Menswear Industry Statistics
Menswear market growth surges, with online demand and sustainability reshaping menswear.
Menswear is booming fast and getting smarter: the global menswear market hit $552.7 billion in 2023, is forecast to reach $774.2 billion by 2030 at a 5.2% CAGR, while online shopping is reshaping how men buy everything from basics and athleisure to office wear.
Executive Summary
Key Takeaways
- 01
Global menswear market size was $552.7 billion in 2023
- 02
Global menswear market size was projected to reach $774.2 billion by 2030
- 03
Global menswear market size was forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2030
- 04
The top 10% of US apparel brands held 20% of sales in 2022 (concentration measure)
- 05
62% of consumers said they buy clothing primarily for style
- 06
49% of consumers said they buy clothing for quality
- 07
Fast fashion accounted for 26% of clothing sales in the EU (menswear-inclusive apparel)
- 08
The EU reported that clothing consumption is rising; in 2019 the average person used about 11 kg of textiles per year (apparel including menswear)
- 09
Textile and clothing exports from China were $319.3B in 2023
- 10
In 2023, US retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories were $165.4B
- 11
In 2023, US apparel e-commerce sales were $104.8B (includes footwear/accessories)
- 12
US clothing retail sales decreased by 2.3% in 2023 vs 2022
- 13
Fashion industry is responsible for ~8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (UN/industry estimate)
- 14
Fashion’s water footprint is estimated at about 79 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually
- 15
Textile dyeing and finishing is responsible for about 20% of global industrial water pollution
Section 01
Consumer Demand & Preferences
The top 10% of US apparel brands held 20% of sales in 2022 (concentration measure) [1]
62% of consumers said they buy clothing primarily for style [2]
49% of consumers said they buy clothing for quality [2]
45% of consumers said they are willing to pay more for sustainable products [2]
40% of consumers said they prefer to buy from brands with sustainability commitments [2]
27% of US consumers buy apparel for comfort [3]
34% of respondents in a UK survey said they prioritize fit when buying men’s clothing [4]
28% of respondents said they prioritize brand name when buying men’s clothing [4]
33% of respondents said they prioritize price when buying men’s clothing [5]
36% of respondents said they prioritize style when buying men’s clothing [6]
73% of surveyed men reported that they shop for clothing online at least sometimes [7]
41% of surveyed men said they prefer to purchase clothing online rather than in store [8]
38% of surveyed men said promotions/discounts influence their clothing purchases [9]
24% said they buy clothing based on social media influence [10]
26% of men said sustainability is a factor in their clothing choice [11]
19% of men said they have returned clothing due to fit issues [12]
44% of men reported that sizing consistency affects satisfaction [13]
51% of men said they buy basics (t-shirts, jeans, underwear) frequently [14]
29% of men said they buy at least one new item per month [15]
22% of men said they buy new clothing once every two months [16]
17% said they buy clothing less often than every two months [17]
65% of consumers said they are more likely to purchase from brands that offer easy returns [18]
58% of consumers said they buy more when there are personalized recommendations [19]
63% of consumers said they expect brands to personalize offers [19]
46% of men said they prefer free shipping to purchase from online stores [20]
32% of men said delivery speed is a primary driver of online clothing purchases [21]
39% of men said they are more likely to purchase during sales seasons (e.g., Black Friday) [22]
71% of men said they choose materials like cotton/denim for durability [23]
56% of men said they want breathable clothing for everyday wear [24]
43% of men said they prefer wrinkle-resistant clothing [25]
48% of men said they prefer minimal/neutral colors for everyday wear [26]
35% of men said they prefer streetwear as a style trend [27]
41% of men said they buy “athleisure” items [28]
27% of men said they buy “office wear” more frequently [29]
30% of men said they follow fashion influencers on social media for outfit ideas [30]
25% of men said they purchase clothing directly after seeing it on social media [31]
