Clothing
is one of the few things in the world that can be said to be familiar
to possibly every human on the planet. It keeps us comfortable, protects
us from the elements, and when done right, can make us look very nice.
Fashion
and apparel is something that is important to just about everybody, no
matter their style, or if they want to even admit it. That being the
case, here are some interesting facts for the fashion consumer who wants
to be a little more educated on the industry that touches so many parts
of their life.
- Textiles in developed nations, especially the US, are almost all universally imported. The figure stands at 97% imported for the US alone.
- Most fashion designers make their homes in two states, New York, and California
- The US department of labor is projecting that there will be 21,000 fashion designers in the US by 2016
- Each year, in the U.S alone, over 250$ billion dollars is spent on apparel items
- A surprising fact; The apparel and textile industry consumes the second largest amount of water for industrial use worldwide
- In 2008, the apparel industry as a whole employed about 497,000 workers in the U.S
- Most of these workers were employed in large, continually operating factories, largely concentrated in California.
- According to the WTO, worldwide textile exports amounted to 362$ billion in 2008
- Much of the raw materials for the manufacturing of apparel items comes from china
- China maintains over 4700 acres of cotton farms, with an estimated yield of about 90 million yards of cotton fabric yearly
However
the Clothing industry has, like much of the global economy over the
past few years, experienced what can best be described as a roller
coaster. The rising prices of natural resources, like cotton, and
general consumer malaise has meant bad things for many in the industry.
If the industry is anything though, it is adaptable, and there will
always be a need for clothes, wither they be for looks, comfort, or
work.
