Short answer: New Jersey still makes clothing, but far less than most guides suggest. We could verify only 3 New Jersey companies that say on their own websites that they make apparel or headwear for other brands: Unionwear and Gambert Shirts in Newark, and NYC Factory in North Bergen.
The government data explains why the list is short. New Jersey had 148 apparel manufacturing establishments and an annual average of 3,001 apparel manufacturing workers in 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, series ENU34000205315 and ENU34000105315). Many of those establishments are small workshops, in-house brand operations or businesses with no public website. So this guide lists the 3 we could check, says plainly what each one does, and adds a clearly labelled section of 5 verified makers just across the state line in New York City and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Heads up: We're OneAim, a group of documented United States clothing factories. The companies below are independent New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania businesses listed on public sources, not members of our group. OneAim's role is separate: we place your production with a documented factory in our group built for your product.
Key Takeaways
- New Jersey's apparel industry is real but small: 148 establishments and 3,001 workers in 2025 (BLS QCEW, NAICS 315).
- It has shrunk by about 41% since 2016, when the state counted 5,066 apparel manufacturing workers across 162 establishments.
- We verified 3 New Jersey makers that produce for other brands: Unionwear (hats, bags, knits), Gambert Shirts (shirts) and NYC Factory (tees, hoodies, fleece).
- Most of the state's apparel jobs sit in the north: Essex County had 782 apparel manufacturing workers in 2025 and Hudson County 630.
- If your product falls outside those three, the nearest verified options are in New York City's Garment District and in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
How many clothing manufacturers are in New Jersey?
BLS counted 148 apparel manufacturing establishments in New Jersey in 2025. That is the official count for NAICS 315, the industry code for firms that cut and sew garments, knit apparel and make apparel accessories. It counts a brand's own sewing room, a small workshop and a large factory alike, so it overstates how many companies will take on your production.
The number we can stand behind is smaller. We found 3 New Jersey companies whose own websites say they make product for other brands, retailers or distributors, with a New Jersey production address. We did not pad the list to reach five or ten.
Is the New Jersey apparel industry growing or shrinking?
Shrinking. New Jersey's apparel manufacturing employment fell from an annual average of 5,066 in 2016 to 3,001 in 2025, a drop of about 41%. Establishments fell less steeply, from 162 to 148, which suggests the remaining shops are getting smaller rather than disappearing outright. Between 2024 and 2025 alone, employment fell from 3,242 to 3,001 and establishments from 166 to 148 (BLS QCEW, NAICS 315, private ownership).
That has a practical consequence rather than a dramatic one: qualify two suppliers rather than one, and re-check a factory's website, address and business status before every new season.
Where in New Jersey is apparel made?
Mostly in the north, close to Newark and the Hudson River. In 2025 BLS counted 782 apparel manufacturing workers in Essex County (17 establishments), 630 in Hudson County (19), 370 in Middlesex (11), 346 in Union (13), 200 in Passaic (12) and 104 in Bergen (20). Several other counties had establishments but BLS withheld their employment figures to avoid disclosing data about individual employers.
Two of the three companies below are in Essex County (Newark) and one is in Hudson County (North Bergen), which fits the data.
How did we choose these manufacturers?
A company made the list only if its own website, checked in October 2026, showed three things: a New Jersey production address, in-house making (cutting and sewing, or knitting and sewing), and work for other brands, retailers or distributors rather than only its own label. Every capability below is what the company says about itself, not something we have audited.
We left out companies we could find only in business directories, New Jersey brands that make only their own products, and decorators who print or embroider finished blanks without sewing them. We also left out every "New Jersey factory" name we could not trace to a live website.
Last updated 21 October 2026. We will remove any company we can no longer verify.
Which New Jersey companies make apparel for brands?
Three, as far as we can verify. Each is a real business with a live website and a New Jersey address.
1. Unionwear (Newark, NJ)
Unionwear has made product in Newark since 1992 and describes itself as the leading manufacturer of union-made-in-USA hats, bags and binders, from a 70,000 square foot facility at 305 3rd Ave W. Its range covers baseball caps, bucket hats and visors, beanies, cuff hats and scarves, totes, backpacks and duffels, all customised to order for the promotional, fashion and uniform markets. Its site states minimums of 24 blank and 48 embroidered caps, and says it custom-makes products to order in quantities of 50 or more. It is a headwear, knit-accessory and bag maker, not a garment factory, so use it for those categories.
2. Gambert Shirts (Newark, NJ)
A family shirt maker whose name dates to 1933 in Newark, now working from 427 Ferry Street in the Ironbound section. Its production services page says it serves retailers and brands with private label shirts, covering limited editions, small batches and larger stock programmes, alongside custom and made-to-measure work. It holds a library of more than a thousand shirting fabrics and says every shirt is hand produced in the USA. It does not publish a minimum. If your product is a woven shirt, this is the most specialised option in the state.
