SIC 2257 Weft Knit Fabric Mills

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 2257

Establishments in this classification are primarily engaged in knitting weft, or circular, fabrics or in the dyeing or finishing of weft, or circular, fabrics. These companies may sell their fabrics to manufacturers of outerwear, underwear, or other products in the apparel or home furnishings industries. Companies engaged in knitting weft outerwear fabrics and subsequently producing outerwear in the same establishment are discussed in SIC 2253: Knit Outerwear Mills. Also, establishments engaged in knitting circular underwear and nightwear products and that manufacture the end-product at the same site are discussed in SIC 2254: Knit Underwear and Nightwear Mills. Overall, those companies who buy knit fabrics for the production of outerwear and underwear are described in the major group for apparel and other finished products made from fabrics and similar materials.

NAICS CODE(S)

313241

Weft Knit Fabric Mills

313312

Textile and Fabric Finishing (except Broadwoven Fabric) Mills

Fabrics produced in this category are used across the spectrum of finished goods, from leisure and active wear to more expensive evening wear. The handling of circular knit fabrics is a more delicate process than the handling of woven goods, because the fabrics are not as stable in the finished state. Extreme care must be taken and special containers must be used when shipping circular knit fabrics.

The merging of many small- and mid-sized companies into giant conglomerates during the late 1990s helped the U.S. textile industry to buy and sell merchandise worldwide. This consolidation was largely due to changes in international trade agreements. For example, industry leader Guilford Mills' acquisition of Hofmann Laces Ltd. in 1996 was one of the largest in its history, part of a series of takeovers designed to help the company expand globally. In 1999 Guilford Mills began work on a huge textile and garment manufacturing park in Altamira, Mexico, to expand its foreign operations. However, due to increased competition from imports and a sluggish U.S. economy, the firm found itself unable to handle its mounting debt. Guilford Mills filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002, from which it emerged later in the year. As part of its restructuring, the Wilmington, North Carolina-based firm shifted its focus from apparel fabrics to automotive fabrics. Guilford Mills had 2,600 employees and sales of $456 million in...