United States Fashion Associations
American fashion runs on more than design talent. Behind the runway shows and retail racks is a network of trade bodies lobbying in Washington, setting standards, and increasingly banding together to respond to the biggest disruption the industry has faced in years: 2026’s tariff volatility.
Who’s Shaping the Industry Right Now
Four organizations carry the most weight. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is the industry’s creative and cultural center of gravity, representing more than 400 of the country’s leading designers and running the annual CFDA Fashion Awards alongside scholarship and mentorship programs. On the trade and policy side, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) and the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) represent brands, retailers, and textile manufacturers respectively, and in 2026 they’ve been doing something unusual for the sector: acting together.
Facing a wave of new Section 301 tariffs tied to forced-labor enforcement, the three trade groups jointly proposed a textile and apparel trade incentive program to the US Trade Representative, letting brands earn tariff credits for sourcing from US and Western Hemisphere free trade partners. NCTO has separately pushed USTR toward tougher forced-labor tariffs on Chinese and Southeast Asian imports, while securing an exemption for CAFTA-DR qualifying goods from the Section 122 tariffs introduced in February 2026. It’s a rare moment of manufacturers, brands and retailers pulling in the same direction, and it’s worth watching which parts of the proposal survive contact with the administration’s own trade agenda through the rest of 2026.
Below this overview, the full directory lists the associations, standards bodies and regional organizations supporting the US fashion and textile industry, in alphabetical order.
Directory: In Alphabetical Order
American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)
We represent more than 1,000 world famous name brands, retailers, and manufacturers. AAFA is the trusted public policy and political voice of the apparel and footwear industry, its management and shareholders, its more than three million U.S. workers, and its contribution of $470 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. Our reach stretches from Washington, D.C., throughout the United States, and around the globe.
> aafaglobal.org
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)
AATCC is the world’s leading not-for-profit association serving textile professionals since 1921. AATCC is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C., USA, providing test method development, quality control materials, and professional networking for thousands of members in 60 countries throughout the world.
> aatcc.org
Apparel Industry Board, Inc. (AIBI)
The Apparel Industry Board, Inc. (AIBI) a 501 © 6, is a delegate agency of the City of Chicago, Department of Community Development and is the only official organization in Illinois specifically dedicated to the needs of the sewn industry. AIBI is comprised of the major players in Greater Chicago whose careers and business expertise span all facets of the industry including design, manufacturing, merchandising, sales, retail, marketing and finance. AIBI is here to nurture and support designers based in Greater Chicago and is constantly developing new programs to better serve and promote the industry as a whole.
The Apparel Industry Foundation, Inc. (AIFI) a 501 © 3, is the philantropic arm of the Apparel Industry Board.
> aibi.com
Arts of Fashion Foundation (AOF)
The Arts of Fashion Foundation is a 501(c) (3), public, non-profit organization, linking both academics and professionals alike and is dedicated in fostering international cultural exchange through the creation of a variety of educational events meant to facilitate critical thinking among artists, designers, scholars and students. The primary focus of the foundation is the continuous support of creativity and design in fashion and the arts linked to it.
> arts-of-fashion.org
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 400 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the top creative talent in the industry, the organization offers programs which support professional development and scholarships, including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Award, the Liz Claiborne Scholarship Award, and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship. Member support is provided through the Business Services Network, a high-profile group of companies offering designers strategic opportunities.
The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes. Through the Foundation, the CFDA created and manages Fashion Targets Breast Cancer; raises funds for HIV/AIDS organizations with 7th on Sale; addresses the issue of model health with The CFDA Health Initiative; and is a key participant in other programs such as the annual Fashion’s Night Out.
> cfda.com
Fashion Group International (FGI)
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.
> fgi.org
Garment District Alliance
The Garment District Alliance, formerly the Fashion Center BID, is a not-for-profit corporation, established in 1993. We serve New York’s storied Garment District, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Working in partnership with local building owners and businesses, we improve the quality of life and economic vitality in this authentic New York neighborhood.
> garmentdistrict.nyc
Mohair Council of America
Marketing and promotion organization of US mohair growers and processors.
> mohairusa.com
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is a unique association representing the entire spectrum of the textile industry. From fibers to finished products, machinery manufacturers to power suppliers, NCTO is the voice of the U.S. textile industry. There are four separate councils that comprise the NCTO leadership structure, and each council represents a segment of the textile industry and elects its own officers who make up NCTO’s Board of Directors.
> ncto.org
Swimwear Association of Florida
The Swimwear Association of Florida has become recognized as the leader in swimwear exhibitions worldwide.
The Swimwear Association of Florida (SAF) presents two tradeshows annually. The main event called the SwimShow, is held in July. It is the largest of its kind in the world and attracts over 2500 buyers representing 1500 stores from across the United States and 50 countries showcasing nearly 2000 lines from every corner of the world. This past July, SAF launched lingerie to expand its reach into the synergetic market of lingerie in response to the needs of its buyers and vendors.
> swimshow.com