Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 4 Substance of the Fashion Industry 65
and retail fabric stores now emphasize home decorating instead of apparel
fabrics. Fashion fabrics are available on the Internet, but colors are hard to
match and the fabric cannot be felt. Although fewer people may sew today,
many home sewers create very beautiful fashion items. Fashion and design
reality TV shows, however, have sparked interest in the enjoyment and cre-
ativity of home sewing.
Fashion Industry Associations
and Publications
The segments of the fashion industry contain many trade associations.
Various trade publications support the activities of each segment. Also, there
are specifi geographic locations of the industry segments. fic
Trade Associations
Trade associations are nonprofi voluntary orga- fit,
nizations made up of businesses that have common
interests. The associations deal specifi with the fically
certain industry or segment of an industry in which
their members are involved. Some of the main trade
associations of the soft goods chain are shown in
Figure 4.11, which are placed on the pipeline across
from the business activity of each one.
All trade associations try to accomplish similar
objectives relating to improving their segment of the
industry and the success of their members. In general,
these objectives include
• To improve industry business conditions through
better availability of production resources, appro-
priate supply of fi nished goods, most advantageous
pricing, etc.
• To encourage the use of the industry’s products
through industry marketing efforts that form more
positive public opinion and promote member com-
panies and their goods and services.
• To promote common interests of the members by
sponsoring activities that please the members,
both professionally and socially.
• To serve as a source of market information and busi-
ness development by researching market needs and t
offering strategic consulting expertise to member
companies.
• To gain advantageous passage oflegislation and govern-
ment support by lobbying (usually in Washington, DC)
T
e
x
t
i
l
e
A
p
p
a
r
e
l
R
e
t
a
i
l
Fiber production American Fiber
Manufacturers Association
American Yarn
Spinners Association
National Textile
Association
Council of Fashion
Designers of America
National Retail Federation
Direct Marketing
Association
American Apparel &
Footwear Association
Yarn production
Fabric
manufacturing
Fabric finishing American Association
of Textile Chemists
and Colorists
Apparel designing
Retail activities
Consumers
Apparel
manufacturing
and sales
Major Textile/Apparel
Trade Associations
Mary G. Wolfe
Figure 4.11 Most of these trade organizations are known
in the industry by the fi rst letters of the names in their
titles. At the end of the pipeline, there are several advocate
groups (not indicated) that represent consumer rights and/
or protection, even though individuals may not be actual
members of these groups.
and retail fabric stores now emphasize home decorating instead of apparel
fabrics. Fashion fabrics are available on the Internet, but colors are hard to
match and the fabric cannot be felt. Although fewer people may sew today,
many home sewers create very beautiful fashion items. Fashion and design
reality TV shows, however, have sparked interest in the enjoyment and cre-
ativity of home sewing.
Fashion Industry Associations
and Publications
The segments of the fashion industry contain many trade associations.
Various trade publications support the activities of each segment. Also, there
are specifi geographic locations of the industry segments. fic
Trade Associations
Trade associations are nonprofi voluntary orga- fit,
nizations made up of businesses that have common
interests. The associations deal specifi with the fically
certain industry or segment of an industry in which
their members are involved. Some of the main trade
associations of the soft goods chain are shown in
Figure 4.11, which are placed on the pipeline across
from the business activity of each one.
All trade associations try to accomplish similar
objectives relating to improving their segment of the
industry and the success of their members. In general,
these objectives include
• To improve industry business conditions through
better availability of production resources, appro-
priate supply of fi nished goods, most advantageous
pricing, etc.
• To encourage the use of the industry’s products
through industry marketing efforts that form more
positive public opinion and promote member com-
panies and their goods and services.
• To promote common interests of the members by
sponsoring activities that please the members,
both professionally and socially.
• To serve as a source of market information and busi-
ness development by researching market needs and t
offering strategic consulting expertise to member
companies.
• To gain advantageous passage oflegislation and govern-
ment support by lobbying (usually in Washington, DC)
T
e
x
t
i
l
e
A
p
p
a
r
e
l
R
e
t
a
i
l
Fiber production American Fiber
Manufacturers Association
American Yarn
Spinners Association
National Textile
Association
Council of Fashion
Designers of America
National Retail Federation
Direct Marketing
Association
American Apparel &
Footwear Association
Yarn production
Fabric
manufacturing
Fabric finishing American Association
of Textile Chemists
and Colorists
Apparel designing
Retail activities
Consumers
Apparel
manufacturing
and sales
Major Textile/Apparel
Trade Associations
Mary G. Wolfe
Figure 4.11 Most of these trade organizations are known
in the industry by the fi rst letters of the names in their
titles. At the end of the pipeline, there are several advocate
groups (not indicated) that represent consumer rights and/
or protection, even though individuals may not be actual
members of these groups.