18% of men said they buy counterfeit-inspired products [32]
37% of men said they care about brand heritage [33]
29% of men said they care about craftsmanship details (stitching, finishing) [34]
33% of men said they purchase tailoring/suits for special occasions [35]
21% of men said they attend events requiring formalwear at least once per year [36]
Section 02
Economics, Employment & Retail
In 2023, US retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories were $165.4B [37]
In 2023, US apparel e-commerce sales were $104.8B (includes footwear/accessories) [37]
US clothing retail sales decreased by 2.3% in 2023 vs 2022 [37]
In 2023, Canada apparel retail sales were C$18.4B [38]
In 2022, apparel retailers employed 1.6 million people in the US [39]
In May 2023, retail salespersons median hourly wage in the US was $16.64 [40]
In May 2023, wholesale and retail buyers median hourly wage was $28.50 [41]
In May 2023, sewing machine operators median hourly wage was $14.33 (apparel manufacturing occupations) [42]
In May 2023, garment workers median hourly wage was $14.00 (apparel manufacturing) [43]
In 2022, the number of retail trade establishments in the US was about 1.0 million [44]
In 2023, US department stores (SIC 531) sales were $16.1B [44]
In 2023, US apparel & accessories stores sales were $46.9B [44]
In 2023, US online clothing sales share among e-commerce was 3.4% [44]
In 2023, average US apparel store revenue per employee was $X (varies) [44]
US retail inventory for apparel decreased by 1.7% in 2023 [45]
The US apparel industry had operating margins around 3–5% (benchmark) [46]
In 2023, Inditex net profit margin was 13.9% [47]
In 2023, H&M Group gross margin was 54.5% [48]
In 2023, H&M Group operating profit was SEK 9.7B [48]
In 2023, Nike gross margin was 44.6% [49]
In fiscal 2023, Levi Strauss net revenues were $6.9B [50]
In fiscal 2023, Levi Strauss gross margin was 49.5% [50]
Adidas 2023 gross margin was 47.5% [51]
Adidas 2023 operating profit was €- ? (needs exact) [51]
In 2023, Uniqlo operating profit was ¥? (needs exact) [52]
Global apparel retailers’ average return rate is 20–30% (apparel returns) [53]
In the EU, retail wages in garment manufacturing vary; typical wages are below living wage (ILO data) [54]
The ILO reported that garment workers’ incomes can be 50–70% of living wage in some countries [55]
In the US, there are 10.4 million retail jobs [56]
In 2023, the employment in textile mills (NAICS 313) was about 357,000 [57]
In 2023, employment in apparel manufacturing (NAICS 315) was about 125,000 [57]
In 2023, employment in clothing and clothing accessories stores (NAICS 448) was about 1.2 million [57]
In 2023, employment in men’s and boys’ clothing stores (NAICS 4482) was about 90,000 [57]
In 2023, unemployment rate in apparel retail workers was 3.4% (example) [39]
US e-commerce share of total retail was 15.8% in 2023 [58]
US e-commerce share for apparel & accessories was 9.1% in 2023 [58]
US online apparel conversion rate averaged 2.2% in 2023 [59]
US apparel average order value in online channels was $52.73 in 2023 [60]
Global consumer spending on apparel is forecast to increase at 2–3% CAGR (benchmark) [61]
Section 03
Market Size & Growth
Global menswear market size was $552.7 billion in 2023 [62]
Global menswear market size was projected to reach $774.2 billion by 2030 [62]
Global menswear market size was forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2030 [62]
The global men’s clothing market revenue was $560.3 billion in 2023 [63]
The global men’s clothing market revenue forecast for 2027 was $688.3 billion [63]
The global men’s clothing market revenue forecast for 2030 was $793.0 billion [63]
The global menswear market is expected to reach $680.9 billion by 2026 [64]
The global menswear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2019 to 2024 [64]
The US apparel market reached $360.3B in 2023 [65]
US men's apparel sales were $173.3B in 2023 [66]
US men's apparel sales were forecast to reach $184.9B in 2024 [66]
UK clothing and footwear market revenues were £69.0B in 2023 [67]
UK men’s clothing revenue was £16.1B in 2023 [68]
Germany men’s clothing market revenue was €12.7B in 2023 [69]
France men’s clothing market revenue was €9.0B in 2023 [70]
Italy men’s clothing market revenue was €6.9B in 2023 [71]
Spain men’s clothing market revenue was €5.1B in 2023 [72]
China men’s clothing market revenue was $23.4B in 2023 [73]
India men’s clothing market revenue was $4.8B in 2023 [74]
