Apparel Knitting Mills
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in knitting apparel or knitting fabric and then manufacturing apparel. Jobbers, performing entrepreneurial functions involved in knitting apparel and accessories, are included.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Manufacturing 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, except in cases where the activity is appropriately classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments in the Manufacturing sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and material handling equipment. However, establishments that transform materials or substances into new products by hand or in the worker's home and those engaged in selling to the general public products made on the same premises from which they are sold, such as bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors, may also be included in this sector. Manufacturing establishments may process materials or may contract with other establishments to process their materials for them. Both types of establishments are included in manufacturing. Selected industries in the Manufacturing sector are comprised solely of establishments that process materials for other establishments on a contract or fee basis. Beyond these dedicated contract manufacturing industries, establishments that process materials for other establishments are generally classified in the Manufacturing industry of the processed materials. The materials, substances, or components transformed by manufacturing establishments are raw materials that are products of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, or quarrying as well as products of other manufacturing establishments. The materials used may be purchased directly from producers, obtained through customary trade channels, or secured without recourse to the market by transferring the product from one establishment to another, under the same ownership. The new product of a manufacturing establishment may be finished in the sense that it is ready for utilization or consumption, or it may be semi-finished to become an input for an establishment engaged in further manufacturing. For example, the product of the alumina refinery is the input used in the primary production of aluminum; primary aluminum is the input to an aluminum wire drawing plant; and aluminum wire is the input for a fabricated wire product manufacturing establishment. The subsectors in the Manufacturing sector generally reflect distinct production processes related to material inputs, production equipment, and employee skills. In the machinery area, where assembling is a key activity, parts and accessories for manufactured products are classified in the industry of the finished manufactured item when they are made for separate sale. For example, an attachment for a piece of metalworking machinery would be classified with metalworking machinery. However, component inputs from other manufacturing establishments are classified based on the production function of the component manufacturer. For example, electronic components are classified in Subsector 334, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, and stampings are classified in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. Manufacturing establishments often perform one or more activities that are classified outside the Manufacturing sector of NAICS. For instance, almost all manufacturing has some captive research and development or administrative operations, such as accounting, payroll, or management. These captive services are treated the same as captive manufacturing activities. When the services are provided by separate establishments, they are classified in the NAICS sector where such services are primary, not in manufacturing. The boundaries of manufacturing and the other sectors of the classification system can be somewhat blurry. The establishments in the Manufacturing sector are engaged in the transformation of materials into new products. Their output is a new product. However, the definition of what constitutes a new product can be somewhat subjective. As clarification, the following activities are considered manufacturing in NAICS: <table width=100%><tr><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Milk bottling and pasteurizing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Water bottling and processing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fresh fish packaging (oyster<br/> shucking, fish filleting);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Apparel jobbing (assigning<br/> materials to contract<br/> factories or shops for<br/> fabrication or other contract<br/> operations) as well as<br/> contracting on materials<br/> owned by others;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Printing and related activities;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ready-mix concrete production;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Leather converting;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Grinding lenses to<br/> prescription;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Wood preserving;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Lapidary work for the trade;</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Electroplating, plating, metal<br/> heat treating, and<br/> polishing for the trade;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fabricating signs and<br/> advertising displays;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Rebuilding or remanufacturing<br/> machinery (i.e., automotive<br/> parts);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Making manufactured homes<br/> (i.e., mobile homes) or<br/> prefabricated buildings,<br/> whether or not assembling/<br/> erecting at the customers'<br/> site;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ship repair and renovation;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Machine shops; and</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Tire retreading.