Apparel Merchandising and Management

Professional Associations

American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists (AATCC)

AATCC is the world’s leading not-for-profit association serving textile professionals. AATCC provides test method development, quality control materials, and professional networking for thousands of members in 60 countries throughout the world.  These goals are achieved through the activities of three interest groups—Chemical Applications, Concept 2 Consumer®, and Materials—by Committee and Section activities, and through the award-winning journal, AATCC Review.

Internet: http://www.aatcc.org/

American Collegiate Retail Association (ACRA)

The following goals have been established through exchange of information and the development of professionally related activities among the members:

  • to enhance the professional development of the membership
  • to promote retail management as a profession
  • to maintain and elevate standards of education among schools and colleges offering courses in retailing
  • to strengthen the retailing curriculum offered by schools and colleges
  • to advance the status and prestige of our discipline through professional and social activities

Internet: http://acraretail.org/

Fashion Group International

The Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional organization with 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home. The FGI mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help its members become more effective in their careers.  To do this, FGI provides insights on major trends in person, online and in print; access to business professionals and a gateway to the influence fashion plays in the marketplace.

Internet: http://www.fgi.org

International Textile & Apparel Association (ITAA)

ITAA is a professional, educational association composed of scholars, educators,  and students in the textile, apparel, and merchandising disciplines in higher education. ITAA welcomes professionals employed in those fields who wish to join with members of the Association in the pursuit of knowledge, interchange of ideas, and dissemination of knowledge through meetings, special events, and publications. The International Textile and Apparel Association promotes the discovery, dissemination, and application of knowledge and is a primary resource for its members in strengthening leadership and service to society.

Internet: http://www.itaaonline.org/

The Textile Institute

The Textile Institute has individual and corporate members in up to 80 countries, the membership covers all sectors and all disciplines in textiles, clothing and footwear. Within the global textiles, clothing and footwear industries the aim of the Institute is to facilitate learning, to recognise achievement , to reward excellence and to disseminate information.

Internet: http://www.texi.org/