3. NYC Factory Inc. (North Bergen, NJ)
Despite the name, NYC Factory is based at 1109 Grand Avenue in North Bergen, Hudson County. Its cut-and-sew page describes full-package work under one roof: tech packs, patterns, grading, sampling and bulk production, with private label trims and the option to source fabric or build with fabric you supply. It also prints and embroiders in-house. It states a production minimum of 100 pieces per style and colourway, with sampling usually taking 2 to 4 weeks. Its core products are tees, hoodies and fleece, so it suits streetwear and merch-led brands best.
Here's how the three compare.
| Company | Location | What it makes for brands | Published minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unionwear | Newark, NJ | Hats and caps, beanies and scarves, bags, padfolios | 24 blank / 48 embroidered caps; custom products from 50 |
| Gambert Shirts | Newark, NJ | Private label and made-to-measure shirts | Not published |
| NYC Factory Inc. | North Bergen, NJ | Full-package tees, hoodies, fleece; private label; print and embroidery | 100 per style and colourway |
Source: company websites, checked October 2026. All capabilities and minimums are self-reported. None publishes prices. Confirm everything with a written quote.
Citation capsule: New Jersey had 148 apparel manufacturing establishments and 3,001 apparel workers in 2025, down from 5,066 workers in 2016 (BLS QCEW, NAICS 315). Of the companies whose own websites show New Jersey production for other brands, three could be verified in October 2026: Unionwear and Gambert Shirts in Newark, and NYC Factory Inc. in North Bergen.
Which makers near New Jersey can you add to a shortlist?
These five are not in New Jersey. We list them because three New Jersey companies will not cover every product, and these are the closest makers we have verified on their own websites: three in New York City, across the Hudson, and two in Allentown, in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.
- Factory8 (New York, NY): describes itself as an entirely in-house, full-service garment operation covering product development, first patterns, fittings, marking and grading, cut and sew, quality control and finishing.
- Refine Studio NYC (New York, NY): a pattern, sample and production studio at 241 West 37th Street in the Garment District, offering production in New York City with no minimum stated as required.
- Custom Sewing Services (Brooklyn, NY): a garment maker at 140 58th Street, working by appointment on samples, patterns and small productions in sportswear, casualwear, tailoring, jeans and jackets.
- Monalisa Fashions (Allentown, PA): a cut-and-sew shop at 650 E Green Street that cites more than 41 years of cutting, sewing, packing and shipping for brands, from T-shirts and hoodies to dresses and medical garments.
- Sarah Lynn Sportswear (Allentown, PA): a full-service contractor of ladies', men's and children's apparel since 1980, offering contract sewing, pattern making, grading, marker making and packaging.
For a longer list of Garment District options, see our guide to clothing manufacturers in New York.
How does New Jersey compare with New York and Pennsylvania?
On size, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are close and New York is much larger. In 2025 New Jersey had 3,001 apparel manufacturing workers across 148 establishments, Pennsylvania 3,186 across 147, and New York 7,182 across 798 (BLS QCEW, NAICS 315).
Wages differ more than headcount. The average annual pay in apparel manufacturing was $51,333 in New Jersey in 2025, $52,956 in Pennsylvania and $73,430 in New York. Wages are only one part of a quote, so this does not tell you any factory's price, but it does show why sewing work keeps moving out of Manhattan to cheaper floor space across the river.
| State (2025) | Establishments | Workers | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 148 | 3,001 | $51,333 |
| Pennsylvania | 147 | 3,186 | $52,956 |
| New York | 798 | 7,182 | $73,430 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 315 apparel manufacturing, private ownership, 2025 annual averages.
Who supplies the fabric?
It depends on the company. NYC Factory says it can source fabric or build with fabric you supply. Gambert Shirts keeps its own shirting library. Unionwear makes finished accessories to order. A cut-and-sew contractor with no sourcing service will expect you to deliver cloth and trims.
Ask the question directly: "Do you offer full package, and will you source the fabric?" The answer changes every other line in the quote, because the mill minimum, the fabric lead time and the fabric risk move to whoever buys the cloth.
How should you vet a New Jersey factory?
Start with who owns the sewing machines. Then ask: do you offer full package or cut-and-sew only, what is your minimum on this specific style, which comparable garments have you produced, do you subcontract any operation, and what is your current lead time from fabric arrival.
Check that the business name on the quote is the same on the invoice and in the state's records, using the New Jersey business name search. Then visit. The real advantage of this region for a northeastern brand is that you can reach the floor in an afternoon, and a factory that welcomes a visit is telling you something a certificate cannot. Our factory vetting and audit template sets out the full checklist.
What belongs in the tech pack
The full set, because a contractor builds what you specify. Annotated flats, a bill of materials naming every fabric and trim with its supplier, points of measure with tolerances and a grade rule, and construction notes.
Add packing and labelling instructions, particularly if you supply wholesale accounts with their own carton requirements.
An incomplete tech pack produces a quote built on assumptions, and the assumptions become costs later. OneAim builds tech packs at $79 per style.
Does port proximity actually save money?
It saves time more than money. A cut-and-sew shop near Port Newark shortens the last leg for imported fabric, which matters on a tight calendar and barely registers on a unit cost.
