Chapter 4 The Textile and Apparel Industry
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Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Modeling school is recommended. Career opportunities in modeling are lim-
ited, and the competition is great. For top models, the wages are high.
Alterations
Many clothing stores hire alterations
specialists. Altering clothes can be more dif-
fi cult than doing the original construction.
Alterations specialists sew well, work fast,
and fi t clothing properly, 4-12. Some of their
duties include
• deciding what fi tting problems exist
• marking and pinning garments for
alterations
• shortening or lengthening sleeves,
hems, waistlines, and darts
• repairing damaged merchandise before
a customer buys it
• changing trims or buttons to satisfy the
customer
Alterations specialists often work for
more than one store if the stores are small.
Some work from home.
Vertical Integration of
the Textile and Apparel
Industries
Prior to the 1970s, the focus of most
companies was on only one aspect of fabric
or apparel production. For example, textile
mills produced fabrics and then sold them
to apparel manufacturing companies. With
the formation of larger corporations, how-
ever, many companies handle all stages of
production from producing the fi bers to sewing the garments to selling them
in stores. In such a vertical integration system, one company handles several
or all steps in production and/or distribution. For example, Pendleton Woolen
Mills processes the wool, weaves the fabrics, creates the garments, and sells
them in their own stores. This allows the company to control all steps in the
creation of their apparel, leading to greater cost control.
Vertically integrated companies may not be involved in all steps from fi ber
production to garment sales. Some companies, for example, might produce
specifi c fi bers, make them into yarns, and then fabrics. These operations may
take place at different plant locations, some in the United States and others
overseas. However, they all are branches of the same company.
4-12 Alterations
specialists are
needed to make final
adjustments to bridal
gowns.