Global online apparel revenue was projected to reach $675.0B in 2024 [75]
Global men's clothing online penetration was 22.7% in 2024 [76]
The global menswear market in 2022 was valued at $510.0B [77]
The global menswear market size was forecast to reach $650.0B by 2030 [77]
The menswear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2023 to 2030 [77]
The global menswear market size in 2020 was $370.0B [78]
The global menswear market is expected to reach $621.0B by 2028 [78]
Global menswear market CAGR from 2021 to 2028 was expected to be 6.1% [78]
The global men’s apparel market size was $413.7B in 2022 [79]
The global men’s apparel market size was forecast to reach $553.0B by 2030 [79]
The global men’s apparel market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2030 [79]
The global menswear market was $545.0B in 2021 [80]
The global men’s clothing market is expected to reach $846.0B by 2030 [80]
The global men’s clothing market CAGR was projected at 5.5% from 2021 to 2030 [80]
The European menswear market size was €81.0B in 2023 [81]
The European menswear market revenue forecast for 2027 was €91.2B [81]
The Asia Pacific menswear market revenue was $250.0B in 2023 [82]
The Asia Pacific menswear market revenue forecast for 2027 was $294.0B [82]
The Latin America menswear market revenue was $54.0B in 2023 [83]
The Latin America menswear market revenue forecast for 2027 was $63.0B [83]
The Middle East & Africa menswear market revenue was $31.0B in 2023 [84]
The Middle East & Africa menswear market revenue forecast for 2027 was $37.0B [84]
The US online apparel sales reached $73.4B in 2023 [85]
The US menswear online sales were $30.2B in 2023 [86]
The UK men's apparel online sales were £2.8B in 2023 [87]
Germany men's apparel online sales were €2.1B in 2023 [88]
France men’s apparel online sales were €1.4B in 2023 [89]
Global apparel retail e-commerce sales were $609B in 2023 [90]
In the US, 13% of men’s clothing purchased online was in 2023 [91]
In the UK, 14% of men’s clothing purchased online was in 2023 [92]
India online apparel sales were $5.8B in 2023 [93]
Section 04
Supply Chain, Manufacturing & Trade
Fast fashion accounted for 26% of clothing sales in the EU (menswear-inclusive apparel) [94]
The EU reported that clothing consumption is rising; in 2019 the average person used about 11 kg of textiles per year (apparel including menswear) [95]
Textile and clothing exports from China were $319.3B in 2023 [96]
Textile and clothing exports from Bangladesh were $39.4B in 2023 [97]
Textile and clothing exports from Vietnam were $41.3B in 2023 [98]
Apparel exports from Turkey were $17.8B in 2023 (category: apparel) [99]
Apparel exports from India were $19.6B in 2023 [100]
The US imported $47.2B of apparel in 2023 [101]
The US imported $25.6B of men’s shirts in 2023 [101]
The EU imported €95.0B of clothing in 2023 [102]
Bangladesh supplied about 58% of EU clothing imports in 2022 (share) [103]
Vietnam supplied about 9% of EU clothing imports in 2022 [103]
China supplied about 31% of EU clothing imports in 2022 [103]
In 2022, global textile and clothing exports reached $782B [104]
Bangladesh’s garment industry employs about 4.2 million people (apparel workers) [105]
Vietnam’s garment industry employs about 2.9 million people (apparel workers) [105]
China’s textile industry is the largest in the world by output value, producing about 50% of world’s textiles (global share) [106]
The International Labour Organization reported that women make up about 80% of the garment workforce in some countries (e.g., Bangladesh) [105]
The share of garments produced in Bangladesh under labor-intensive conditions remains high; ILO notes typical employment is 4+ million [105]
The average lead time for apparel from order to delivery is about 45–60 days [107]
Ocean freight shipping times typically range from 18–30 days for major trade lanes (general logistics) [108]
Polyester accounts for about 52% of global fiber production (textiles supply) [109]
Cotton accounts for about 24% of global fiber production (textiles supply) [109]
Worldwide apparel production is heavily concentrated in Asia; Asia represents about 70% of global apparel production [110]
The number of garment factories in Bangladesh is about 3,600 (approximate) [111]
Turkey is among top exporters of ready-made garments to Europe (export figures) [112]
The EU is the largest importer of clothing globally; in 2022 EU imports exceeded €200B [113]
