Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
China accounted for over 30% of global fast fashion exports in 2022
The Chinese fast fashion market was valued at approximately $82 billion in 2021
SHEIN, a Chinese fast fashion giant, was valued at over $100 billion in 2022
In 2021, China produced over 40 billion garment pieces for export
Over 45% of global textile production comes from China
The average Chinese consumer purchases 60% more clothing annually than they did 15 years ago
Approximately 20 million tons of clothing are produced annually in China
More than 70% of SHEIN’s orders are fulfilled through demand-based manufacturing
China exports fast fashion goods to over 150 countries
Around 72% of global polyester fiber comes from China, key material in fast fashion
Chinese online fashion retailer SHEIN adds up to 6,000 new styles per day
China's textile and clothing exports hit $316 billion in 2022
By 2030, China’s textile industry is expected to emit 5.5 billion tons of CO2
Consumer Behavior and Pricing
- The average Chinese consumer purchases 60% more clothing annually than they did 15 years ago
- Chinese consumers aged 18–24 make up 45% of fast fashion online shoppers
- The average lifespan of a fast fashion item in China is just 7 wears
- 60% of Chinese youth say they prefer fast fashion due to affordability
- In 2020, SHEIN overtook Amazon as the most downloaded shopping app in the US
- In 2021, the average Chinese person purchased 14.3 garments per year
- Women aged 20–35 are the primary demographic for fast fashion purchases in China
- Fast fashion return rates in China reach up to 40% on average
- 67% of Gen-Z Chinese shoppers consider sustainability when purchasing fast fashion
- On average, SHEIN customers in China place 3.5 orders per month
- Nearly 70% of Chinese fashion consumers prefer online over in-store purchases
- SHEIN’s data analysis tools track consumer behavior on over 10 million listings weekly
- SHEIN spends roughly $6 million monthly on influencer marketing in China
- In Guangzhou, over 30% of household waste consists of textile materials
- More than 60% of Chinese digital fast fashion ads target Gen-Z users
- SHEIN’s average price per item is under $10
Interpretation
In a whirlwind of clicks, trends, and $10 tees, China's fast fashion scene reveals a generation caught between affordability and awareness—buying more, wearing less, and tossing textiles into a growing mountain of waste, all while algorithms curate their next purchase.
Geographic Expansion and Growth
- China exports fast fashion goods to over 150 countries
- 85% of SHEIN’s clothing sales come from markets outside China
- China’s domestic fast fashion sector grew at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2017 to 2022
- China’s fast fashion e-commerce market is projected to grow 17% annually through 2026
- SHEIN has over 43 million active users globally, many from China
- Chinese fast fashion brands like Zaful and Romwe are expanding aggressively in Latin America
- Asia-Pacific is SHEIN’s fastest-growing market, with China at its core
Interpretation
China isn’t just dressing itself—it’s rapidly stitching its way into closets around the globe, with fast fashion exports, booming e-commerce, and homegrown giants like SHEIN tailoring a global empire from the seams of domestic success.
Market Share and Industry Contribution
- China accounted for over 30% of global fast fashion exports in 2022
- In 2020, 39% of fast fashion in China was sold through e-commerce platforms
- Chinese fast fashion accounts for nearly 53% of Southeast Asia’s apparel imports
- Roughly 20% of China's water pollution comes from textile dyeing and treatment processes
- China leads global exports in fashion accessories, contributing over 35% of global volume
- In 2022, online fast fashion accounted for 58% of fashion sales in China
- Chinese fast fashion companies collectively spend over $500 million a year on social media ads
Interpretation
China may be dressing the world in fast fashion at record speed, but behind the glitter of e-commerce clicks and viral social media campaigns lies a growing environmental stain that no accessory can cover up.
Production and Supply Chain
- In 2021, China produced over 40 billion garment pieces for export
- Over 45% of global textile production comes from China
- Approximately 20 million tons of clothing are produced annually in China
- More than 70% of SHEIN’s orders are fulfilled through demand-based manufacturing
- Around 72% of global polyester fiber comes from China, key material in fast fashion
- Chinese online fashion retailer SHEIN adds up to 6,000 new styles per day
- By 2030, China’s textile industry is expected to emit 5.5 billion tons of CO2
- The fast fashion sector in China employs over 10 million people
- China is home to approximately 150,000 garment manufacturing enterprises
- As of 2023, China manufactures 70% of the world’s fast fashion clothing
- The carbon footprint of China’s textile industry is over 620 million tons annually
- Over 1,000 Chinese factories supply fast fashion brands like SHEIN and Zaful
- Fast fashion production in China increased by 18% between 2019 and 2022
- The turnover time of fashion collections in China’s fast fashion segment can be just 15 days
- More than 50% of discarded clothes in China are incinerated or landfilled
- SHEIN releases more than 300,000 SKUs per year, far surpassing traditional fast fashion brands
- Only 1% of fast fashion materials in China are recycled into new clothing
- In Shenzhen, over 450 suppliers work exclusively for SHEIN
- SHEIN’s logistic partners deliver to 200+ countries with a 2–3 day delivery window in major markets
- Over 85% of China’s fashion exports are destined for Europe and North America
- China has invested $2 billion in AI-driven fast fashion logistics
- The average cost of a fast fashion item made in China is under $5
- About 7 million tons of textile waste are generated in China annually
- Warehouse automation in China’s fast fashion industry is expected to grow 28% annually
- Over 80% of garments sold on Chinese fast fashion sites are made from synthetic materials
- China’s fashion production cycle from design to shelf is as short as 3 weeks
- SHEIN collaborates with over 2,000 independent designers in China
- In 2022, SHEIN shipped over 1.2 billion clothing items globally
- Over 60% of Chinese e-commerce fashion returns are sent to landfill
- On average, Chinese fast fashion employees work 75+ hours a week
- Up to 50,000 new garments are added weekly by Chinese fast fashion sellers on AliExpress
- Average garment worker pay in China is less than $2.50 per hour
- Over 90% of small-scale garment factories in China rely on manual labor
- 77% of fast fashion brands in China lack transparency on supply chain practices
- Chinese textile industry emits approximately 3 tons of CO2 for every ton of textiles manufactured
- In 2023, SHEIN was responsible for an estimated 6.3 million tons of CO2 emissions
Interpretation
China’s fast fashion industry spins a global web of hyper-speed production, environmental fallout, and low-wage labor—manufacturing billions of garments and mountains of waste while churning out runway trends faster than the planet can keep up.
Revenue and Valuation
- The Chinese fast fashion market was valued at approximately $82 billion in 2021
- SHEIN, a Chinese fast fashion giant, was valued at over $100 billion in 2022
- China's textile and clothing exports hit $316 billion in 2022
- SHEIN’s global sales grew by 50% year-over-year in 2021
- China’s fashion market is expected to reach $450 billion by 2025, with fast fashion being a major contributor
- In 2022, SHEIN reported over $22.7 billion in revenue
- The resale market for fast fashion in China is projected to reach $10 billion by 2025
- China’s fast fashion market is projected to surpass $110 billion in value by 2026
Interpretation
China isn’t just stitching the seams of global fast fashion—it’s tailoring a trillion-yuan empire where speed, scale, and SHEIN-sized ambition dominate the runway.