Quick answer
Apparel includes any garment worn on the body: tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, innerwear and intimates, sleepwear, activewear, uniforms and workwear, swimwear, kids and baby wear, and hosiery such as socks and tights. Footwear, bags and jewellery are usually classed as accessories, not apparel. Hats, gloves and scarves are borderline: many retailers count them, trade codes often do not.
What does apparel mean?
Apparel is the industry and retail word for clothing: items made mainly from textile fabric, cut and sewn (or knitted to shape), and worn on the body. In everyday speech apparel and clothing mean almost the same thing. The difference is in how the word is used: shops, brands, trade statistics and factories say "apparel" when they talk about the product category, while people at home say "clothes".
So where does the line sit? A T-shirt or a pair of socks is always apparel. Trainers, a handbag or a cap depend on who is counting, as explained below.
Apparel vs clothing vs garments vs fashion vs accessories vs footwear
These six words overlap, which is why the question "what are apparel items" causes so much confusion. Here is how each term is used in the trade.
| Term | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel | Industry and retail term for clothing as a product category | "Apparel sales rose 4%" |
| Clothing | Everyday word for things you wear on the body; near-identical to apparel | Shirts, jeans, coats |
| Garment | One single item of clothing, the word used on the factory floor | "5,000 garments per day" |
| Fashion | Style, trends and design; can cover apparel, shoes, bags and beauty | Fashion week, trend forecasts |
| Accessories | Items that complete an outfit but are not the main garment | Belts, bags, jewellery, sunglasses |
| Footwear | Shoes, boots, sandals and slippers; its own industry and trade chapter | Trainers, heels, work boots |
Many retailers use the umbrella "apparel, footwear and accessories" so they do not have to decide where each item belongs.
What comes under apparel: included vs borderline items
This table answers the main question directly. The left group is apparel in every definition; the right group depends on the retailer, the data source or the trade code.
| Category | Status | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Tops | Included | T-shirts, polo shirts, shirts, blouses, sweaters, hoodies |
| Bottoms | Included | Jeans, trousers, shorts, skirts, leggings |
| Dresses and suits | Included | Dresses, jumpsuits, suits, blazers |
| Outerwear | Included | Jackets, coats, parkas, raincoats, gilets |
| Innerwear / intimates | Included | Bras, briefs, boxers, vests, slips, shapewear |
| Sleepwear and loungewear | Included | Pyjamas, nightdresses, robes, lounge sets |
| Activewear / sportswear | Included | Sports bras, running tops, gym shorts, tracksuits |
| Uniforms and workwear | Included | School uniforms, scrubs, overalls, hi-vis jackets |
| Swimwear | Included | Swimsuits, bikinis, swim shorts, rash guards |
| Kids and baby wear | Included | Bodysuits, rompers, kids' T-shirts and sets |
| Hosiery | Included | Socks, tights, pantyhose, stockings |
| Accessories | Borderline | Scarves, ties, gloves, belts (often counted); bags and jewellery (usually not) |
| Footwear | Borderline | Shoes, boots, sandals: usually a separate category |
| Headwear | Borderline | Caps, beanies, hats: counted by many retailers, separate in trade codes |
Does apparel include shoes?
Usually not. Shoes are made in footwear factories from leather, rubber, foam and textile uppers, on different machines from clothing, and trade data puts them in their own chapter (HS 64). Retail reports normally say "apparel and footwear" for that reason. Some online stores list shoes under an "apparel" menu, but that is a navigation choice, not a definition.
Does apparel include hats?
It depends. Many clothing brands sell caps and beanies as part of their apparel range, and a knitted beanie is made the same way as a sweater. Trade codes, however, put most headgear in HS chapter 65, separate from clothing. If you are filling in a form, check its definition.
How apparel is classified: end use, gender and age, fabric, season
Brands, buyers and factories sort apparel in four main ways. The same garment fits into all four at once: a men's knitted fleece hoodie is casual wear, menswear, knit apparel and autumn/winter stock.
By end use
- Casual wear: T-shirts, jeans, hoodies, everyday dresses.
- Formal and business wear: suits, dress shirts, tailored trousers, evening dresses.
- Activewear and sportswear: performance tops, leggings, team kits. See what moisture-wicking means for why these fabrics behave differently.
- Workwear and uniforms: scrubs, overalls, protective and hi-vis clothing.
- Traditional and ethnic wear: saris, kurtas, kimonos, abayas.
- Intimates, sleepwear and swimwear: close-to-skin garments with their own fit and fabric rules.
By gender and age
Retail splits apparel into menswear, womenswear, unisex, kids and baby wear. Baby and kids' clothing has stricter rules on trims, cords and flammability, so it is sourced and tested as its own segment.
By fabric: knit vs woven apparel
This is the split the industry itself runs on, and it is the one most shoppers never hear about. Knit apparel is made from fabric formed by interlocking loops of yarn: single jersey, rib, interlock, pique, fleece, French terry. It stretches, recovers and drapes softly. Woven apparel is made from fabric with two sets of yarns crossing at right angles: poplin, twill, denim, oxford, satin. It is firmer, holds a crease and stretches little unless elastane is added.
| Knit apparel | Woven apparel | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric structure | Interlocking loops | Warp and weft yarns crossing |
| Typical garments | T-shirts, polos, hoodies, leggings, underwear, sportswear | Dress shirts, jeans, chinos, suits, blouses, coats |
| Stretch | Natural stretch in width and length | Little stretch without elastane |
| Shrinkage risk | Higher, mainly in length | Lower, more stable |
| Sewing | Overlock and flatlock machines | Lockstitch, flat-felled seams |
| HS chapter | 61 | 62 |
Knit fabric is usually dyed in open-width or tube form and then compacted to control shrinkage. You can see the steps in our knit dyeing and finishing flow chart, and the yarn count and GSM choices behind a basic tee in the single jersey GSM chart.
