Textile Glossary

Apparel industry

Definition

The apparel industry processes materials produced by the textile industry — such as yarns or textile surfaces — into finished garments, including pants, dresses, and jackets.

Use in the textile industry

The apparel industry uses woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, and nonwovens from the textile industry as base materials and converts them into ready-to-wear products through cutting, sewing, and garment manufacturing. Properties such as dimensional stability, sewability, shrinkage behavior, and color fastness of the materials used play a decisive role in the quality of the finished product. Depending on the product segment, additional components such as interlinings, zippers, buttons, or coatings are incorporated to meet functional or design requirements.

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Frequently asked question

The textile industry produces basic textile materials such as yarns, woven fabrics, and nonwovens, while the apparel industry sources these materials as semi-finished inputs and uses them to manufacture ready-made garments. The two sectors therefore represent consecutive stages within the textile value chain, but with clearly distinct production processes and end products.

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