Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The global apparel market was valued at approximately $1.5 trillion in 2023
Online apparel sales in the U.S. represented 38.6% of total apparel sales in 2022
Fast fashion industry is expected to grow to $185 billion by 2027
Nike's global revenue reached $51.2 billion in 2023
In 2022, over 30% of Gen Z consumers in the U.S. preferred secondhand apparel
The global luxury apparel market is valued at $187 billion in 2023
The resale apparel market is projected to reach $350 billion by 2027
The average American buys 68 garments per year
Apparel accounts for approximately 6.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions
Zara's parent company Inditext reported $35.9 billion in net sales in 2023
The average return rate for online apparel purchases is 25-40%
Shein was the most downloaded fashion app globally in 2022
In 2021, U.S. online apparel sales increased by 19.2% year-over-year
Brands & Company Performance
- Nike's global revenue reached $51.2 billion in 2023
- Zara's parent company Inditext reported $35.9 billion in net sales in 2023
- H&M's revenue in 2023 reached $22.2 billion USD
- Lululemon reported $8.1 billion in revenue in 2023
- Retail apparel employees in the U.S. earn a median wage of $14.30/hour
- Amazon was the largest apparel retailer in the U.S. in 2023
- The average apparel gross margin for U.S. retailers is 40-50%
Interpretation
While giants like Nike and Inditex are raking in billions stitching style into profits, the U.S. retail floor is manned by workers earning just $14.30 an hour—reminding us that in fashion, the thread between glamour and grind is often razor-thin.
Consumer Behavior & Preferences
- In 2022, over 30% of Gen Z consumers in the U.S. preferred secondhand apparel
- The average American buys 68 garments per year
- The average return rate for online apparel purchases is 25-40%
- 60% of apparel items purchased online are returned due to wrong size or fit
- Sustainability influences 60% of global consumers' apparel purchase decisions
- 73% of Gen Z consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable clothing
- In 2023, 47% of consumers bought clothing online via smartphones
- In 2022, the average U.S. household spent $1,754 on apparel and services
- The average cost to return a clothing item is $10 to $20
- Over 40% of consumers expect apparel brands to be transparent about supply chains
- 92% of consumers said product quality influences apparel purchase
- 71% of U.S. consumers consider fabric and material before purchasing clothing
- 65% of apparel customers abandon carts due to shipping costs
- Most consumers (84%) said inflation impacted their apparel shopping behaviors
- 9 in 10 Gen Z consumers believe brands should address environmental issues
- 58% of U.S. adults plan to buy used or vintage apparel in 2024
- The average price of athletic footwear in the U.S. is $70.44
- In 2023, 36% of fashion consumers said they check for ethical production labels
- Over 70% of returns in apparel are due to poor fit
Interpretation
In a world where consumers demand sustainability, transparency, and perfect fit—but still return most clothes bought online for not fitting—it's clear the retail apparel industry is tailoring for a generation that wants to look good, do good, and not pay for shipping.
E-commerce & Digital Trends
- Online apparel sales in the U.S. represented 38.6% of total apparel sales in 2022
- Shein was the most downloaded fashion app globally in 2022
- Average e-commerce conversion rate for apparel is 3.5%
- The average conversion rate for mobile fashion e-commerce is 2.3%
- Digital sales represented 27% of global fashion brand revenues in 2022
- Global average delivery time for fashion e-commerce is 3-6 days
Interpretation
In a world where nearly 4 in 10 U.S. apparel purchases happen online, Shein reigns supreme in downloads, mobile shoppers convert less than their desktop counterparts, and the global fashion game is digital, fast-moving, and increasingly driven by clicks over catwalks.
Market Size & Growth
- The global apparel market was valued at approximately $1.5 trillion in 2023
- Fast fashion industry is expected to grow to $185 billion by 2027
- The global luxury apparel market is valued at $187 billion in 2023
- The resale apparel market is projected to reach $350 billion by 2027
- In 2021, U.S. online apparel sales increased by 19.2% year-over-year
- The women's apparel market makes up 49.4% of the total global apparel market
- Asia-Pacific accounted for 39% of global apparel market revenue in 2022
- Fashion industry employs over 75 million people worldwide
- The U.S. apparel market is estimated at $317 billion in 2023
- In 2023, global e-commerce fashion sales generated $821 billion
- The men's apparel segment generated $495 billion globally in 2023
- The United Kingdom’s clothing market was worth £57 billion in 2023
- Footwear accounts for 21.2% of the fashion e-commerce market globally
- Over 100 billion garments are produced annually
- Apparel production has doubled in the last 15 years
- China remains the largest apparel exporter in the world
- The global children’s apparel market was valued at $187 billion in 2023
- The activewear market is projected to hit $547 billion by 2024
- The circular fashion market is expected to grow to $77 billion by 2025
- The maternity apparel market is projected to reach $24 billion by 2025
- Online resale is growing 11x faster than traditional retail
- Europe’s apparel industry revenues hit €368 billion in 2023
- Global plus-size apparel market is forecast to reach $697 billion by 2027
- The AI in fashion market is expected to reach $4.4 billion by 2027
- Global lingerie market is projected to reach $135 billion by 2027
- The Asia-Pacific region is the largest producer of textiles globally
- Monthly online apparel sales in the U.S. exceed $25 billion
- The global denim market is expected to reach $88 billion by 2030
Interpretation
In a world where over 100 billion garments are churned out yearly, fast fashion races ahead, resale weaves its billion-dollar comeback, AI tailors the next trend, and nearly half of it all still revolves around women’s wear—proof that the $1.5 trillion apparel industry is as much about style as it is a high-stakes stitch in the fabric of the global economy.
Sustainability & Environmental Impact
- Apparel accounts for approximately 6.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions
- Average lifecycle of a fast fashion item is less than 10 wears
- 80% of apparel waste in the U.S. ends up in landfills
- Only 12% of clothing material ends up being recycled
- 20% of industrial global water pollution is from textile dyeing and treatment
- Over 60% of clothing is made from plastic-based fibers like polyester
- Average U.S. consumer throws away 81 pounds of clothing annually
- Fashion accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions
- The fast fashion industry generates 92 million tons of waste annually
- Patagonia commits 1% of sales to environmental preservation
- Secondhand apparel sales saved 1.1 billion lbs of CO2 emissions in 2022
- Fashion industry discards about 12% of materials during production
- 9 out of 10 garments are discarded within the first year after production
Interpretation
In an industry where trends change faster than the climate, fashion’s staggering waste, pollution, and throwaway culture reveal a wardrobe crisis that's anything but stylish.
