NAICS 315210

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of statistics on the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS was jointly created by the U.S. Economic Classification Policy Committee, Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s INEGI; the current classification vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 315210 designates establishments commonly called apparel “contractors” that primarily cut materials owned by others for apparel and accessories and/or sew materials owned by others for apparel and accessories. It sits in Sector 31–33 (Manufacturing), Industry Group 3152 (Cut and Sew Apparel), and is distinct from establishments that manufacture apparel from purchased fabric. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 315220
• G2X — NAICS 315299

What this NAICS covers

• Cutting customer‑owned fabrics or materials for apparel and accessories. ²
• Sewing customer‑owned materials to assemble garments or accessories. ²
• Contract garment assembly for brand owners, jobbers, or retailers supplying the inputs. ²
• Cut‑and‑sew services for apparel accessories when inputs are customer‑supplied. ²
• Sample or small‑lot contract cutting/sewing using materials furnished by clients. ²
• Contractors supporting uniform, workwear, or protective‑clothing programs when working on client‑owned materials. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	315220	Men’s and Boys’ Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (from purchased fabric). 2
NAICS	315299	All Other Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (from purchased fabric). 2
PSC	8405	Outerwear, Men’s (supply PSC frequently used in clothing buys). 3
PSC	8415	Clothing, Special Purpose (e.g., protective clothing categories). 3

Cross‑references and scope boundaries

• Establishments manufacturing apparel from purchased fabric belong in cut‑and‑sew manufacturing industries (e.g., 315220, 315240, 315299), not in 315210. ²
• Knitting fabric or garments (without contract cutting/sewing on client‑owned inputs) falls under Apparel Knitting Mills, not 315210. ²
• Apparel accessories manufacturing from purchased materials (e.g., 315990) is distinct from contract cutting/sewing on customer‑owned materials in 315210. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 315210?

  • Contractors chiefly cut client‑owned materials and/or sew those materials into apparel or accessories. The defining feature is that inputs are owned by others; this distinguishes contractors from manufacturers that buy fabric and produce garments under their own account. ²

• How does 315210 differ from 315220 or 315299?

  • Codes such as 315220 and 315299 cover making apparel from purchased fabric. 315210 covers contract cutting/sewing when the materials are supplied by the customer. ²

• What small business size standard applies to 315210?

  • SBA size standards for manufacturing industries are employee‑based and listed in SBA’s Table of Size Standards. Thresholds are updated periodically; contracting officers and firms should consult the current table to determine status for 315210. ⁴

• Which PSCs commonly appear with apparel contractor work?

  • Clothing supply PSCs often used in defense and civilian agency buys include 8405 (Outerwear, Men’s) and 8415 (Clothing, Special Purpose). PSC selection is product‑driven and separate from NAICS assignment. ³

• Are patternmaking or design‑only services included in 315210?

  • Not specified by official sources. ²

Useful resources

• U.S. Census: Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (definition, timing, and transition). ⁵
• U.S. Census: NAICS 315210 details (definition and cross‑references). ²
• SBA: Table of Small Business Size Standards (current thresholds). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS main page and introduction. https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022: 315210 Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors (definition and cross‑references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=315210&year=2022&details=315210
3. PSC Tool (official Product and Service Codes lookup). https://psctool.us/
4. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards. https://www.sba.gov/document/support/table-size-standards
5. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html