men's and boys' Clothing and Furnishings

With 6,000 establishments employing more than 50,000 people in 2009, the men's and boy's clothing and furnishing industry was valued at $9.2 billion, a little more than half its value just two years earlier. The global recession showed no sign of waning. However, following a decade of shrinking sales, the U.S. apparel and textile industry was in a better position following consolidation and investment. The Global Insight market research firm predicted increased activity by 2011.

The men's and boy's clothing sector held a market share of 49.4 percent. Other top performing sectors were men's and boy's sportswear with 14.9 percent in market share and men's and boy's shirts. While California and New York maintained their market presence, total number of establishments fell to 1,393 and 1,168, respectively.

Apparel shipments from China into the U.S. were 34.3 percent in 2008, down 2.7 percent compared to 2007. However, shipment values increased 3.2 percent to $71.6 billion during the same period. In fact, several imported apparel shipments of other countries fell, such as the Philippines by 15.6 percent, Mexico (14.5 percent); Hong Kong by (27.9 percent); Turkey 38.4 percent; Canada (35.7 percent); and Costa Rica (31.7 percent).

From the 1990s, a solemn forecast for employees in the apparel industry was the norm. During the later part of the twentieth century, increasing globalization and new technological developments played a role in the continuous decline in the industry. From 1970 to 1996, employment in the overall apparel industry declined by about 33 percent to around 915,000 workers, a decline that continued through the first decade of the 21st century.

Leaders in this industry included Adidas America Inc., headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with 2009 estimated sales of $10.3 billion; Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., headquartered in New York City, with 2009 sales of $4.9 billion; and Giorgio Armani Fashion Corp., headquartered in New York City, with about one-quarter of the $2.9 billion in 2009 revenue generated by parent corporation, Italy's Giorgio Armani S.p.A.