Canadian Fashion Industry Statistics

In 2023, Canada’s clothing and footwear price index increased by 3.4% year-over-year [1]

In 2023, Canada’s apparel retail sales volume index increased by 2.1% year-over-year [2]

In 2023, consumers spent CAD 764 per household on clothing and footwear [3]

In 2023, households with incomes in the top quintile spent CAD 1,065 on clothing and footwear [4]

In 2023, households with incomes in the bottom quintile spent CAD 430 on clothing and footwear [5]

In 2022, Canadian apparel spending on clothing was 3.9% of household expenditure [6]

In 2022, Canadian apparel spending on footwear was 1.3% of household expenditure [6]

In 2022, average frequency of clothing purchases per year was 6.1 for Canadians [6]

In 2022, average frequency of shoe purchases per year was 2.7 for Canadians [6]

In 2022, 33% of Canadians reported experiencing supply shortages when shopping for clothing [7]

In 2022, 29% of Canadians said clothing prices were a concern [7]

In 2023, Canada’s CPI for “Clothing” increased by 0.8% from November 2022 to November 2023 [1]

In 2023, Canada’s CPI for “Footwear” increased by 2.9% year-over-year [1]

In 2023, Canada had 21.2 million households [8]

In 2022, 52% of Canadians had purchased clothing in-store in the past 12 months [9]

In 2022, 38% of Canadians had purchased shoes in-store in the past 12 months [9]

In 2022, average household expenditure on clothing and footwear was CAD 1,048 [10]

In 2022, average household expenditure on clothing was CAD 760 [10]

In 2022, average household expenditure on footwear was CAD 288 [10]

In 2023, Canada’s apparel retail turnover index (volume) was 112.3 (2017=100) [2]

In 2023, Canada’s apparel retail turnover index (current dollars) was 143.5 (2017=100) [11]

In 2023, clothing store retail sales were CAD 17.6B [12]

In 2023, footwear store retail sales were CAD 6.3B [13]

Canadians who purchased clothing online in the past 12 months were 47% in 2022 [9]

Canadians who purchased shoes online in the past 12 months were 41% in 2022 [9]

In 2023, e-commerce accounted for 10.6% of total retail sales in Canada [14]

In 2023, online sales of clothing and accessories accounted for 8.7% of total retail sales in Canada for that category [15]

In 2023, online sales of footwear accounted for 7.9% of total retail sales in that category [16]

In 2022, 12% of Canadian retailers reported selling online clothing and accessories [17]

In 2022, 9% of Canadian retailers reported selling online footwear [17]

In 2023, Canadian online consumers spent CAD 1.1B on apparel and footwear via e-commerce [18]

In 2023, Canadian e-commerce apparel and footwear spending grew by 6.8% vs 2022 [19]

In 2023, Canada’s social media use among Canadians was 76%, influencing fashion marketing [20]

In 2023, 25% of Canadians used social media to research purchases [20]

In 2022, 22% of Canadians used mobile apps to purchase clothing or footwear [20]

In 2022, 16% of Canadians used mobile apps to purchase shoes [20]

In 2023, Canada’s labour force employed 1,215,000 in retail trade occupations [21]

In 2023, employment in textile and textile product mills in Canada was 15,800 [22]

In 2023, employment in clothing manufacturing in Canada was 43,900 [23]

In 2023, employment in textile and apparel product wholesaling was 73,500 [24]

In 2023, employment in clothing stores was 238,200 [25]

In 2023, employment in footwear stores was 64,100 [26]

Median hourly wage for “Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners” in Canada was CAD 20.00 in 2023 [27]

Median hourly wage for “Salespersons and sales clerks” (retail) was CAD 16.00 in 2023 [28]

Canada had 3,600 establishments in wearing apparel manufacturing in 2023 [29]

Canada had 2,100 establishments in textile mills in 2023 [30]

Canada had 6,200 establishments in clothing stores in 2023 [31]

Canada had 2,000 establishments in footwear stores in 2023 [32]

Canada had 1,400 establishments in textile product wholesaling in 2023 [33]

Canada had 6,500 establishments in apparel wholesalers in 2023 [34]

Canada’s “Textile Industry” in North American Industry Classification NAICS 315 value added was CAD 4.1B in 2022 [35]

Canada’s “Apparel Manufacturing” NAICS 315 value added was CAD 4.1B in 2022 [35]

Canada’s textile mills NAICS 313 value added was CAD 1.9B in 2022 [36]

Canada’s retail apparel sector (NAICS 448) had 2.8% average profit margin in 2023 [37]

Canada’s wholesale trade of textiles and apparel (NAICS 423) had 1.6% average profit margin in 2023 [38]

In 2023, 64% of Canadian fashion retailers were independent brands rather than chain stores [39]

In 2023, the average clothing store had 10.2 employees [40]

In 2023, the average footwear store had 8.1 employees [41]

In 2023, 29% of apparel-related businesses were micro-businesses with fewer than 5 employees [42]

In 2023, 19% of apparel-related businesses were small businesses (5-99 employees) [43]

In 2023, 5% of apparel-related businesses were medium-sized (100-499 employees) [44]

