The textile manufacturing industry (NAICS 313) has played an important role in the history of the United States (US) and continues to be a major industrial employer, not only in the US, but also around the world. Textiles are mainly considered a component part of the supply chain, with end uses ranging from apparel to home textiles to industrial goods to medical textiles. Even though apparel is the largest end use of textiles, and its manufacture has increasingly moved offshore to low-cost labor countries, there remains a growing textile manufacturing industry in the US for capital and technological intensive products, such as non-wovens and those with military end uses.

One unique aspect of textile manufacturing is that it includes sectors from agriculture, chemicals, industrial manufacturing, cutting-edge research and development in addition to the fashion aspects of apparel and home goods. It is highly dependent on economic conditions and consumer demand, and competition is primarily based on price. Another unique aspect of the textile manufacturing industry is its fragmented nature. Whereas a few major players define most industries, there are over 8,000 textile establishments in the US, and no major textile firm has more than 2% share of the market.

This book includes an overview of the industry and its supply chain including a brief overview of the manufacturing technologies of each sector. The book also includes an overview of the importance of the industry in US history and how the industry has changed over time including the movement to offshore manufacturing. An overview of new competitors, such as China and Mexico, are also touched on. The author discusses the competitive strategies that US manufacturers are using to compete with these countries. Outside market forces that impact the industry are also discussed as well as an overview of the regulations that impact the industry. Finally, the challenges, opportunities, and future outlook of the industry are presented. This section incorporates insight from the case study interviews to include differing perspectives.