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FASHION INDUSTRY

Websites discussed on this page include the following types of Internet resources: “Gateways,” industry directories, academic/research sites, and government sites. They are free-of-charge to users, although some include a commercial or promotional content. Some sites also contain a costume/fashion history component.  See also JWU Library's FASHION & COSTUME.


Angel of Fashion

•  Sponsored by fashionangel.com
•  Directory of links to thousands of fashion industry-related sites to “fashion-zines,” designers, modeling, alternative fashion, online shopping
•  Brief annotations accompany many links
•  Outstanding; possibly the most comprehensive – and certainly one of the best – sites for up-to-date information on many facets of the fashion industry


Apparel, Fashion and Retail Merchandising

•  Maintained by the Library Learning Center (LLC), University of Wisconsin – Stout
•  Research guide which discusses fashion-industry print, database and Internet resources available at the LLC
•  Print resources include subject dictionaries/encyclopedias/handbooks, directories, and statistical sources
•  Databases are restricted to the University of Wisconsin – Stout academic community; these may be available at many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Links to websites for the following topics: clothing/fashion, costume history, “images,” companies, retail merchandising, statistics
•  Updated August, 2004
•  Excellent; while not extensive, this page’s links are representative of some of the best sites for their topics; a great place to begin research


Apparel & Textile Research Guide

•  Compiled and maintain by the Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL), New York Public Library (NYPL)
•  This research guide offers strategies for locating industry information, technology information, industry standards/regulations, company information, “keeping current”
•  Discusses the library’s print resources (subject dictionaries/encyclopedias, industry directories, abstracts/indexes), databases and Internet resources (industry meta-sites, industry/professional organizations, trade shows, government sites)
•  Annotations accompany many links
•  Print resources may be available in many academic libraries and large public libraries
•  Databases are restricted to on-site use and remote access for NYPL library-card holders; they may be available at many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Outstanding; this is one of the best guides of its type currently available; well-organized and easy-to-navigate


Apparel Industry

•  Maintained by Marian Weston, Gladys Marcus Library, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
•  Directory of links to meta-sites, industry/research/trade associations, trade journals, directories
•  Brief, but incisive, annotations accompany most links
•  Links to additional FIT internet guides for fashion merchandising, textile science, other business sites
•  Excellent; not extensive but very useful for locating up-to-date information on the industry


Apparel Search

•  This site describes itself as a “business to business data base which covers all aspects of the Clothing Industry” and a “Clothing & Fashion Directory” for “Factories-Fashion-Finance”
•  Links to thousands of websites for the following apparel, fashion and textile resources: industry directories, industry/professional associations/organizations, events calendar, trade shows, industry stocks, jobbers, manufacturers/merchandisers, modeling, industry news, popular brands, technology, trade leads, wholesalers, “human rights” issues, safety issues and much more
•  Also links to industry information for over 80 countries
•  Annotations accompany most links
•  Access is free!
•  Includes information on Apparel Search’s fee-based consulting services for production, factoring, logistics
•  Continually updated
•  Outstanding; this is the most comprehensive site currently available for industry links to every conceivable type of information for the apparel/fashion/textile industry; highly recommended and easy-to-navigate, it is essential for anyone seeking current information on the industry


Behind the Label

•  “Behind the Label.org is a multimedia news magazine and on-line community covering the stories and people of the global clothing industry - the hidden stories of the millions of workers around the world who make our clothes, the people who care how their clothes are made and the multinational corporations behind the labels”
•  “Behind the Industry” links to sites for analysis/education of issues involved in “fair trade” practices and for relevant public interest organizations
•  Also includes “In the Media” (news), “op-ed” articles (featuring archived articles, videos), “Sweatshop Companies,” message boards
•  Also available in Chinese, French and Spanish
•  Excellent educational site dealing with the unsavory side of the apparel industry and international efforts to end abusive industry practices


Digital Librarian: Fashion Resources

•  Maintained by Margaret Vail Anderson
•  Directory of links to almost 700 fashion-related sites for the following: professional associations/organizations, auction houses/galleries, blogs, books, designers, libraries, magazines, model agencies, museums, news, photographers, schools/universities
•  Short annotations accompany many links
•  There are over 260 links to designers alone
•  Links to “Digital Librarian” pages for “Images,” “Shopping”
•  Outstanding; this site has been greatly expanded and links to facets of the fashion industry which are not readily available elsewhere; highly recommended


