SIC 2369 Girls', Children's, and Infants' Outerwear, Not Elsewhere Classified

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT.
• ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE.
• BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT.
• CURRENT CONDITIONS.
• INDUSTRY LEADERS.
• WORKFORCE.
• AMERICA AND THE WORLD.
• RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY.
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 2369

This category includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing girls', children's, and infants' outerwear, not elsewhere classified, from purchased woven or knit fabrics. This includes, but is not limited to, bathing suits, jeans, jogging suits, playsuits, shorts, skirts, slacks, and sweatsuits. Knitting mills primarily engaged in manufacturing outerwear are classified under SIC 2253: Knit Outwear Mills.

NAICS CODE(S)

315291

Infants' Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing

315222

Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew Suit, Coat, and Overcoat Manufacturing

315224

Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew Trouser, Slack, and Jean Manufacturing

315228

Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew Other Outerwear Manufacturing

315221

Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew Underwear and Nightwear Manufacturing

315211

Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors

315234

Women's and Girls' Cut and Sew Suit, Coat, Tailored Jacket and Skirt Manufacturing

315238

Women's and Girls' Cut and Sew Other Outerwear Manufacturing

315231

Women's and Girls' Cut and Sew Lingerie, Loungewear, and Nightwear Manufacturing

315212

Women's and Girls' Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

By the mid-2000s, the manufacture of products in this category was dominated by such industry leaders as Carter's Inc., yet smaller, niche-driven establishments were also prevalent. The number of companies in this category steadily declined starting in the 1980s, because, as with much of the U.S. apparel industry, manufacturers faced stiff competition from low-cost imports. Nevertheless, during this time a generation of well-educated baby-boomers, with more disposable income than their parents had, were themselves having children and spending increasing amounts on children's clothing. Consequently, the overall children's clothing industry became more fashion-oriented and expensive, and the market for girls', children's, and infants' outerwear was no exception.

ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

Clothing lines in this industry include "infant wear" for babies up to one year in age, "toddlers' wear" for children from ages two to three, "children's wear" for ages three to six, and "girls' wear" for girls between the ages of seven and fourteen. Children's apparel manufacturers generally produce one new line of clothing per season (spring, summer, winter, and fall) or four lines per year.

Establishments producing children's clothing are comprised of contractors, jobbers, and manufacturers. Contractors are independent manufacturers, hired by various—usually competing—manufacturers. Contractors specialize in sewing the garment from pieces provided to them and are hired by producers who either do not have their own sewing facilities or producers whose own capacity has been superseded.

Jobbers are design and marketing businesses hired to perform specific functions, including purchasing materials, designing patterns, creating samples, cutting material, and hiring contractors to manufacture product. After purchasing materials needed to produce the pieces, jobbers then send the cut material to contractors for assembly.

When creating apparel from the purchased materials, manufacturers retain staffs either to produce designs or buy them from freelancers, as well as to purchase the fabric and trimmings. While cutting and sewing the garment is generally performed in the manufacturer's factories, outside contractors are hired when demand for an item...