Analysis
NAICS 315990 is the 2022 national industry for apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing, part of 31599 (Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing). Census lists 56 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 25% and employment fell 3%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 729 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 7,925 people at an average annual payroll of $41,298 per employee (10th percentile of national industries). 59% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 315210, 322299, 326 and 339920. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include apparel findings and trimmings cut and sewn from purchased…, aprons, waterproof (e.g., plastics, rubberized fabric)…, aprons, waterproof (including rubberized fabric, plastics)… and arm bands, elastic, cut and sewn from purchased fabric…, among 56 in all.
Its goods appear in 212 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 6116 (gloves, mittens and mitts, knitted or crocheted), 6117 (other made up clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted…) and 6217 (other made up clothing accessories; parts of garments or of…). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing apparel and accessories (except apparel knitting mills, cut and sew apparel contractors, and cut and sew apparel manufacturing (except contractors)). Jobbers, who perform entrepreneurial functions involved in apparel accessories manufacture, including buying raw materials, designing and preparing samples, arranging for apparel accessories to be made from their materials, and marketing finished apparel accessories, are included. Examples of products made by these establishments are belts, caps, gloves (except medical, safety, sporting), hats, and neckties.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Cutting and/or sewing materials owned by others for apparel and apparel accessories | 315210 Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors |
| Manufacturing paper hats and caps | 322299 All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing plastics or rubber hats and caps (except bathing caps) | 326 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing athletic gloves, such as boxing gloves, baseball gloves, golf gloves, batting gloves, and racquetball gloves | 339920 Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing metal fabric, metal mesh, or rubber gloves | 339113 Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing |
| Knitting apparel, mittens, gloves, hats, and caps or knitting fabric and manufacturing apparel, mittens, gloves, hats, and caps | 315120 Apparel Knitting Mills |
| Manufacturing cut and sew apparel from purchased fabric, including manufacturing fur and leather apparel | 315250 Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) |
Index entries (56)
- Apparel findings and trimmings cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Aprons, waterproof (e.g., plastics, rubberized fabric), rubberizing fabric and manufacturing aprons
- Aprons, waterproof (including rubberized fabric, plastics), cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Arm bands, elastic, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Ascots, men's and boys', cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Baseball caps cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Bathing caps, rubber, manufacturing
- Belts, apparel (e.g., fabric, leather, vinyl), cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Belts, money, any material, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Bibs and aprons, waterproof (e.g., plastics, rubber, similar materials), cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Bibs and aprons, waterproof (e.g., plastics, rubber, similar materials), rubberizing fabric and manufacturing bibs and aprons
- Bow ties, men's and boys', cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Caps (except fur, leather) cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Caps (i.e., apparel accessory) cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except fur, leather, apparel contractors)
- Caps, textiles, straw, fur-felt, and wool-felt, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Chauffeurs' hats and caps cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Coat trimmings fabric cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Cummerbunds cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Dress and semidress gloves cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Dress trimmings cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Findings, suit and coat (e.g., coat fronts, pockets), cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Glove linings (except fur) manufacturing
- Gloves and mittens (except athletic), leather, fabric, fur, or combinations, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Gloves and mittens, woven or knit, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors), manufacturing
- Gloves, leather (except athletic, cut and sewn apparel contractors), manufacturing
- Handkerchiefs (except paper) cut and sewn from purchased fabric
- Harvest hats, straw, manufacturing
- Hat bodies (e.g., fur-felt, straw, wool-felt) cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Hat findings cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Hat linings and trimmings cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Hats (except fur, knitting mill products, leather) cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Hats, cloth, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Hats, fur-felt, straw, and wool-felt, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Hats, trimmed, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Headbands, women's and girls', cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Knit gloves cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Leather gloves or mittens (except athletic, cut and sewn apparel contractors) manufacturing
- Linings, hat, men's, cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Millinery cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)
- Millinery trimmings cut and sewn from purchased fabric (except apparel contractors)