Where it counts is on repeat programmes. Ask whether the factory can receive fabric directly and hold it. A factory willing to take delivery and store your material removes a warehouse step you would otherwise pay for separately.
How do you handle a shrinking supplier base?
Qualify two factories, not one, and do it before you need the second. With the state's apparel workforce down by about 41% since 2016, a single-supplier programme carries a real continuity risk over a few seasons.
Run a small trial order through your second choice once your first is established. Same tech pack, same fabric, same tolerances. The cost is one small production run. The alternative is choosing a replacement during a crisis, which is exactly when diligence is worst and a quality failure is most expensive.
What to settle before a deposit
The rework terms, because they are cheap to agree now and expensive to argue later. Who corrects a faulty lot, at whose cost, on what timeline, and what happens to the agreed delivery date.
Then agree fabric responsibility explicitly: who inspects cloth on arrival, who bears the cost if it is defective, and what happens to your production slot if a fabric delivery is late. Also settle the fabric wastage allowance in writing. A factory needs yardage above your theoretical consumption for shrinkage, flaws and cutting loss, and if that allowance is assumed rather than stated, a short run becomes a dispute.
What about the "top clothing manufacturers in New Jersey" lists?
Be sceptical of them. Some pages ranking for this search are published by manufacturers based outside New Jersey, using the state's name as a hook. Before you call any name on a list, check that it has a live website, a New Jersey production address and a business record with the state.
The incentive is to publish ten names, so ten names get published, whether or not ten exist. We found three we could verify. Three companies you can call today are worth more than ten you cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many clothing manufacturers are in New Jersey?
BLS counted 148 apparel manufacturing establishments in New Jersey in 2025 (QCEW, NAICS 315). Of the companies whose own websites show New Jersey production for other brands, we could verify three in October 2026: Unionwear and Gambert Shirts in Newark, and NYC Factory Inc. in North Bergen.
How big is the apparel industry in New Jersey?
Small and shrinking. New Jersey's apparel manufacturing sector employed an annual average of 3,001 workers across 148 establishments in 2025, down about 41% from 5,066 workers in 2016 (BLS QCEW, NAICS 315). Essex County (782 workers) and Hudson County (630) hold the largest shares.
What is the minimum order at New Jersey clothing manufacturers?
Few publish one. NYC Factory Inc. states 100 pieces per style and colourway. Unionwear states 24 blank and 48 embroidered caps, and custom products from 50. Gambert Shirts does not publish a minimum. Get a written quote for your specific product.
Is New Jersey a good alternative to New York's Garment District?
For some products. New York State had 7,182 apparel manufacturing workers in 2025 against New Jersey's 3,001, so New York offers far more choice. Average annual pay in the industry was $51,333 in New Jersey and $73,430 in New York (BLS QCEW). That does not set any factory's price, but it helps explain why sewing work has moved across the Hudson.
Do New Jersey clothing manufacturers source fabric?
Some do. NYC Factory Inc. says it can source fabric or build with fabric you supply, and Gambert Shirts keeps a library of more than a thousand shirting fabrics. A cut-and-sew contractor without a sourcing service will expect you to deliver cloth and trims, so ask before you request a quote.
How do I verify a New Jersey clothing manufacturer is real?
Check for a live website with a New Jersey production address, confirm the business name in the state's business name search, and make sure the entity on the quote is the entity on the invoice. Then visit the floor or ask for a video walkthrough, and pay for a sample before placing production.
We're a group of 80 documented clothing manufacturers in the United States. Tell us your product, volume, and timeline. We'll place your production with the factory in our group built for it, usually within 24 hours. You produce directly with the factory. Flat fees, no markups, no pitch.
Get in contact Download the directory ($49)Need a tech pack? Get a factory-ready single-style tech pack for $79. See what's included.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), NAICS 315 apparel manufacturing, private ownership: series ENU34000105315 (New Jersey employment), ENU34000205315 (New Jersey establishments), ENU34000505315 (New Jersey average annual pay), ENU36000105315, ENU36000205315 and ENU36000505315 (New York), ENU42000105315, ENU42000205315 and ENU42000505315 (Pennsylvania); 2016, 2024 and 2025 annual averages, plus the 2025 county file for New Jersey (Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Union, Passaic, Bergen; other counties not disclosed).
- U.S. Census Bureau, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), definition of NAICS 315, apparel manufacturing.
- Unionwear, about page, checked October 2026 (Newark facility, products, minimums).
- Gambert Shirts, production services page and contact page, checked October 2026 (private label for retailers and brands, 427 Ferry Street, Newark).
- NYC Factory Inc., cut-and-sew page, checked October 2026 (North Bergen address, 100-piece minimum, 2 to 4 week sampling).
- Factory8, services page, checked October 2026.
- Refine Studio NYC, company website, checked October 2026.
- Custom Sewing Services, contact page, checked October 2026.
- Monalisa Fashions, company website and contact page, checked October 2026.
- Sarah Lynn Sportswear, company website, checked October 2026.
- State of New Jersey, Division of Revenue, business name search.
Every company named above appears in this source list.
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