Apparel Knitting Mills in the US: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Apparel Knitting Mills industry in the US comprises establishments that knit apparel directly from yarn or manufacture garments from knit fabrics made within the same facility. The industry has faced structural consolidation and heightened competition from global imports, leading to a long-term contraction in localized employment and total output. According to data tracked by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Data USA, the broader combined workforce for knitting fabric and apparel knitting mills stood at approximately 11,558 employees in 2024, reflecting an industry transitioning toward highly automated specialty products and technical knitwear.

Industry snapshot

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What does the Apparel Knitting Mills in the US industry cover?

This industry involves manufacturing facilities that either knit apparel directly from yarn or knit fabrics and then cut and sew them into finished garments within the same establishment. The scope covers a variety of hosiery, socks, underwear, outerwear, and specialized knit shirts. It excludes facilities that perform standalone textile knitting without garment assembly, which are instead classified under textile mills.

• •Classified explicitly under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 3151.
• •Covers both multi-stage operations (spinning/knitting to final garment) and integrated contractors.
• •Products include sheer hosiery, socks, t-shirts, sweatpants, and specialized circular or flat-knit apparel.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The domestic operator landscape is highly fragmented and consists mostly of small to mid-sized specialized manufacturers alongside a few large multinational brands with localized production. Facilities are primarily clustered in traditional textile-manufacturing regions due to historical supply chain infrastructure. Production continues to shift toward automated, high-efficiency machinery to offset domestic labor costs.

• •According to US Census Bureau geographic concentrations, North Carolina represents the largest hub with an estimated 3.44k workers in 2024.
• •California and Alabama represent the next largest operating hubs, holding 1.09k and 680 workers respectively in 2024.
• •The workforce exhibits a gender distribution of 60.5% women and 39.5% men as of 2024 official estimates.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand is heavily driven by consumer spending trends in the broader apparel market, specifically the rising consumer preference for athleisure, performance activewear, and seamless knit garments. Fluctuations in domestic retail inventory levels and consumer disposable income directly dictate manufacturing volumes. Additionally, corporate and institutional procurement contracts for uniforms provide baseline institutional demand.

• •Consumer preference shifting rapidly toward performance, moisture-wicking, and flexible knit fabrics.
• •Fluctuations in US consumer disposable income directly dictate the purchasing volume of premium domestic knitwear.
• •Just-in-time retail inventory practices force domestic mills to offer quick-turnaround production cycles compared to overseas imports.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive landscape features intense pressure from low-cost international imports, forcing US-based mills to compete on speed-to-market, advanced customization, and supply chain proximity. Prominent companies operating or maintaining manufacturing capabilities in this ecosystem include major global apparel brands and specialized textile operators. Success is determined by capital investments in automated circular and flat knitting technologies.

• •Hanesbrands Inc., a major public operator known for innerwear and activewear manufacturing.
• •Gildan Activewear Inc., which manages extensive large-scale vertical apparel production and blank apparel supply chains.
• •Kayser-Roth Corporation, a prominent domestic manufacturer specializing in legwear, socks, and hosiery products.
• •Nova Enterprises LLC and various regional contractors operating localized production lines in the American Southeast.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

Recent trends highlight an accelerating adoption of advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D seamless knitting, which minimizes fabric waste and reduces labor requirements. The long-term outlook remains challenging for standard commodity garments, forcing domestic mills to pivot toward high-margin technical textiles and medical-grade knitwear. Labor statistics indicate a flat to slightly contracting workforce projection over the next decade.

• •Average annual industry wages stood at $46,886 in 2024, sitting lower than the national manufacturing average.
• •Long-term 10-year job growth projections for the sector are positioned near -0.00312% annually according to BLS-derived metrics.
• •Increased integration of automated circular knitting machines to counter labor shortages and reduce material scraps.

How is the industry regulated?

US apparel knitting mills are subject to stringent oversight by federal bodies regarding workplace safety, environmental emissions from dyeing or finishing processes, and product labeling. Compliance with international trade agreements heavily shapes the competitive environment and sourcing patterns for raw yarns. Manufacturers must also adhere to strict consumer product safety standards regarding chemicals and flammability.

• •The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces strict 'Made in USA' labeling regulations and textile fiber product identification rules.
• •Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations dictate strict standards for indoor air quality, machinery guarding, and repetitive motion injuries.
• •Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards govern wastewater discharge limits for integrated mills that handle chemical dyeing and textile finishing.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• US Census Bureau Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics 2023 ·
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics 2026 ·
• US Census Bureau Annual Survey of Manufactures / AIES 2024 ·
• Data USA Knitting Fabric Mills & Apparel Knitting Mills Profile 2024