This authoritative text focuses on the organization and operation of the U.S. textiles and fashion industry - how fashion apparel and accessories are designed, manufactured, marketed, and distributed. Although the focus of the book is on the organization and operation of the fashion industry within the United States, the role of these industries within the global context is covered throughout. Since the publication of the first edition, the textile/apparel industries have continued to undergo tremendous change. Quick Response strategies have evolved into supply chain management, Web-based business-to-business and business-to-consumer communications and commerce have grown, and mass customization is a reality. The fourth edition of The Business of Fashion will continue to capture the dynamics of the fashion industry by emphasizing the technological, organizational, and global changes in its various components with an emphasis on social responsibility.