This study approaches the view of representative entities of the Brazilian textile and clothing industry on its role of support and encouragement for cooperation among the companies that these entities represent as a means to foster the competitiveness of the sector. With reference to a conceptual model built on the foundations found in the literature concerning strategies of competitiveness and cooperation, a qualitative study of an exploratory nature was carried out. At the empirical level, data was collected through documentary analysis and interviews with seven managers working in five different institutions representing the sector. The results show that the class entities of the researched sector see themselves as agents that promote cooperation actions between the companies that they represent, between these companies and government and between other institutions, besides being of fundamental importance to providing support services and to carry out projects of Innovation and development of the sector as a means of achieving competitiveness at the international level.