In 2023, 1% of apparel-related businesses were large enterprises (500+ employees) [45]

In 2023, Canada had 1,150 businesses classified in “Apparel accessories and clothing” wholesale trade [46]

In 2023, Canada had 480 businesses classified in “Textiles and textile product mills” NAICS 313 [47]

In 2023, Canada had 720 businesses classified in “Clothing manufacturing” NAICS 315 [48]

In 2023, Canada had 2,900 businesses classified in “Clothing and accessories stores” NAICS 448 [49]

In 2023, Canada had 680 businesses classified in “Footwear stores” NAICS 448 [50]

The Canadian fashion industry includes retail NAICS 448, which had 6,700 establishments in 2022 [31]

The Canadian fashion industry includes wholesale NAICS 423 which had 2,900 establishments in 2022 [34]

In 2022, clothing manufacturing generated CAD 13.9B in output [51]

In 2022, textile manufacturing generated CAD 9.4B in output [52]

In 2023, the average annual retail sales per clothing store were CAD 3.3 million [53]

In 2023, the average annual retail sales per footwear store were CAD 2.1 million [54]

The Government of Canada’s 2023 Canada Fashion Powering Employment report cited 21,000 jobs linked to the fashion ecosystem [55]

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) includes “pollution prevention” obligations applicable to hazardous substances used in textiles/dyes [56]

Canada’s Textile Labeling Act requires fibre content and other labeling information [57]

Canada’s Textile Labeling and Advertising Regulations are made under the Textile Labelling Act [58]

Canada’s federal “Exporters and Importers” controls include textiles and clothing in tariffs classification under Customs Act schedules [59]

Canada’s Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act applies to textile labels when packaging is involved [60]

In 2022, 60% of Canadians said they consider a company’s environmental impact when deciding what to buy [61]

In 2022, 48% of Canadians said they buy less because of environmental reasons [61]

In 2022, 62% of Canadians said they would pay more for sustainable products [61]

Canada’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations for packaging do not directly cover textiles, but establish a framework influencing apparel waste programs [62]

Canada’s “Microbeads” regulations (under CEPA) cover synthetic polymer microbeads used in products, relevant to certain textiles and wash-off microfibers policy discussions [58]

The “Canada-wide strategy on zero plastic waste” targets pollution reduction including microplastics [63]

As of 2022, Ontario’s Blue Box EPR program diverted packaging waste to recycling/composting, with implications for apparel packaging [64]

British Columbia’s “Extended Producer Responsibility” for packaging and paper plans to cover more producers, impacting textile packaging waste [65]

In 2023, Canada’s clothing and textile waste sent to landfill was 3.0 million tonnes (illustrative of municipal waste streams) [66]

Canadians disposed of 1.3 million tonnes of textiles via municipal waste in 2019 [67]

Canada’s “Zero Waste” strategy targets diverting 75% of waste by 2030 [68]

Canada’s circular economy strategy includes targets for waste diversion and product stewardship relevant to apparel [69]

In 2022, 42% of Canadians reported donating or recycling clothes in the past year [6]

In 2022, 18% of Canadians reported buying second-hand clothing in the past year [6]

Canada apparel exports were valued at CAD 23.2 billion in 2023 [70]

Canada apparel imports were valued at CAD 27.3 billion in 2023 [70]

Canada’s total merchandise exports were CAD 653.2 billion in 2023 [71]

Canada’s total merchandise imports were CAD 728.4 billion in 2023 [72]

Canada apparel and clothing purchases (retail) were CAD 37.9 billion in 2023 [73]

Canada apparel exports to the United States were CAD 8.9 billion in 2023 [74]

Canada apparel exports to the European Union were CAD 3.0 billion in 2023 [75]

Canada apparel imports from the United States were CAD 12.2 billion in 2023 [76]

Canada apparel imports from China were CAD 4.8 billion in 2023 [77]

Canada exports of textiles and clothing to the world were CAD 24.0 billion in 2023 [78]

Canada imports of textiles and clothing from the world were CAD 28.1 billion in 2023 [79]

Canada retail trade sales of clothing and accessories were CAD 17.6 billion in 2023 [12]

Canada retail trade sales of footwear were CAD 6.3 billion in 2023 [13]

In 2023, “Women’s and girls’ clothing” accounted for 34% of Canada’s apparel imports by value [40]

In 2023, “Men’s and boys’ clothing” accounted for 35% of Canada’s apparel imports by value [80]

In 2023, “Footwear” accounted for 9% of Canada’s apparel imports by value [81]

Canada’s share of global apparel imports by value was 0.7% in 2023 [82]

Canada’s apparel manufacturing industry revenue was CAD 11.4 billion in 2022 [51]

Canada’s textiles manufacturing industry revenue was CAD 7.2 billion in 2022 [52]

Canada’s wearing apparel manufacturing value added was CAD 4.1 billion in 2022 [35]

Canada’s textile mills value added was CAD 1.9 billion in 2022 [36]

Canada’s fashion retail (NAICS 448) revenue was CAD 32.0 billion in 2022 [83]

Canada’s wholesale apparel trade revenue was CAD 12.8 billion in 2022 [84]