Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The global apparel market was valued at approximately $1.5 trillion in 2022
The U.S. apparel market generated over $343 billion in revenue in 2022
Online apparel sales in the U.S. accounted for 38.6% of total apparel sales in 2022
Fast fashion makes up about 10% of total U.S. apparel industry revenue
Apparel and footwear account for 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions
The average American buys 64 items of clothing per year
The global secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $350 billion by 2027
Nearly 60% of apparel purchases in the U.S. in 2022 were influenced by social media
73% of consumers prefer brands that are transparent about their manufacturing practices
Apparel return rates for online purchases are about 30%
56% of Gen Z shoppers bought apparel secondhand in 2022
The global sports apparel market is projected to reach $451 billion by 2028
Asia-Pacific accounted for nearly 38% of the global apparel market in 2022
Branding & Marketing Strategies
- In 2022, digital apparel ad spend rose to $5.21 billion in the U.S.
Interpretation
In 2022, U.S. apparel brands didn’t just follow fashion trends—they followed your browser history, spending $5.21 billion to make sure your next outfit showed up in your feed before it did in store.
Consumer Behavior & Trends
- The average American buys 64 items of clothing per year
- Nearly 60% of apparel purchases in the U.S. in 2022 were influenced by social media
- 73% of consumers prefer brands that are transparent about their manufacturing practices
- Apparel return rates for online purchases are about 30%
- 56% of Gen Z shoppers bought apparel secondhand in 2022
- In 2022, women's apparel made up 55% of total U.S. apparel sales
- 20% of new clothing items are never worn by consumers
- 62% of millennials prefer shopping from sustainable apparel brands
- The average cost per unit of apparel in the U.S. is around $19
- The average online apparel shopper makes about 34 purchases a year
- 58% of consumers expect brands to address social justice issues, including those in the apparel industry
- 65% of U.S. consumers say comfort is the primary factor in apparel purchases
- Over 50% of shoes and apparel sold online are returned due to size issues
- Global adults own an average of 45 clothing items
- 87% of consumers want brands to help them live more sustainably, particularly in fashion
- 30% of U.S. apparel is bought at discount department stores
- The average return rate for women's apparel is 20-30%
- 49% of Gen Z shoppers prioritize price over brand
- 69% of fashion executives expect supply chain disruptions to continue into next year
- 81% of Gen Z consumers say brand values influence their apparel purchases
- Women spend an average of $161 per month on clothes in the U.S.
- Retail markdowns account for 12-14% of total revenue loss in apparel
- 78% of consumers have changed their apparel shopping habits due to inflation
- 59% of U.S. shoppers researched apparel online before buying in-store
- Retail workers in apparel earn an average of $27,080 per year in the U.S.
- 50% of returns in apparel are due to size or fit issues
- Consumers are 4X more likely to buy from apparel brands that personalize the shopping experience
- Global per capita apparel spending was $281 in 2022
- Apparel company Zara releases 24 new clothing collections annually
- 61% of consumers say diversity in fashion advertising matters
- TikTok influenced $2.7 billion in fashion purchases in 2022
- 60% of fashion executives cite economic slowdown as top concern in 2023
- 88% of consumers read online reviews before buying clothing
- Influencer marketing drives 70% of purchase decisions in fashion
Interpretation
In a world where the average American buys more clothes than they can wear, returns half of them because they don’t fit, and still expects brands to be ethical, affordable, stylish, sustainable, socially conscious, and TikTok-trending, the apparel retail industry is walking the retail runway on a tightrope made of fast fashion, fragile supply chains, and influencer hashtags.
E-commerce & Digital Channels
- Online apparel sales in the U.S. accounted for 38.6% of total apparel sales in 2022
- Mobile commerce made up 72.9% of global e-commerce sales in 2021, highly influencing apparel retail
- 80% of fashion retailers used AI and machine learning for inventory optimization in 2021
- Apparel was the highest-grossing product category for Shopify merchants in 2022
- 59% of fashion industry stakeholders say “digital transformation” is a top priority
- Online apparel marketplaces such as Amazon control 28% of fashion e-commerce sales
- Real-time inventory systems can reduce out-of-stock clothing situations by 25%
- 49% of fashion retailers say digital try-on tools have improved conversion rates
- 80% of retail executives believe AI will revolutionize fashion retail
- Amazon accounted for 34% of all online apparel sales in the U.S. in 2022
- 1 in 3 U.S. consumers bought apparel via mobile in the past month
Interpretation
In a fashion world where clicks trump fitting rooms, AI curates your closet, and your phone is your personal runway, the apparel industry is rapidly stitching its future in pixels, not fabric.
Market Size & Growth
- The global apparel market was valued at approximately $1.5 trillion in 2022
- The U.S. apparel market generated over $343 billion in revenue in 2022
- Fast fashion makes up about 10% of total U.S. apparel industry revenue
- The global secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $350 billion by 2027
- The global sports apparel market is projected to reach $451 billion by 2028
- Asia-Pacific accounted for nearly 38% of the global apparel market in 2022
- Global e-commerce revenue in fashion is expected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2027
- Clothing rental market expected to surpass $2.08 billion by 2025
- U.S. apparel sales grew 6.6% in 2022
- Luxury fashion e-commerce is projected to grow at 11.2% annually through 2027
- U.S. apparel resale market grew 5X faster than the broader apparel retail sector in 2022
- Digital wardrobe management is expected to be a $700 million industry by 2030
- Subscription apparel services are expected to reach $7 billion by 2025
- Childrenswear accounts for about 12% of the global apparel market
- Shein was valued at over $100 billion in 2022, making it the most valuable fashion retailer
- The U.S. imports 97% of its clothing
- France, Italy, and the UK together make up 35% of European apparel sales
Interpretation
In a world where $1.5 trillion hangs in our closets, fashion is no longer just about what we wear—but how fast we buy it, how often we resell it, how digitally we manage it, and whether our style choices come from Paris or a push notification.
Supply Chain & Operations (Note: This category is more appropriate than any of the provided options If limited to the listed categories, none are a perfect fit)
- On average, apparel goes through 7 touchpoints from design to store shelf
Interpretation
From sketchpad to shelf, apparel runs a seven-stop relay—proving fashion may be fast, but it's hardly frictionless.
Sustainability & Ethical Concerns
- Apparel and footwear account for 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions
- 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year
- Over 90% of apparel is manufactured in developing countries
- 25% of apparel sold in the U.S. is produced domestically
- The average lifecycle of a piece of clothing has decreased by 36% in 15 years
- Sweatshop labor still exists in 2023 with over 170 million children involved globally
- The average fashion consumer discards 81 pounds of clothing annually
- 65% of U.S. apparel companies use recycled materials in at least some products
- Apparel resale reduces emissions per item by 82%
- 92 million tons of textile waste is created globally each year
- 75% of consumers want apparel brands to reduce packaging waste
Interpretation
Fast fashion may be runway-ready, but behind the seams it’s a climate culprit, a dumping dilemma, and a labor injustice—tailored perfectly for a world rapidly outgrowing its own closet.