Export Advantage

•  Sponsored by the Office of Textile and Apparel (OTEXA), International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. Department of Commerce
•  “Your one-stop resource for exporting US-made textile and apparel products”
•  “OTEXA oversees programs and strategies to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of the U.S. fiber, textile, and apparel industries”
•  “Export Advantage” is concerned with apparel/textile exporting procedures and issues and assists exporters in their efforts to “research overseas market potential, find information on shipping requirements and procedures, identifying overseas buyers, obtain basic how-to-export information, locate government and industry contacts”
•  Links to “Country Information” for over 120 countries by providing reports on each country for import procedures/taxes/tariffs, local industry/market, product standards/labeling, “Special Trade Programs” (comprehensiveness of report information varies from country-to-country)
•  "Trade Links" provides additional links to U.S. government sites, trade-related sites from U.S. trade associations and international trade organizations
•  Also provides information on international apparel/textile trade shows, “hot issues” (news updates regarding changes in trade policy)
•  Includes FAQ feature
•  While this site is well-organized, it is also productive to browse the “Site Map”
•  Outstanding; an extremely useful federal website, which truly lives up to its self-proclaimed motto of being a “one-stop resource” for its market niche


Fashion Center: New York City

•  “The Fashion Center Business Improvement District, a not-of-profit corporation, was established in 1993 to promote New York City’s apparel industry and to improve the quality of life and economic vitality of Manhattan’s garment district”
•  “Walk of Fame” honors fashion designers who have been prominent in the New York fashion world and in promoting it
•  “Information Kiosk” is “the first all-inclusive central resource center serving sourcing information to national and international fashion professionals;” includes contact information and the Kiosk’s hours of operation; all inquires must be faxed or e-mailed
•  Includes links to industry/professional organizations, media, government sites
•  Excellent resource for up-to-date information on the New York fashion industry; also great for links to many prominent industry websites


Fashion Magazines

•  Sponsored by the Internet Public Library (IPL)
•  Links to over 20 publications which are totally or partially devoted to fashion industry news and subjects
•  Citations for each link include(s) a description of the publication’s focus/interests
•  Not extensive but a very useful place to link to some of the fashion industry’s foremost publications


GladRags.com: Fashion and Costume

•  Written by Monica Fusich, Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno
•  Published in the April 1999 issue of College & Research Library News
•  Essay and directory of sites for fashion and costume
•  “Fashion links to meta-sites, “images,” industry information, designers, schools, “e-zines,” newsgroups/mail lists/chatrooms
•  “Costume” links to meta-sites, “images”, associations/organizations, newsgroups/mail lists/chatrooms
•  Revised May 2007
•  Outstanding; excellent annotations accompany all links; one of the best places for an industry overview and to begin research


Great Links

•  Maintained by the Apparel and Textile Xchange (ATEXINC)
•  Directory of links to almost 200 sites for the following: apparel firms (designers/manufacturers/retailers), trade/industry associations/organizations, sourcing, media, textile fibers/fabrics, media, federal agencies
•  Includes information on ATEXINC’s books, CDs, DVDs, seminars
•  Excellent; a good, solid assortment of sites for accessing many of “the basics” for the
apparel/fashion and textile industries


Internet Resources for Fashion Design and Apparel Studies

•  Maintained by Linda L. Stein for the University of Delaware Library
•  Links to sites for the following categories: “Starting Sites,” academic departments/programs, historical fashion images/collections, fashion/merchandising associations/organizations, designers, fashion magazines/news, “Online Research Tools” (glossaries)
•  Annotations accompany most links
•  Excellent; this is one of the most useful academic library sites for the industry; while not extensive, its links are well-chosen, its annotations are great and it’s very easy to navigate


Kool Connections: Industry Links: Fashion and Entertainment

•  Sponsored by the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM)
•  Links to over 300 sites for the following topics: apparel metasites, apparel associations, exhibits, e-zines, international business/trade, apparel services, apparel software, fashion/apparel news, fashion books, retailers, shopping, textiles, cosmetics/fragrances, costume, fashion designers
•  Also links to sites for entertainment, government agencies
•  Features “Monthly Book, Magazine, and Website Reviews,” “Fashion Resources and News”
•  No annotations
•  Outstanding; one of the most comprehensive sites for all sectors of the industry; a great place for up-to-date information


Plunkett Research Online: Apparel and Textiles Research Center  (JWU database)

•  Restricted to Johnson & Wales Univ. community
•  Provides profiles for 30 industries; each profile includes market research/trends, statistics, company profiles, associations/organizations, glossary
•  “Apparel and Textiles Research Center” resources includes information on market research/trends, industry statistics
•  “Company Profiles,” with over 350 companies, includes the following: contact information, “Growth Plans/Special Features,” financial information for 5 years, “Salary/Benefits” (when available) for pension plans, savings plans, stock options, profit-sharing
•  “Build-A-Report” feature allows users to create a customized report for an industry
•  “Resources and Tools for Job Seekers” offers job market trends/statistics, contact information for industry associations/government agencies, career guide to industries, and “Occupational Outlook Handbook” online
•  Outstanding; extremely valuable for industry information; brings often hard-to-find information together in one place


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh, 11/04; revised 5/08

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