The United States Fashion Industry Association

The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) represents the fashion industry: textile and apparel brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally. Founded in 1989 as the United States Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel with the goal of eliminating the global apparel quota system, USFIA now works to eliminate the tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede the industry's ability to trade freely and create economic opportunities in the United States and abroad.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., USFIA is one of the most respected voices for the fashion industry in front of the U.S. government as well as international governments and stakeholders. With constant, two-way communication, USFIA staff and counsel serve as the eyes and ears of their members in Washington and around the world, enabling them to stay ahead of the regulatory challenges of today and tomorrow. Through their publications, educational events, and networking opportunities, USFIA also connects with key stakeholders across the value chain including U.S. and international service providers, suppliers, and industry groups.

About the Name Change:

The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), was formerly the United States Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel. The industry has increasingly globalized, and new challenges arise for the industry nearly every week. The association has evolved with their members to address these new challenges—but their brand, logo and official mission statement, had not changed in over two decades. In 2013 one of their major projects was rebranding their association to more clearly communicate their purpose and direction for the future. This new brand was developed over 10 months with input from members and their trusted network across the value chain who participated in comprehensive interviews.

The Fashion Industry

The phrase “the fashion industry” may call to mind images of Fashion Week, designers, and photo shoots. In this era of global trade, however, the high-fashion runways are just one part of the broader textile and apparel industry that ranges from high-end luxury brands to fast-fashion retailers, and the thousands of companies in between that produce and sell clothing, shoes, and other textile products. This industry includes companies and professionals across the value chain, working in roles ranging from design and development, to sourcing and logistics, to trade policy and compliance, to retail and marketing. The United States Fashion Industry Association aims to assist members working in each level of the industry.

United States Fashion Industry Association members and affiliates include companies across the value chain, which support the associations mission to remove barriers to textile and apparel trade. These companies include: Brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers of textiles and apparel.

Service providers, including consultants, customs brokers, freight forwarders, law firms, logistics providers, steamship lines, and testing and certification companies that help those brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers.

Manufacturers and suppliers of finished products and inputs for finished products, as well as supplier associations, business councils, and promotional groups.

Agencies that promote the industry from a specific region, country, city, or other geographic entity. Academic institutions.

To learn more about this apparel association and how to join them, you can visit their website at https://www.usfashionindustry.com/

Learn more about fashion industry associations here on Apparel Search.

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