</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td></tr></table> Conversely, there are activities that are sometimes considered manufacturing, but which for NAICS are classified in another sector (i.e., not classified as manufacturing). They include: 1. Logging, classified in Sector 11, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, is considered a harvesting operation; 2. Beneficiating ores and other minerals, classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, is considered part of the activity of mining; 3. Constructing structures, assembling prefabricated buildings, and fabricating at the construction site by contractors are classified in Sector 23, Construction; 4. Breaking bulk and reselling in smaller lots, including packaging, repackaging, or bottling products, such as liquors or chemicals; assembling and selling computers on a custom basis; sorting and reselling scrap; mixing and selling paints to customer order; and cutting metals to customer order for resale are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade; and 5. Publishing and the combined activity of publishing and printing, classified in Sector 51, Information, transform information into a product for which the value to the consumer lies in the information content, not in the format in which it is distributed (i.e., the book or software compact disc). |
| 315 | Apparel Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Apparel Manufacturing subsector group establishments with two distinct manufacturing processes: (1) cut and sew (i.e., purchasing fabric and cutting and sewing to make a garment) and (2) the manufacture of garments in establishments that first knit fabric and then cut and sew the fabric into a garment. The Apparel Manufacturing subsector includes a diverse range of establishments manufacturing full lines of ready-to-wear apparel and custom apparel: apparel contractors, performing cutting or sewing operations on materials owned by others; jobbers, performing entrepreneurial functions involved in apparel manufacturing; and tailors, manufacturing custom garments for individual clients. Knitting fabric, when done alone, is classified in the Textile Mills subsector, but when knitting is combined with the production of complete garments, the activity is classified in the Apparel Manufacturing subsector. |
| 3151 | Apparel Knitting Mills 4-digit industry group | Industries in the Apparel Manufacturing subsector group establishments with two distinct manufacturing processes: (1) cut and sew (i.e., purchasing fabric and cutting and sewing to make a garment) and (2) the manufacture of garments in establishments that first knit fabric and then cut and sew the fabric into a garment. The Apparel Manufacturing subsector includes a diverse range of establishments manufacturing full lines of ready-to-wear apparel and custom apparel: apparel contractors, performing cutting or sewing operations on materials owned by others; jobbers, performing entrepreneurial functions involved in apparel manufacturing; and tailors, manufacturing custom garments for individual clients. Knitting fabric, when done alone, is classified in the Textile Mills subsector, but when knitting is combined with the production of complete garments, the activity is classified in the Apparel Manufacturing subsector. |
| 31512 | Apparel Knitting Mills 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 315120. |
| 315120 | Apparel Knitting Mills 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in knitting apparel or knitting fabric and then manufacturing apparel. Jobbers, performing entrepreneurial functions involved in knitting apparel and accessories, are included. |
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Classification References
- 01Manufacturing outerwear, underwear, and nightwear from purchased fabric--are classified in Industry Group 3152, Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing;
- 02Finishing apparel products only--are classified in Industry 313310, Textile and Fabric Finishing Mills;
- 03Manufacturing slipper socks from purchased socks--are classified in Industry 316210, Footwear Manufacturing; and
- 04Manufacturing orthopedic hosiery--are classified in U.S. Industry 339113, Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing.
Index Items
Anklets, sheer hosiery or socks, knitting or knitting and finishing
Athletic clothing made in apparel knitting mills
Athletic socks knitting or knitting and finishing
Bathing suits made in apparel knitting mills
Bathrobes made in apparel knitting mills
Beachwear made in apparel knitting mills
Blouses made in apparel knitting mills
Body stockings made in apparel knitting mills
Boys' socks manufacturing
Briefs, underwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Calf high sheer hosiery knitting or knitting and finishing
Caps made in apparel knitting mills
Chemises made in apparel knitting mills
Children's socks manufacturing
Clerical vestments made in apparel knitting mills
Collar and cuff sets made in apparel knitting mills
