Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The global decorated apparel market was valued at USD 26.75 billion in 2021
The decorated apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2022 to 2030
North America accounted for more than 30% of the global decorated apparel revenue in 2021
Screen printing was the dominant decoration technique in 2021, accounting for over 40% of revenue share
Embroidery is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 13.6% from 2022 to 2030
Men's decorated apparel dominated the market in 2021 with over 45% of the global revenue share
Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 14.2% through 2030
Apparel printing segment is projected to hit USD 64 billion by 2032
The global custom t-shirt printing market size was valued at USD 3.64 billion in 2020
The custom t-shirt printing market is projected to reach USD 7.57 billion by 2028
Heat transfer printing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2021 to 2028
Digital printing holds over 20% share of the global apparel printing market
The global embroidery market was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2022
Consumer Trends & Preferences
- Men's decorated apparel dominated the market in 2021 with over 45% of the global revenue share
- 62% of consumers say they prefer decorated apparel over plain clothing
- 87% of promotional products include decorated apparel items
- Polyester fabric accounts for 38% of decorated apparel materials
- Over 30% of e-commerce apparel sales include custom printed or embroidered items
- Personalized t-shirts represent nearly 55% of the custom printed apparel market
- 65% of custom apparel buyers are under age 35
- Branded uniforms are used by 70% of service-based small businesses
- 41% of U.S. companies use custom-decorated apparel as part of their employee incentives program
- Average price of a decorated t-shirt ranges from $13 to $28 depending on complexity
- 58% of customers report higher satisfaction with premium embroidery options over screen printing
- Roughly 60% of custom apparel is ordered in quantities of fewer than 50 units
- 73% of startups use branded decorated apparel to build initial brand awareness
- 50% of decorated apparel buyers purchase for promotional giveaways
- 78% of consumers remember the brand name from a logoed promotional shirt
- Over 22% of print shops now accept bulk orders exclusively online
- 85% of college bookstores offer custom decorated merchandise
- 63% of small businesses prefer local providers for embroidered shirts
- More than 70% of trade show booths feature decorated apparel giveaways
- Contractors and construction companies favor high-visibility screen printed gear, used by 68%
- 48% of consumers pay more for apparel custom-decorated with eco-friendly inks
- 77% of major sports organizations partner with apparel decorators for merchandising
- Most common used colors in decorated apparel are black, white, and navy, accounting for 52% of orders
- 80% of customers say quality of decoration (embroidery/print) influences repurchase
- Businesses that use employee-branded apparel report a 28% increase in customer recognition
- 39% of internet users have purchased custom t-shirts online
- 68% of consumers say they wear promotional printed apparel weekly
- 89% of custom shirt buyers reorder from the same decorator
- 59% of fashion startups use custom apparel for branding at events
- Embroidered caps are the most popular headwear product in branded apparel, accounting for 58% of items sold
Interpretation
In an age where branding is stitched into culture itself, decorated apparel isn’t just fashion—it’s a marketing powerhouse draped in polyester, worn by the young, remembered by consumers, and increasingly ordered online, one embroidered logo at a time.
Decoration Techniques
- Screen printing was the dominant decoration technique in 2021, accounting for over 40% of revenue share
- Embroidery is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 13.6% from 2022 to 2030
- Digital printing holds over 20% share of the global apparel printing market
- Cotton remains the leading substrate in apparel printing, with 49% market share
- Heat press transfers account for 15% of decoration methods in the U.S.
- 91% of U.S. printing businesses offer embroidery or screen printing services
- Workwear with embroidered logos makes up almost 30% of uniforms sold in the U.S.
- Glow-in-the-dark and specialty inks are trending with a 9.5% increase in usage
- Tea-stained and vintage-look screen printing methods grew in popularity by 21%
Interpretation
In a fashion-forward industry where screen printing still rules the revenue runway, embroidery is stitching up the fastest growth, digital printing is holding its colorful ground, and retro-chic techniques like tea stains and glow-in-the-dark ink are proving that what’s old—or oddly luminous—can be new (and profitable) again.
Market Size & Growth
- The global decorated apparel market was valued at USD 26.75 billion in 2021
- The decorated apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2022 to 2030
- Apparel printing segment is projected to hit USD 64 billion by 2032
- The global custom t-shirt printing market size was valued at USD 3.64 billion in 2020
- The custom t-shirt printing market is projected to reach USD 7.57 billion by 2028
- Heat transfer printing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2021 to 2028
- The global embroidery market was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2022
- The embroidery market is expected to reach USD 2.2 billion by 2028, growing at 6.5% CAGR
- DTG (Direct to Garment) printing market is anticipated to grow at over 10% CAGR through 2027
- The sportswear segment occupied 25% of the total decorated apparel market share in 2021
- U.S. custom apparel printing services market was valued at USD 1.28 billion in 2021
- More than 40,000 screen printing businesses operate in the U.S. alone
- Global promotional products industry is valued at over USD 24 billion, and decorated apparel is the leading category
- The promotional decorated apparel sub-sector alone represents around USD 8 billion annually
- Sublimation printing is expected to grow 13% annually through 2028
- Women’s apparel is expected to become the fastest-growing segment in decorated apparel by 2030
- Eco-conscious printed apparel demand is growing at 18% CAGR
- Globally, over 10 billion garments are customized via printing each year
- The global sports team customization market exceeded $5 billion in 2022
- Customized pet apparel is a growing niche, expected to hit $1.1 billion by 2027
- Omnichannel decorated apparel companies experience 25% faster growth
- The direct-to-film (DTF) printing segment is gaining traction with 16% YoY growth
- Mobile ordering for custom apparel rose 43% from 2020 to 2022
- Print-on-demand decorated apparel revenue grew 39% in 2021
- Personalized fashion apparel grew by 22% YoY in 2022
- The youth segment of decorated apparel is growing at 11.8% CAGR
- The Direct-to-Garment market is expected to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2025
- Top 5 decorated apparel companies account for nearly 17% of global market
- The collegiate apparel market with custom decoration is valued over USD 4.6 billion
- Reflective ink usage for safety apparel grew 12% in 2022
- Eco-friendly blank apparel sales for decoration grew 18%
- Low MOQ (minimum order quantity) printing providers now make up 34% of the U.S. market
Interpretation
Once a niche of novelty tees and team jerseys, the decorated apparel industry has become a $60-billion-and-rising canvas of customization, where heat-pressed dreams, eco-conscious prints, and dog-sized hoodies drive double-digit growth across everything from campus bookstores to mobile apps—proving that in fashion, personal expression is not just style, it’s serious business.
Regional Insights
- North America accounted for more than 30% of the global decorated apparel revenue in 2021
- Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 14.2% through 2030
- The largest market for custom printed hoodies is North America with over 35% global share
- The average turnaround time for local orders is 5–7 business days
Interpretation
While North America currently wears the crown in custom hoodie sales and decorated apparel revenue, Asia Pacific is stitching up the future at breakneck speed, leaving the industry racing to keep pace — ideally within 5 to 7 business days.
Sustainability & Production Practices
- The average lifespan of a decorated t-shirt is 52 washes
- Water-based inks represent 35% of all inks used in clothing decoration
Interpretation
In a world where the average decorated T-shirt fades after just 52 washes, it’s refreshing that at least 35% of the industry is trying to leave a lighter footprint with water-based inks.
