UNIT A COURSE ORIENTATION

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UNIT ACOURSE ORIENTATION

• 1.03 Identify the scope and importance of the
  fashion industry to our economy.

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The Fashion Industrys Impact on the U.S. Economy

• Fourth leading employer in the U.S.
• Apparel industry
• Over 20 billion in annual sales
• Employs over 1 million people

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U.S. Apparel Industry

• Womenswear
• Menswear
• Infants and children
• Accessories

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The Womenswear Industry

• Womenswear All apparel worn by females aged 14
  and over.
• Largest and most important retail segment
• More than 60 of all apparel sales
• Employs hundreds of thousands of people
• Ranges from small family-owned businesses to
  large multi-million dollar corporations

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Menswear Industry

• Menswear All apparel for males aged 17 and
  over.
• Produces billions of dollars worth of merchandise
  each year in plants throughout the world
• Changes slowly, but interest and demand continue
  to grow
• Sportswear is the fastest growing segment.

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Infants and Children's Apparel Industry

• Infants apparel Apparel for babies and
  toddlers younger than 3 years of age.
• Childrens apparel Clothing for girls ages 3
  through 13 and boys ages 3 through 16.
• Becoming increasingly important to economy
• One of the more stable divisions due to increased
  demand for children's fashions in general.
  Better children's garments include designer
  labels such as Tommy Hilfiger.

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The Accessories Industry

• Accessories The articles added to complete or
  enhance outfits.
• Viewed as impulse items that bring additional
  revenues to companies
• Experienced a boost due to licensing agreements
• Extend a consumers wardrobe especially
  important in poor economic times

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The Household Industry

• Accounts for 40 of all textile products
• Average product lifespan is 10 years.
• Colors and patterns slower to change than in
  apparel

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The Household Industry (cont.)

• Floor coverings division
• Carpeting
• Area rugs, oriental rugs, and throw rugs
• Home furnishings division
• Window treatments
• Furniture
• Miscellaneous items
• Domestics division
• Bed linens
• Bathroom items
• Table and kitchen linens

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Four Major Segments Of The Fashion Industry

• Textile segment
• Apparel manufacturing segment
• Retail segment
• Auxiliary group

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Textile Segment

• Textile segment The initial segment in the
  fashion process.
• Steps include
• Fiber production
• Yarn production
• Fabric manufacturing
• Fabric finishing

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Apparel Manufacturing Segment

• Apparel manufacturing segment That part of the
  fashion industry that produces finished garments
  and accessories.
• Functions of the apparel segment include
• Designing
• Manufacturing
• Apparel selling

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Retail Segment

• Retail segment The part of the fashion industry
  that includes selling merchandise directly to
  consumers.
• Buying from the manufacturer or wholesaler
• Selling to the consumer

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Auxiliary Group

• Auxiliary group Individuals and groups of
  individuals that support and function
  simultaneously with the retail, apparel
  manufacturing, and textile segments of the
  fashion industry.

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Auxiliary Group (cont.)

• Consultants Researchers and forecasters who
  provide information about colors and other trends
  that are occurring the consumer marketplace.
• Advertisers Individuals who, by visiting
  fashion markets and showings, produce and
  disseminate the latest fashion information to
  educate both consumers and working members of the
  fashion industry.
• Promoters Trade associations, trade
  publications, models, modeling agencies,
  photographers, and others that play a part in
  promoting the merchandise.