Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 4 Substance of the Fashion Industry 61
Other Textile
End-Use Industries
Commercially-produced wearing apparel is not the
only end use for textiles. Other markets include house-
hold or home furnishings products, industrial textile
products, and the home sewing industry. Household
textile products comprise about 38 percent of the total
end-use textile market, Figure 4.6. Industrial textile
products make up about 28 percent with a continual
increase taking place. Apparel fabrics comprise about
34 percent and are decreasing in relation to the total
textile market.
Household Textile Products
The household textile products industry manufactures
fabrics for fl oor coverings, home furnishings, and
domestics. Floor coverings include rugs and carpets.
Home furnishings mainly include window treatments
and furniture coverings. Domestics include bed, bath,
and kitchen textiles. These three categories are further
described in the chart, Figure 4.7.
Household textiles, or decorator fabrics, follow
fashion trends that are broader and slower moving
than apparel trends. Besides the fashion aspects of color, pattern, texture,
drape, etc., performance is an important consideration for household textiles.
Textile performance takes into account such fabric attributes as strength and
durability, colorfastness (how well the color holds its original look), and stain
resistance. Household textiles should last for about 10 years.
End-Use Markets
of Textile Products
Apparel =
34% (decreasing)
Household =
38% (steady)
• Constantly changing
with fashion not
produced in volume
• Slower fashion
changes of color,
pattern, etc.
• Upholstery, carpeting,
drapes, tablecloths,
sheets, towels, etc.
• Need performance (stain
resistance, color-fastness,
durability) to last for about
10 years
• Timing is important to
reach retail at height of
popularity
• Expected lifetime of
garment is about
4 years
• Sales based on performance
specifications
• Many different detailed uses
and lifetime expectations
Industrial
&misc. =
28% (rising)
Mary G. Wolfe
Figure 4.6 End-use markets of textile products include
apparel, home furnishings, and industrial products. The
apparel slice is getting smaller by percentage of the total, and
industrial use is increasing.
Figure 4.7 Household textiles are divided into logical categories for marketing, manu-
facturing, and retailing purposes.
Household Textiles
Category Types of Products
Floor
coverings
• Carpeting, area rugs, Oriental rugs, throw rugs, plus non-fabric
floor tiles and materials
Home
furnishings
• Window treatments—curtains, draperies, valences, pull-down
shades, vertical blinds, etc.
• Furniture—slipcovers and upholstery
• Miscellaneous items—throw pillows, lamp shades, artificial
flowers, wall hangings, etc.
Domestics • Bed linens—sheets, pillowcases, bedspreads, decorative pillow
covers, blankets, etc.
• Bathroom items—towels, shower curtains, seat covers, etc.
• Table and kitchen linens—tablecloths, napkins, kitchen towels, etc.
Other Textile
End-Use Industries
Commercially-produced wearing apparel is not the
only end use for textiles. Other markets include house-
hold or home furnishings products, industrial textile
products, and the home sewing industry. Household
textile products comprise about 38 percent of the total
end-use textile market, Figure 4.6. Industrial textile
products make up about 28 percent with a continual
increase taking place. Apparel fabrics comprise about
34 percent and are decreasing in relation to the total
textile market.
Household Textile Products
The household textile products industry manufactures
fabrics for fl oor coverings, home furnishings, and
domestics. Floor coverings include rugs and carpets.
Home furnishings mainly include window treatments
and furniture coverings. Domestics include bed, bath,
and kitchen textiles. These three categories are further
described in the chart, Figure 4.7.
Household textiles, or decorator fabrics, follow
fashion trends that are broader and slower moving
than apparel trends. Besides the fashion aspects of color, pattern, texture,
drape, etc., performance is an important consideration for household textiles.
Textile performance takes into account such fabric attributes as strength and
durability, colorfastness (how well the color holds its original look), and stain
resistance. Household textiles should last for about 10 years.
End-Use Markets
of Textile Products
Apparel =
34% (decreasing)
Household =
38% (steady)
• Constantly changing
with fashion not
produced in volume
• Slower fashion
changes of color,
pattern, etc.
• Upholstery, carpeting,
drapes, tablecloths,
sheets, towels, etc.
• Need performance (stain
resistance, color-fastness,
durability) to last for about
10 years
• Timing is important to
reach retail at height of
popularity
• Expected lifetime of
garment is about
4 years
• Sales based on performance
specifications
• Many different detailed uses
and lifetime expectations
Industrial
&misc. =
28% (rising)
Mary G. Wolfe
Figure 4.6 End-use markets of textile products include
apparel, home furnishings, and industrial products. The
apparel slice is getting smaller by percentage of the total, and
industrial use is increasing.
Figure 4.7 Household textiles are divided into logical categories for marketing, manu-
facturing, and retailing purposes.
Household Textiles
Category Types of Products
Floor
coverings
• Carpeting, area rugs, Oriental rugs, throw rugs, plus non-fabric
floor tiles and materials
Home
furnishings
• Window treatments—curtains, draperies, valences, pull-down
shades, vertical blinds, etc.
• Furniture—slipcovers and upholstery
• Miscellaneous items—throw pillows, lamp shades, artificial
flowers, wall hangings, etc.
Domestics • Bed linens—sheets, pillowcases, bedspreads, decorative pillow
covers, blankets, etc.
• Bathroom items—towels, shower curtains, seat covers, etc.
• Table and kitchen linens—tablecloths, napkins, kitchen towels, etc.