NAICS 3132

Fabric Mills

Fabric mills (NAICS 3132) manufacture woven, knit, and non-woven fabrics from fibers and yarns for apparel, home furnishings, and industrial applications. Industry overview and analysis.

Published by VantaInsights Research·Methodology·Data Sources· AI-drafted
Built on data from Census Bureau CBP Bureau of Labor Statistics Federal Reserve FRED SEC EDGAR

Industry at a Glance

Sector-wide aggregates across all businesses classified under NAICS 3132 (2017 classification frame). For specific sub-industries within this sector, see the individual reports below.

Employment
40K
US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Establishments
736
US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Annual Payroll
$2.2B
US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Avg Annual Wage
$54,458
Derived from US Census CBP · 2023 · NAICS 2017
Market Size
$13.6B
US Census Economic Census · 2022 · NAICS 2017

Industry Overview

Fabric mills (NAICS 3132) encompass establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing broad woven fabrics, narrow woven fabrics, knit fabrics, and non-woven fabrics from natural and synthetic fibers. This industry group forms a critical link in the textile supply chain, converting raw fibers and yarns into finished or semi-finished fabrics that serve downstream manufacturers in apparel, home furnishings, industrial textiles, and other end-use markets. Fabric mills operate spinning frames, looms, knitting machines, and finishing equipment to produce products ranging from basic commodity fabrics to specialized technical textiles for automotive, aerospace, and medical applications.

The fabric mills industry is characterized by capital-intensive operations, significant global competition, and volatile input costs tied to raw material markets. Establishments in this sector range from small specialized mills focusing on niche products to large integrated operations handling multiple fabric types and finishing processes. The industry faces structural pressures from overseas production but maintains competitive advantages through process customization, speed-to-market capabilities, and proximity to apparel and home furnishing manufacturers. Sustainability and compliance with environmental regulations regarding wastewater treatment and chemical use are increasingly important operational considerations.

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Industry Trends

01

Increasing adoption of automation and digital monitoring systems in spinning, weaving, and knitting operations to improve consistency, reduce labor costs, and enable real-time production adjustments.

OEKO

Growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics, driving investment in organic fiber processing, natural dyes, water recycling systems, and certification programs like OEKO-TEX and Global Organic Textile Standard.

03

Expansion of technical and specialty textile production including performance fabrics for activewear, protective textiles for industrial applications, and advanced materials for aerospace and automotive sectors.

04

Reshoring and nearshoring initiatives as US manufacturers seek to reduce supply chain vulnerability and serve customers with faster delivery and customization capabilities than offshore competitors.

05

Integration of advanced finishing technologies including digital printing, nano-coatings, and chemical-free processing methods to differentiate products and meet evolving customer specifications.

Specialty Reports Available on Request

4 specialty industriesavailable on request
▾
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
313210View →
Narrow Fabric Mills & Schiffli Machine Embroidery
313220View →
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
313230View →
Knit Fabric Mills
313240View →

Industries

Browse deeper into the NAICS hierarchy.

313210 reports

Broadwoven Fabric Mills

313220 reports

Narrow Fabric Mills & Schiffli Machine Embroidery

313230 reports

Nonwoven Fabric Mills

313240 reports

Knit Fabric Mills

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NAICS 3132? ▾
NAICS 3132 classifies fabric mills, which are establishments that manufacture woven, knit, and non-woven fabrics from fibers and yarns. This includes operations that spin fibers, operate weaving and knitting equipment, and perform fabric finishing processes such as dyeing, printing, and coating. The classification covers both natural fiber fabrics (cotton, wool, silk) and synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon, spandex) across a wide range of end-use applications.
How do fabric mills differ from yarn mills in the textile supply chain? ▾
Yarn mills (classified under NAICS 3131) convert raw fibers into yarn through spinning processes, while fabric mills take yarn as input and convert it into finished or semi-finished fabrics through weaving, knitting, or non-woven production. Fabric mills then typically perform finishing operations such as dyeing, printing, coating, or treatment before distributing to apparel manufacturers, home furnishing companies, and industrial users. Some integrated operations perform both spinning and fabric production vertically.
What factors influence competitiveness in fabric mills? ▾
Key competitive factors include production efficiency and capacity usage, access to reliable and cost-effective fiber and yarn inputs, technical capability to produce specialized or performance fabrics, speed and flexibility in responding to customer orders, quality consistency and compliance certifications, and investment in automation and sustainable production methods. Geographic proximity to customer bases and access to skilled labor also provide competitive advantages against offshore producers.
What environmental regulations impact fabric mills operations? ▾
Fabric mills face significant environmental compliance requirements including wastewater treatment and discharge permits under Clean Water Act regulations, air emissions controls for dyeing and finishing operations, chemical management and reporting under TSCA and related regulations, and increasingly stringent state and local environmental standards. Many mills voluntarily pursue certifications such as OEKO-TEX or LEED recognition to meet customer sustainability requirements and improve market positioning.
How is technology transforming fabric mills? ▾
Digitalization and automation are reshaping operations through IoT-enabled looms and knitting machines for real-time monitoring, data analytics for predictive maintenance and quality control, digital fabric design and sampling technologies, and automated finishing systems with reduced chemical and water inputs. These technologies enable smaller batch sizes, faster response to customer demands, improved consistency, and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional operations.

Related Industries

Fiber, Yarn, & Thread Mills 3131Apparel Accessories & Other Apparel Manufacturing 3159Footwear Manufacturing 3162Apparel, Piece Goods, & Notions Merchant Wholesalers 4243Grocery & Related Product Merchant Wholesalers 4244

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