is the scaling of patterns to different clothing sizes for the retail market.
Try: Learn about pattern drafting and grading at Master Pattern.

Sourcing

Sourcing is when businesses want to export products overseas and use a sourcing manager or company to handle negotiations. A sourcing manager or sourcing company can also handle contract agreements about products and shipments, as well as payments for items received.
Try: Use the information at International Sourcing Group, Ltd. to learn about factory sourcing.

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