Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The Australian fashion industry contributes approximately $27.2 billion to the national economy annually
Australia's fashion industry employs more than 489,000 people
77% of people employed in the Australian fashion industry are women
Australian consumers spent $22.5 billion on fashion in 2021
Online fashion sales in Australia grew by 51.8% in 2020
Fast fashion accounts for 82% of clothing purchases in Australia
Each Australian disposes of an average 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill each year
The Australian fashion resale market is expected to grow by 15.5% annually
56% of Australian consumers say they prefer to buy from brands that promote sustainability
Cotton is the most commonly used natural fiber in Australian fashion
70% of Australian shoppers research online before purchasing apparel in-store
The average Australian purchases 27 kilograms of new clothing annually
The Australian fashion industry produced 10% of global textile waste annually
Consumer Behavior
- Australian consumers spent $22.5 billion on fashion in 2021
- Fast fashion accounts for 82% of clothing purchases in Australia
- 56% of Australian consumers say they prefer to buy from brands that promote sustainability
- 70% of Australian shoppers research online before purchasing apparel in-store
- The average Australian purchases 27 kilograms of new clothing annually
- 49% of Australian fashion consumers make purchases based on influencers’ recommendations
- 39% of purchases by Australians aged 18–34 are from online fashion stores
- Shein and ASOS are among the top online fashion marketplaces for Gen Z Australians
- The average Australian wears only 40% of their wardrobe
- 34.5% of online fashion purchases in Australia were returned in 2022
- Renewability and recyclability influence 47% of Australians' fashion purchases
- The ethical fashion movement in Australia has grown by 35% since 2019
- 82% of Gen Z shoppers in Australia prefer eco-friendly apparel
- TikTok drove 24% of fashion brand engagement among young Australians in 2022
- Knitwear sales in Australia increased by 27% in 2021
- Men account for 45% of fashion spending in Australia
- 75% of Australian shoppers believe supporting local fashion businesses is important
- Denim is among the top 3 most purchased fashion categories in Australia
- 18% of Australian fashion consumers participate in clothing rental services
- 9 out of 10 Australians own at least one product made from fast fashion brands
- Australian fashion shoppers return clothing more frequently than any other retail category
- 42% of Australian fashion sales happen during seasonal discount periods
- Activewear was the fastest growing category in Australian fashion in 2021
- 38% of Australians say they “always” or “often” consider sustainability before buying clothing
- The average cost of a new garment in Australia is A$15–$20
- Australian women are more likely (62%) than men (45%) to shop fashion online
- Baby and children’s fashion represents 9% of Australia's apparel market
- Over 1 million Australians purchased secondhand clothing in 2022
- Australian consumers spent $1.41 billion on accessories in 2021
- Fashion is the top visual content category shared by Australian influencers in 2022
- Australians donate over 100 million garments annually to charity shops
- The average return rate for Australian fashion items bought online ranges from 30–40%
Interpretation
Australians are swiping for sustainability but filling wardrobes with fast fashion, proving that while green is the new black, convenience and clicks still cut the cloth.
E-commerce and Online Sales
- Online fashion sales in Australia grew by 51.8% in 2020
- The average revenue per user (ARPU) in online fashion is $369.70 in Australia (2023)
- Approximately 40% of Australian fashion labels operate ecommerce platforms
- 60% of Australian fashion retailers use social media to drive sales
- 36% of fashion retailers in Australia adopted AR/VR technologies in 2023
- Australian fashion companies spend an average of 6% of revenue on digital marketing
- Fashion Nova, Boohoo, and PrettyLittleThing are top fast-fashion brands in Australia by online traffic
Interpretation
In a landscape stitched together by clicks and scrolls, Australia's fashion industry has strutted headlong into the digital age—where over half of fashion labels sell online, social media is the new runway, and even your avatar can try on jeans before you buy, proving that the real fabric of success is now woven online.
Economic Impact
- The Australian fashion industry contributes approximately $27.2 billion to the national economy annually
- The Australian fashion resale market is expected to grow by 15.5% annually
- Indigenous fashion is a growing sector, valued at A$5.7 million in 2023
- 68% of Australian fashion businesses are SMEs (small and medium enterprises)
- Australian fashion exports totaled $340 million in 2021
- Asia-Pacific is the largest market for Australian fashion exports
- The Australian footwear industry market size is $5.2 billion
- The market for men’s fashion in Australia was worth $10 billion in 2022
- Australian women’s fashion market was valued at over $12 billion in 2022
- Luxury fashion in Australia reached $2.3 billion in sales in 2022
- Revenue in the Apparel segment is projected to reach US$18.76bn in 2024
- Over 1,500 fashion companies operate in Australia
- The fashion industry’s average profit margin in Australia is around 5.9%
- Australia had over 300 active fashion tech startups as of 2022
- Australia imported $9.1 billion worth of clothing and textiles in 2022
- Australia’s fashion runway events contribute over $200 million in economic activity yearly
- Government support for the fashion industry includes $1 million annually via the Australian Fashion Council
Interpretation
Australia’s fashion industry may be stitched with style and powered by SMEs, Indigenous innovation, and tech-savvy startups, but with billions in imports and a modest 5.9% profit margin, it’s a high-stakes runway balancing creativity, commerce, and global ambition.
Employment and Workforce
- Australia's fashion industry employs more than 489,000 people
- 77% of people employed in the Australian fashion industry are women
- Melbourne is home to over 15% of Australia’s fashion designers
- Employment in Australian clothing manufacturing fell by 4.2% annually over the past 5 years
- The Australian fashion industry saw a 9.2% increase in female entrepreneur-led startups in 2022
- The fashion employment gender pay gap in Australia is over 14%
Interpretation
Australia's fashion industry may be stitched together by a predominantly female workforce and rising women-led innovation, but with a persistent gender pay gap and waning manufacturing jobs, the seams of progress still need reinforcing.
Sustainability and Manufacturing
- Each Australian disposes of an average 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill each year
- Cotton is the most commonly used natural fiber in Australian fashion
- The Australian fashion industry produced 10% of global textile waste annually
- 29% of Australian fashion companies plan to increase sustainability initiatives in 2024
- Australian fashion brands increased their use of recycled materials by 41% in 2022
- Textile recycling in Australia increased by 12% from 2021 to 2023
- Ethical Clothing Australia certified 126 new fashion businesses in 2022
- 48% of fashion items sold online in Australia are made overseas
- Local manufacturing accounts for less than 10% of Australian fashion production
Interpretation
While Aussie wardrobes overflow and 23kg of fast fashion heads to landfill per person each year, the industry—powered mostly by imported threads and cotton seams—is finally stitching together a greener future with recycled fabrics, rising ethical certifications, and a slow but steady pivot towards sustainability.
