315250 - Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors)
The apparel industry is a cornerstone of the global manufacturing landscape. Within this vast sector, NAICS Code 315250 represents a specialized niche: Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors). If you’re engaged in or exploring business opportunities related to apparel manufacturing—especially focused on turning purchased fabrics into finished garments—this NAICS code is highly relevant. In this blog post, we’ll delve deep into what NAICS 315250 entails, its sector specifics, the types of businesses it covers, and important eligibility details.
What is NAICS Code 315250?
NAICS 315250 defines establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing apparel by cutting and sewing purchased fabric into finished garments. Importantly, this code excludes contractors who merely perform cut and sew services for other businesses. Instead, it covers manufacturers who independently create apparel products from start to finish.
This makes NAICS 315250 a vital classification for manufacturers who oversee the full-cut and sew process under their own brand or label.
Sector Overview: Manufacturing
NAICS 315250 is situated entirely within the Manufacturing sector. It bridges textile production and retail by transforming raw or semi-processed fabric into market-ready apparel products.
Typical Business Activities Include:
- Cutting purchased fabrics into garment pieces
- Sewing and assembling these pieces into finished apparel
- Manufacturing a wide variety of clothing types and specialized garments
- Overseeing product design, quality control, and packaging
Size Standards for NAICS Code 315250
To qualify as a small business under NAICS 315250 for government contracting and assistance, the SBA size standard is:
- Up to 750 employees
Businesses exceeding this number typically fall outside small business classifications for this NAICS code.
Examples of Businesses Under NAICS 315250
Businesses classified under this code usually include:
- Manufacturers of men's and boys' suits and coats
- Manufacturers of women's and girls' dresses
- Producers of infants’ and children’s apparel
- Makers of a broad range of cut and sewn garments from aprons to uniforms and outerwear (excluding apparel contractors)
Detailed Breakdown of NAICS 315250 Code Details
| Product / Activity Type | Description / Notes |
|---|---|
| Apparel, fur (except apparel contractors), manufacturing | Fur garments excluding contractor involvement |
| Aprons, work (men's, boys', women's, girls') | Cut and sewed from purchased fabrics |
| Athletic clothing (men's, boys', unisex, women's, girls') | Cut and sewn apparel |
| Athletic uniforms, team | Cut and sewn from purchased fabric |
| Band uniforms, baseball and basketball uniforms | Full manufacturing except contractor services |
| Bathing suits, men's, women's, girls', and infants | Cut and sewn from purchased fabric |
| Bathrobes, beachwear, blouses, body stockings | Various apparel types manufactured |
| Bridal and wedding dresses, custom and standard | Cut and sewn from purchased fabric |
| Coats, including fur, leather, tailored and nontailored | Fur and leather excluded if by contractors |
| Custom tailors for suits, dresses | Full garment manufacturing |
| Down and feather-filled clothing | Including jackets and vests |
| Firefighters' dress uniforms | Cut and sewn apparel |
| Flannel shirts, formal jackets, foundation garments | Diverse apparel production |
| Fur clothing, hats, accessories | Excluding work done by apparel contractors |
| Hospital and medical apparel | Washable, service-focused garments |
| Jackets (ski, tailored, service apparel) | Cut and sewn in-house |
| Jeans, jerseys, jog suits, jumpsuits | Cut and sewn from purchased fabric |
| Laboratory coats, leather clothing, leggings, lingerie | Manufacturing excluding outsourcing contractors |
| Military, police, and school uniforms | Full garment production |
| Pajamas, pants, pantyhose, panties, polo shirts | Cut and sewn from purchased fabric |
| Raincoats, ponchos, plastic and rubberized outerwear | Cut and sewn apparel |
| Shirts (outerwear, underwear) | Men's, women's, infants' clothing |
| Skirts, slacks, slips, snowsuits, sport coats | Cut and sewn garments |
| Suits (tailored and non-tailored), sweaters, sweatshirts | Apparel manufacturing, no contractor exclusion |
| Swimwear, tank tops, tennis apparel, tuxedos | Cut and sewn from purchased fabric |
| Uniforms (band, dress, athletic, medical, professional) | Full cut and sew manufacturing |
| Vests, warmup and jogging suits | Cut and sewn apparel |
| Work coats, pants, shirts | Industrial and service apparel |
| Wedding gowns | Cut and sewn from purchased fabric |
This table represents a condensed sample of the extensive range of garments and apparel products covered under NAICS 315250.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What businesses are excluded from NAICS 315250?
Contractors who only provide cut and sew services for other companies’ designs and specifications are excluded. This code is specific to manufacturers who produce their own apparel products.
Can custom tailors fall under NAICS 315250?
Yes, but only if they manufacture complete garments like men's and boys' dress shirts or suits by cutting and sewing purchased fabric, rather than just altering or tailoring existing garments.
What is the difference between NAICS 315250 and other apparel manufacturing codes?
NAICS 315250 excludes contractors performing cut and sew services and fur manufacturing separate from cut and sew processes. Other codes may include apparel knitting, accessories manufacturing, or contracted apparel production.
How many employees define a small business under this code?
The SBA defines a small business under NAICS 315250 as an establishment with 750 or fewer employees.
Are specialty uniforms included?
Yes, manufacturing of special uniforms such as firefighter, police, military, band, hospital, and athletic uniforms is included.
Conclusion
NAICS Code 315250 - Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) plays a pivotal role in the manufacturing sector by identifying businesses that transform purchased fabrics into finished apparel products. From suits and dresses to uniforms and specialized outerwear, this code captures a vast array of garment production activities excluding contractor services.
Understanding this NAICS classification not only helps businesses correctly categorize themselves for taxation, government contracting, and industry analysis but also provides insight into the scale and diversity of apparel manufacturing in the U.S.
If you operate or plan to enter the apparel manufacturing market focusing on cut and sew processes, NAICS 315250 is the classification to know—and knowing the size standards and business examples here can help guide your next steps successfully.
Keywords: NAICS 315250, Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing, apparel manufacturing sector, garment manufacturing, small business size standard, men's apparel manufacturing, women's apparel manufacturing, infants' apparel production, government contracting NAICS code
