Apparel (Global Industry Overview)

This paper provides an overview of the global clothing and apparel industry. The paper gives a snapshot summary, with additional sections on the industry's development, organisation and structure, current conditions and its leading companies and countries.

Global Industry Overview: Apparel

Usually from purchased textiles, apparel makers cut and assemble fabrics into all types of finished clothing. Footwear is not discussed here. For discussion of leather apparel, see Leather Goods and Accessories, and for more information on textile production, see Textile Mills.

Industry Snapshot

The global apparel industry is one of the most important sectors of the worldwide economy in terms of financial investment, revenue generated, import and export trade, and employment. The apparel market represents a substantial area of consumer spending, but in the last decades of the twentieth century, there was a...

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