The apparel and accessories industries are diverse, with hundreds of product lines designed for men, women, and children in a wide range of styles and price points. Each line is designed specifically for a targeted consumer group, based on its observed and expected trends and needs. (Neuman, 2003)
In the apparel industry, companies can operate as manufacturers (wholesalers), as retailers, or as both. For instance, NEXT Plc., a vertical retailer, outsources the production of its apparel and accessories, which it then sells in its own stores.
An apparel manufacturer may sell its products under its own brand name, a brand name that it has licensed from another company, or a retail customer’s private label. For a manufacturer, private-label manufacturing not only provides an additional source of revenue, but also allows its plants to run at greater capacity, thus reducing the per-unit production costs of its own branded goods. Moreover, since the manufacturer does not have to support the marketing of private-label goods, such items can be almost as profitable as branded products. The increasing diversification of operations means that the roles of apparel manufacturer, retailer, brand manager, and licensee continue to overlap and blur. (Neuman, 2003)
Fabrics play an important role in function and quality. In general, woolens and knits are high-quality fabrics that can command higher selling prices. Woven fabrics tend to be lower in both quality and price. Many traditional apparel vendors, aiming to diversify their assortments, offer complementary accessories like costume jewelry, handbags, hats, belts, watches, sunglasses, scarves, gloves, and footwear. A smaller number of firms are niche players in the accessories market, targeting different price points. NEXT Plc aims for the premium-priced segment, while Fossil Inc. and Claire’s Stores Inc. focus on the moderate and popular-priced markets, respectively. (Neuman, 2003)
服装及配件行业是多种多样的，与产品线设计的男人，妇女和儿童数以百计，在广泛的风格和价格点。每一行是专为目标消费群，根据观察到的和预期的趋势和需求。（纽曼，2003）
在服装行业，公司可以作为生产商（批发商），零售商，或作为。例如，下一个PLC。，垂直的零售商，将其服装和配件的生产，然后出售自己的店。
服装制造商可以以自己的品牌销售其产品，品牌名称，它从另一家公司的许可，或一个零售客户的私人标签。对于制造商来说，私人的标签制造不仅提供了一个额外的收入来源，但也允许其植物运行在更大的容量，从而降低了每单位生产成本的自有品牌商品。此外，由于厂家没有支持私人标签的商品市场，这些项目几乎可以盈利的品牌产品。经营日益多样化意味着服装制造商，零售商，品牌经理的角色，和被许可继续重叠和模糊。（纽曼，2003）
织物的功能和质量起着重要的作用。一般来说，毛织品，针织物织物，高质量较高的销售价格可以命令。机织物往往在质量和价格较低。许多传统的服装供应商，努力增加花色品种，提供互补的配件如服装首饰，手袋，帽子，太阳眼镜，手表，皮带，围巾，手套，鞋袜。一个较小的企业数量在配件市场利基参与者，针对不同的价格点。下一个PLC针对高价段，而矿物公司和克莱尔公司的商店集中在中等和流行的定价的市场，分别为。（纽曼，2003）
