SIBL > Science and Technology Information > Apparel, Fashion & Textiles

How do I find names of companies, professionals, manufacturers, buyers, suppliers, competitors and other related contacts in the apparel/fashion/textiles industries?

Consult:
1. Trade associations and trade shows
2. Print and Electronic directories to locate manufacturers, suppliers, competitors, wholesalers
3. Industry Directories on SIBL’s home page: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/trade/index.cfm. 

Other sources include:
Davison’s Textile Blue Book (Latest ed. At McGraw Desk)

Professional and Trade Associations

Listed below is a selected list of associations, including their Web sites, that provides industry statistics, news, surveys and reports:

• American Apparel & Footwear Association (http://www.americanapparel.org) The site has industry news, consumer information and statistics.
• American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (http://www.aatcc.org)
• American Textile Manufacturers Institute (http://www.atmi.org)
• Associations Directory for the Apparel and Fashion Industry (http://www.apparelsearch.com/associations.htm) 
  Portal website for links to individual associations in the apparel, fashion and textile industries, e.g. ATMI, AATCC.
• The Fashion Center Business Improvement District, New York City (http://www.fashioncenter.com)
• The Institute of Textile Technology in Charlottesville, Virginia (http://www.itt.edu)
• National Textile Center University Research Consortium (http://www.ntcresearch.org)
• The Textile Institute (http://texi.org/)

General reference sources for additional associations:

• Encyclopedia of Associations  (*R-SIBL AS22.E5 Latest ed. –  Open Reference Shelves and McGraw Desk)   This directory is also available in the electronic database Gale's Ready Reference Shelf.
• National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States (*R-SIBL HD2425.D53 – Latest ed. McGraw Desk)

Tradeshow Resources

• Expocentral.com (http://www.expocentral.com)
  Information on the textile industry, current trade shows, fairs, exhibitions conventions and conference in the U.S. and other countries.
• Trade Shows Worldwide (*R-SIBL T394.T723)
• Tradeshow Week Data Book  (*R-SIBL T394.T725 )
• TSNN.com - The Ultimate Tradeshow Resource (http://www.tsnn.com/)

Use Print and Electronic directories to locate manufacturers, suppliers, competitors, wholesalers

Print Directories

Consult SIBL’s home page - Research Guides -  Industry Specific Directories for additional resources.

• Apparel Contractors, Manufacturers, Importers & Exporters (*R-SIBL HD9940.A2.A66 Latest ed.)
• Apparel Industry Sourcebook  (*R-SIBL TT495.A75 – Latest ed. McGraw Desk)
• Davison’s Textile Blue Book  (*R-SIBL TS1312.D29 – Latest ed. McGraw Desk)
• Directory of Apparel Specialty Stores (*R-SIBL HD9940.U3.D49)
• Garment Manufacturers Index (*R-SIBL TT495.G37)
• Kompass Professionnel. (France) (*R-SIBL HD9862.3. K656)
• Mass Merchandisers & Off-price Apparel Buyers (*R-SIBL HD9940. U4 .N47)
• Men's and Boy's Wear Buyers (*R-SIBL HD9940.U3.M39 Latest ed.) also: Women's and Children's Wear Buyers (*R-SIBL HD9940.U3.N33  Latest ed.)
• National Register of Apparel Manufacturers (Men/Boys: *R-SIBL HD9940 .U3 .N315)
  (Women’s/Children’s: *R-SIBL HD9940 .U3 .N33)
• Textile World Blue Book  (*R-SIBL TS1312.A34 – Latest ed. McGraw Desk)
• Registered Numbers & Wool Products Label Encyclopedia  (*R-SIBL HD9940.U3 .R5 – Latest ed. McGraw Desk) Also available at the website:  (www.ftc.gov/bcp/rn/) .

Electronic Directories

These resources are available in the Rohatyn Electronic Information Center (EIC) at SIBL only. The EIC is located on the lower level of the library. From the Electronic Information Center (EIC) menu, Select ‘Electronic Databases’, then ‘Business Resources’, then ‘Company Directories’.

• Reference USA
  Directory. Provides addresses, sales information, executives, for over 12 million U.S. companies. Searchable by state, city, zip code, and SIC code and yellow page headings/industries such as textile manufacturers. Updated: Monthly. Zip code listing for all 5 boroughs Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island.
• Thomas Register of American Manufacturers & Thomas Register of European Manufacturers (TREM)
  Directories of manufacturing companies. Thomas Register also has a free web site http://www.thomasregister.com and http://www.tipcoeurope.com/ for searching companies; registration is required. Print version of Thomas Register (U.S.) is on lower level Company/Industry Section, call number *R-SIBL T12.T6. This database is not on all networked computers.