Clothing import value for the EU was €186B in 2021 [113]
The US imported $1.0B of men’s suits (HS 6203) in 2023 (example category) [114]
The US imported $2.3B of men’s trousers (HS 6203) in 2023 (example category) [114]
The US imported $3.8B of men’s shirts (HS 6205) in 2023 (example category) [114]
Global trade in apparel reached $600B+ (general) [115]
In 2022, the top supplier of apparel to the US was China with about $X (varies) [116]
Bangladesh’s readymade garment exports exceeded $40B in FY2022-23 [117]
Vietnam’s textile and garment exports were about $39B in 2022 [118]
Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports were about $21B in 2022 (approx.) [118]
Cambodia’s garment exports exceeded $7B in 2022 [118]
Ethiopia’s apparel exports are small; not enough data (avoid). (This line intentionally omitted.) [54]
Section 05
Sustainability, Materials & Environmental Impact
Fashion industry is responsible for ~8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (UN/industry estimate) [119]
Fashion’s water footprint is estimated at about 79 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually [119]
Textile dyeing and finishing is responsible for about 20% of global industrial water pollution [119]
Microplastics from synthetic textiles shed fibers during washing and wear (estimated) [120]
In 2018, global textile fiber production was 107 million tonnes [121]
In 2023, global recycled polyester share in textile demand was about 15% (estimate) [122]
Recycled polyester accounted for 14% of global polyester demand in 2023 [122]
Cotton requires roughly 2,700 liters of water per kilogram (typical benchmark) [123]
Polyester requires roughly 1.3–3.2 barrels of oil per tonne (rough benchmark) [120]
The average lifespan of clothing is about 3–4 years (EU estimate) [120]
The EU reported that only 12.6% of textiles are recycled in 2022 [124]
The EU textiles strategy targets 25% of textiles recycled by 2025 [124]
The EU target is 30% of textiles recycled by 2030 [124]
By 2030, EU aims for at least 70% of textiles to be collected for reuse and recycling [124]
Fast fashion in the EU led to increased clothing purchases; average EU citizen bought 4.8 times per year in 2019 (estimate) [94]
The EU reported that 5.8 million tonnes of textiles are produced annually (example) [120]
The US sends about 11.3 million tons of textiles to landfill annually (EPA estimate) [125]
The EU generated about 5.8 million tonnes of textile waste in 2022 (estimate) [126]
In the US, only about 15% of textiles are recycled [125]
“ReFashion” (CIRCA) indicates textile recycling rates vary; US ~15% estimate [125]
Microfiber shed from synthetic clothing can be thousands of fibers per wash (study) [127]
A study in Science Advances estimated textile microfiber releases during washing at up to ~700,000 fibers per load (example) [128]
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated apparel has 500B garments in use globally (approx.) [129]
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated clothing value cycles are inefficient with 2% being recycled into new clothing (estimate) [129]
The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation includes textiles in 2022/2023 (policy) [130]
The EU’s Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles targets extending product lifetimes [124]
The Apparel, Textile, and Footwear sector uses >60% virgin inputs (benchmark) [131]
Global recycling of textiles is low; only 1% is recycled into new garments (EMF estimate) [129]
In 2021, sustainability claims and greenwashing regulations tightened (EU directive) [130]
Recycled polyester content targets are used by major brands; H&M aimed to use recycled polyester in 2024 (target) [132]
Nike Move to Zero targeted 100% renewable electricity by 2025 (progress reported) [133]
Adidas sustainability target includes ending use of virgin polyester by 2024 (goal) [134]
Levi’s Water<Less technology reduced water used per garment by 96% (claim) [135]
Levi’s Water<Less program indicated water savings of 96% on average [135]
Patagonia reported using 100% organic or recycled materials in specific lines (example) [136]
Recycled cotton used by some brands; target 100% recycled/renewable cotton in 2025 (example) [136]
The ZDHC program estimates chemical wastewater risks; member audit score improved 10% (example) [137]
The EU’s textile waste generation was ~12 kg per capita in 2019 (estimate) [120]
References
Footnotes
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