Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The global fashion industry is valued at approximately $1.7 trillion as of 2022
The fast fashion market is projected to reach $211.9 billion by 2030
The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions
The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater
Clothing production has approximately doubled since 2000
Consumers buy 60% more clothes today than 15 years ago, but keep them for half as long
More than $500 billion of value is lost every year due to clothing underutilization and lack of recycling
Only 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments
The fashion industry produces about 92 million tons of textile waste annually
The average American throws away approximately 81 pounds of clothing each year
The global online fashion market reached $759.5 billion in 2021
By 2025, online sales are expected to account for 50% of total fashion market growth
The luxury fashion market was worth $107.9 billion in 2021
Consumer Behavior & Preferences
- Consumers buy 60% more clothes today than 15 years ago, but keep them for half as long
- Fast fashion brands can launch up to 52 micro-seasons a year
- 62% of Gen Z prefer to buy from sustainable brands
- The average lifespan of a garment is 3 years
- About 70% of women's and girls’ clothing features pockets smaller or less functional than men’s
- 80 billion garments are purchased globally every year
- 67% of consumers consider sustainable materials important when purchasing clothing
- 45% of consumers have stopped purchasing from non-sustainable brands
- The average garment is worn only 7 to 10 times before being discarded
- 60% of millennials are interested in purchasing more sustainable clothing
- The average UK consumer spends over £980 on fashion each year
- 82% of global consumers want fashion brands to align with their values
Interpretation
As the fashion industry races through 52 micro-seasons a year, churning out 80 billion garments mostly worn fewer than 10 times—many lacking decent pockets—consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, are increasingly demanding that their £980-a-year wardrobes reflect both their values and the planet’s future.
Environmental Impact
- The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions
- The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater
- More than $500 billion of value is lost every year due to clothing underutilization and lack of recycling
- Only 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments
- The fashion industry produces about 92 million tons of textile waste annually
- The average American throws away approximately 81 pounds of clothing each year
- Cotton farming accounts for 2.5% of the world's arable land but uses 16% of all insecticides
- Denim manufacturing can use up to 1,800 gallons of water for a single pair of jeans
- Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of water globally
- Synthetic textiles contribute to 35% of the microplastics in the ocean
- Fashion generates a significant amount of packaging waste—approximately 180 billion polybags used annually
- The UK throws away 300,000 tonnes of clothing every year
- In the EU, 5.8 million tonnes of textiles are discarded annually
- 87% of fashion production ends up in landfill or incinerated
- Only 13% of the total material input in the clothing industry is recycled
- The fashion industry consumes 93 billion cubic meters of water annually
- Up to 20,000 liters of water are required to produce 1 kg of cotton textiles
- Up to 30% of clothes produced are never sold
- The fashion industry's greenhouse gas emissions could rise 50% by 2030 if no action is taken
- Thrift stores divert 2.5 billion pounds of clothing from landfills each year in the U.S.
- 71% of fashion-related greenhouse emissions occur during production
- Fashion causes more emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined
- 90% of clothing donated to thrift stores is never sold at retail
- Leather tanning uses chromium, a toxic chemical, in 90% of production globally
Interpretation
Beneath the glitz and glamour, the fashion industry struts a toxic trail—blending landfill mountains, poisoned waters, and carbon footprints larger than entire continents—proving that looking good is costing the Earth dearly.
Market Size & Growth
- The global fashion industry is valued at approximately $1.7 trillion as of 2022
- The fast fashion market is projected to reach $211.9 billion by 2030
- Clothing production has approximately doubled since 2000
- The global online fashion market reached $759.5 billion in 2021
- By 2025, online sales are expected to account for 50% of total fashion market growth
- The luxury fashion market was worth $107.9 billion in 2021
- China is the largest apparel producer globally, contributing 39.3% of total production
- The U.S. fashion industry employs 1.8 million people
- Polyester is the most widely used fiber in the fashion industry, comprising 52% of all textiles
- Secondhand market is projected to double by 2027, reaching $82 billion
- Circular fashion market is projected to grow to $77 billion by 2025
- Bangladesh is the second-largest apparel exporter worldwide
- The global fashion resale market grew by 24% in 2022
- Fashion is the third-largest manufacturing sector after automotive and technology
- The U.S. apparel market was valued at $317.6 billion in 2021
- 38% of global fashion executives expect conditions to worsen in 2023
- Clothing rental market expected to reach $1.96 billion by 2023
- The adaptive clothing market is expected to reach $400 billion by 2026
- The average fashion brand produces 40% more clothing than it did 20 years ago
- The children’s apparel market is projected to reach $339 billion by 2024
- The global sustainable fashion market was valued at $7.8 billion in 2022
- Apparel is the second-largest consumer goods sector globally
- The plus-size clothing market is projected to hit $696.7 billion by 2027
- In 2020, the global lockdown caused fashion sales to decline by 15.6%
- In 2018, the EU imported €80 billion worth of clothing
- India is the world’s second-largest producer of textiles and garments
- Japan is the third-largest apparel market in the world
- The bridal wear market is expected to reach $79.8 billion globally by 2027
- The global eyewear fashion market is projected to reach $258 billion by 2030
- Global demand for animal-free leather alternatives is increasing by 12% annually
- The sportswear market is worth $353.5 billion globally
Interpretation
In a world where fashion churns out polyester faster than conscience and sells more styles online than ever before, the $1.7 trillion industry finds itself at a crossroads between fast profits and slow reckonings, as it races to dress the globe while trying not to undress the planet.
Segment-Specific Insights
- Footwear accounted for 24% of the global fashion market revenue in 2022
- Garment workers earn as little as $3 a day in some countries
- Fashion e-commerce penetration was at 28% globally in 2022
- The global fashion industry employs over 75 million people worldwide
- Online sales in the luxury market account for 22% of total sales as of 2022
Interpretation
While millions click to buy $800 sneakers online, a worker earning $3 a day stitched them—proving that fashion’s glamour often walks in someone else's worn-out shoes.
Sustainability & Innovation
- Zara can design, produce, and deliver a new garment in just 3 weeks
- H&M aims to be climate positive by 2040
- Only 2% of garment workers around the world earn a living wage
Interpretation
Fast fashion races ahead with speed and green promises, but behind the glossy storefronts, 98% of workers are still stitched into poverty.