Expert tip from Kamrul Islam
From the dye house side, knit and woven apparel almost never share a production line. Knits are dyed in jet or soft-flow machines and need compacting to keep length shrinkage within buyer limits, often around 5%, while wovens go through continuous or jigger dyeing and sanforising. If a T-shirt twists or shrinks badly after the first wash, the cause is usually in that knit finishing stage, not the sewing.
By season
Fashion and retail plan in two main seasons: Spring/Summer (SS) with lighter fabrics, shorts, dresses and swimwear, and Autumn/Winter (AW) with fleece, knitwear, coats and thermals. Fast-fashion brands add many smaller "drops" between them, while basics such as underwear, socks and plain tees are sold all year as core or continuity lines.
Apparel in trade: HS code chapters 61 and 62
For import, export and customs, apparel is defined by the Harmonized System (HS), the product code list used by almost every country. Clothing sits in two chapters, split exactly along the knit vs woven line:
| HS chapter | Official scope | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted | T-shirts (6109), jerseys and sweatshirts (6110), knitted hosiery (6115) |
| 62 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted | Men's shirts (6205), women's blouses (6206), suits and trousers (6203, 6204) |
| 63 | Other made-up textile articles; worn clothing | Bed linen, towels, used clothing |
| 64 | Footwear | Shoes, boots, sandals |
| 65 | Headgear | Hats, caps, beanies |
Codes shown at 4-digit heading level. National tariffs add more digits; check your country's tariff schedule before shipping.
Two points stand out. First, chapters 61 and 62 include some clothing accessories such as gloves, scarves, shawls and ties, so for trade purposes those are apparel. Second, footwear and headgear have their own chapters, which is why so many official statistics leave them out of "apparel".
Good to know
A cotton shirt can fall in chapter 61 or 62 depending only on how the fabric was made. A knitted pique polo is chapter 61; a woven oxford shirt is chapter 62. Duty rates can differ between them, so the fabric construction matters on the invoice.
Apparel industry segments: fast fashion, luxury, sportswear and more
The apparel industry is also split into market segments that differ in price, speed and quality focus:
- Fast fashion: trend-led clothing at low prices with short lead times and frequent new styles. Volume and speed come first.
- Mass market and value: basics and family clothing sold in supermarkets and department stores, with stable designs and large orders.
- Premium and contemporary: mid-to-high price brands with better fabrics, finishing and fit.
- Luxury: designer houses with high-quality materials, small runs and strong brand control.
- Sportswear and athleisure: performance and lifestyle activewear, built around stretch knits, synthetic fibres and functional finishes.
- Workwear, uniforms and protective clothing: made to specifications for durability, safety and repeat orders.
- Intimates and lingerie: a specialist segment with its own sizing systems, trims and fit rules. See how many bra sizes there are.
Every segment follows the same chain: fibre, yarn, fabric, dyeing and finishing, cutting, sewing and packing. See our guide to sewing room management in the apparel industry.
Common mistakes when classifying apparel
- Assuming shoes are apparel. Most data sources and trade codes treat footwear separately.
- Calling every accessory apparel. Scarves and gloves often count; bags, jewellery and watches almost never do.
- Ignoring knit vs woven. It decides the HS chapter, the factory, the sewing method and the care instructions.
- Treating home textiles as apparel. Towels, bedsheets and curtains are textiles but not apparel (HS 63).
- Mixing up fashion and apparel. Fashion is about style and trends; apparel is the product category.
Frequently asked questions
What does apparel include?
Apparel includes tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, innerwear and intimates, sleepwear, activewear, uniforms and workwear, swimwear, kids and baby wear, and hosiery such as socks and tights. Footwear, bags and jewellery are usually counted as separate categories.
What are apparel items?
Apparel items are individual pieces of clothing, such as a T-shirt, a pair of jeans, a jacket, a bra or a pair of socks. In the factory each one is called a garment.
Does apparel include shoes?
Usually no. Shoes are classed as footwear, a separate industry with its own trade chapter (HS 64), although some online stores list them under an apparel menu.
Does apparel include hats?
Sometimes. Many clothing brands sell caps and beanies as apparel, but customs codes place most headgear in HS chapter 65, separate from clothing.
What is the difference between apparel and clothing?
There is almost no difference in meaning. Apparel is the industry and retail term for the product category, while clothing is the everyday word for what people wear.
Are accessories part of apparel?
Some are. Scarves, ties, gloves and shawls are included in the apparel chapters of the HS code, while bags, jewellery, watches and sunglasses are treated as separate accessory categories.
What is the difference between HS code 61 and 62?
Chapter 61 covers apparel made from knitted or crocheted fabric, such as T-shirts and sweatshirts. Chapter 62 covers apparel made from fabric that is not knitted, mainly woven, such as dress shirts, jeans and suits.
Is underwear considered apparel?
Yes. Underwear, bras and other intimates are a core apparel category, usually made from knitted fabric and classed under HS chapter 61.
Our verdict
The short answer
Apparel covers every garment worn on the body, from T-shirts and jeans to underwear, socks, sleepwear, swimwear, uniforms and baby clothes. Footwear and most accessories sit outside it, and headwear depends on who is counting. Inside the industry, the most useful split is knit vs woven: it decides how a garment is made, how it behaves in the wash, and whether it ships under HS chapter 61 or 62.
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