Crew socks knitting or knitting and finishing
Drawers, apparel, made in apparel knitting mills
Dress and semidress gloves made in apparel knitting mills
Dresses made in apparel knitting mills
Dresses, hand-knit, manufacturing
Ensemble dresses made in apparel knitting mills
Footies, sheer, knitting or knitting and finishing
Girdles and other foundation garments made in apparel knitting mills
Girls' hosiery, sheer, full-length and knee-length, knitting or knitting and finishing
Girls' socks manufacturing
Gloves, knit, made in apparel knitting mills
Hats made in apparel knitting mills
Hosiery, sheer, women's, misses', and girls' full-length and knee-length, knitting or knitting and finishing
Hosiery, women's, girls', and infants', manufacturing
Housecoats made in apparel knitting mills
Jackets made in apparel knitting mills
Jerseys made in apparel knitting mills
Jogging suits made in apparel knitting mills
Knit gloves made in apparel knitting mills
Leggings knitting or knitting and finishing
Leotards made in apparel knitting mills
Lounging robes and dressing gowns made in apparel knitting mills
Men's socks knitting or knitting and finishing
Mittens, knit, made in apparel knitting mills
Mufflers made in apparel knitting mills
Neckties made in apparel knitting mills
Neckwear made in apparel knitting mills
Negligees made in apparel knitting mills
Nightgowns made in apparel knitting mills
Nightshirts made in apparel knitting mills
Nightwear made in apparel knitting mills
Nylon hosiery, sheer, women's, misses', and girls' full-length and knee-length, knitting or knitting and finishing
Nylons, sheer, women's, misses', and girls' full-length and knee-length, knitting or knitting and finishing
Outerwear handknitted for the trade
Pajamas made in apparel knitting mills
Panties made in apparel knitting mills
Pants, athletic, made in apparel knitting mills
Pants, outerwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Panty hose, women's and girls', knitting or knitting and finishing
Polo shirts made in apparel knitting mills
Prayer shawls made in apparel knitting mills
Robes, lounging, made in apparel knitting mills
Scarves made in apparel knitting mills
Shirts, outerwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Shirts, underwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Shorts, outerwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Shorts, underwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Ski pants made in apparel knitting mills
Ski suits made in apparel knitting mills
Skirts made in apparel knitting mills
Slacks made in apparel knitting mills
Slacks, jean-cut casual, made in apparel knitting mills
Slipper socks made in sock mills
Slips made in apparel knitting mills
Snowsuits made in apparel knitting mills
Socks knitting or knitting and finishing
Socks, men's and boy's, manufacturing
Socks, slipper, made in sock mills
Sports clothing made in apparel knitting mills
Sports shirts made in apparel knitting mills
Stockings, sheer, manufacturing
Stockings, sheer, women's, misses', and girls', full-length and knee-length, knitting or knitting and finishing
Suits made in apparel knitting mills
Sweat bands made in apparel knitting mills
Sweat pants made in apparel knitting mills
Sweat suits made in apparel knitting mills
Sweater jackets made in apparel knitting mills
Sweater vests made in apparel knitting mills
Sweaters made in apparel knitting mills
Sweatshirts made in apparel knitting mills
Swimsuits made in apparel knitting mills
Tank tops, outerwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Tank tops, underwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Tennis shirts made in apparel knitting mills
Tennis skirts made in apparel knitting mills
Ties made in apparel knitting mills
Tights knitting or knitting and finishing
Trousers made in apparel knitting mills
T-shirts, outerwear, made in apparel knitting mills
T-shirts, underwear, made in apparel knitting mills
Underwear made in apparel knitting mills
Underwear shirts made in apparel knitting mills
Underwear shorts made in apparel knitting mills
Uniforms, nontailored, made in apparel knitting mills
Union suits made in apparel knitting mills
Warmup suits made in apparel knitting mills
Work gloves and mittens, knit, made in apparel knitting mills
How Item Can Help
The Warehouse Management System optimizes the handling of bulky and perishable knit inventory by providing real-time stock visibility and automated shelf labeling. This reduces picking errors and improves turnover rates for seasonal apparel lines.
The Order Management System aggregates demand from multiple online and brick-and-mortar channels to prioritize fast-moving styles. It automatically routes orders to the optimal fulfillment location to minimize shipping times and costs.
The Transportation Management System optimizes delivery routes for high-volume freight carriers moving bulk fabric or finished garments. This reduces fuel costs and ensures timely deliveries to retail partners regardless of distance.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 315120.
American Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Association
The national trade association for the apparel and textile industry providing resources for knitting mills.
US Census Bureau Industry Classification System
Official government data source defining the definition and economic characteristics of apparel knitting mills.
Textile & Apparel Technology
A specialized industry directory and news source focusing on equipment and trends for apparel knitting operations.
