Plus Size Clothing Market Size - By Type, By Material, By Age Group, By Consumer Group, By Distribution Channel Analysis, Share, Growth Forecast, 2024 - 2032

Plus Size Clothing Market Size

The global plus size clothing market was valued at USD 114.1 billion in 2023 and is set to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2024 to 2032, driven by surging demand for inclusivity, improvement in style and fit, growth in e-commerce shopping. In response to growing acceptance of body diversity, there are more consumers and brands competing for representation at every size. Owing to this increased demand, fashion and quality plus-size clothing has become increasingly more accessible for wider ranges of bodies. Growing overall apparel or clothing market also propelling the business growth.
 

The apparel association estimates that the global apparel market is worth $1.84 trillion, or 1.6% of global GDP. The largest apparel markets in the world are the United States ($365.70 billion), China ($313.82 billion), and India ($101.39 billion). The average household in the United States spends approximately $162 on clothing each month. 58% of buyers prefer to purchase clothing in-store as opposed to online. 82% of consumers want AI to cut down on the amount of time they spend researching products, and 50% of fashion executives believe that generative AI will be essential for product discovery in 2025.
 

Just 18% of executives view sustainability as the biggest growth risk for 2025, despite the fact that 63% of fashion brands are falling short of the 2030 decarbonization targets. 82% of global consumers between the ages of 26 and 35 have made online clothing purchases in the past 12 months. 80 percent of people between the ages of 36 and 45 have made a purchase in the last 12 months, making them the most frequent clothing shoppers.
 

Plus Size Clothing Market Trends

• The consumer is getting increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of the clothing they purchase. This has made sustainable fashion, also known as eco-fashion or ethical fashion, an increasingly important trend in the overall clothing industry. Another trend is recycled materials, including recycled polyester and nylon, which reduce waste and pollution.
   
• Fibe is the UK-based start-up that develops sustainable and low-cost textile fibres from potato wastes. Although inedible, potato stems cannot be decomposed, thus, helping the farmers separate it into individual fibre, and hence the product that comes out as Patacel Fibers fall in the range of spinnable, also chemically resembles the natural ones and easy to introduce into a system for subsequent weaving and dyeing.
   
• Regional brands are using strategic shifts to expand nationally, so they get closer to local suppliers and thereby increase supply chain flexibility and reduce manufacturing cost. This makes them achieve competitive pricing on a national scale. As these brands grow larger, their commitment to quality lets them make more efficiency in the supply chain, so they do not fail to cater consumers demand across a geographically broader area.
   
• AI plays a key role at every step of apparel creation from manufacturing to design, personalized shopping experiences, and sales. Computer vision along with machine learning can detect defects on the fabric and garment such as stains, holes, and misalignments.
   
• Canadian startup XARIIA automates the tedious pattern print design process through AI implementation. It connects customer input with data-driven fashion trends and generative AI to rapidly create high-quality, custom seamless tiles. Additionally, customers visualize these designs in real-time through interactive 2D, and 3D mock-ups, and augmented reality.
   

Plus Size Clothing Market Analysis

In 2023, the casual segment was crossed USD 38 billion, and sportswear segment is expected to grow at CAGR of around 5.7% during 2024 to 2032.
 

• According to the Google Human Truths report, after analyzing more than 6 billion fashion searches. They found that, from the U.S. to India, searches for more formal clothing like high heels and anything slim fitting are on the decline, while searches for comfortable attire like loafers and oversized clothing are on the rise.
   
• Oversized fashion, one of the niche streetwear statements, has extended to all individuals around the world in recent years, from the high-end designer, influencers, and casual wearers. This represents the cultural movement in the plus size clothing market because it seeks to give people comfort and individual expression while breaking the norm of wearing style.
   
• The oversized trend has been pushed forward mainly by streetwear. Streetwear originated in skate and hip-hop communities and, therefore, accommodates casual, practical, and unpretentious styles. Thus, as streetwear influence has increased, it is expected that oversized clothing is on the rise.
   
• There is a growing interest in developing smart materials that are trying to update the functionality of traditional clothing. Smart fabrics put flexible electronics, sensors, and actuators into textiles directly; these often carry benefits such as real-time monitoring, health protection, and safety.
   
• Boltware is a German startup digitalizing the clothing industry with smart and connected products. The company offers the Puck, the Software Development Kit (SDK), as well as the Boltware Cloud, an easy-to-implement line of small hardware modules. The Puck represents the central hub; it provides Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, power for external devices, sensor data reception, and motion sensing capability.
   

 According to the material, the plus size clothing market is segmented into synthetic fabrics and natural fabrics. Synthetic fabrics made up 64% of the market in 2023, due to wide availability with variety along with durability and affordability.
 

• Synthetic fibers such as spandex also called elastane or Lycra offer stretch and flexibility and can be comfortable and flattering on the body of plus-size clothing. These fabrics fit the shapes of the human body, making them more effective for movement and comfort, a prime requirement of consumers who demand both style and comfort.
   
• Polyester and nylon are very durable and wrinkle resistant and are, therefore, budget-friendly for cost-conscious consumers. These fabrics will not shrink, which is always a concern with plus-size clothing that needs to last.
   
• Natural fibers like cotton and linen are breathable. Therefore, they are more suited for hot weather. Most plus-size consumers are looking for clothes that will keep them cool and comfortable, especially in tropical or warmer climates.
   
• Rockay is a Scandinavian sustainable and premium performance-wear brand. It has produced its second collection made ethically. This one is inspired by Nordic nature. The brand utilizes recycled, eco-friendly materials in addition to using revolutionary antimicrobial odor technology. Rockay has used post-consumer recycled polyester derived from marine plastic waste. It has used REPREVE recycled polyester made from recycled materials, such as plastic bottles. The 6.6 polyamide fiber it has used comes from Italy with the lowest certified environmental impact, Q-NOVA. Q-NOVA is created from regenerated waste materials from production. Compared to standard polyamide, Q-NOVA releases 45% less CO2, uses 39% less water, and is powered by renewable energy.  
   

According to the consumer, the plus size clothing market is segmented into men, women and children. Women made up 49% of the market in 2023, due to body positivity movement across the globe and expanding size offering from major brands.
 

• The movement of body positivity has contributed highly to self-acceptance and the way women's fashion is responding to the trends. Women are demanding stylish and fashionable clothing in larger sizes, this cultural shift and demand lead to more inclusive offerings from brands.
   
• According to the Apparel Association, women's clothing was valued at approximately $930 billion in the international market and expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2027. Sales of retail clothing in the United States amount to $25.63 billion for each month. The most recent available data indicates that for April 2024, sales of clothing at retail for the United States equaled $25.84 billion.
   

North American plus size clothing market dominated about 80% revenue share with USD 35.6 billion revenue in 2023, driven by growth of e-commerce industry, rising sustainability across industry, comfort focused fashion trends and rising demand for personalization.
 

• E-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Walmart reshape the market with convenience, choice, and competitive pricing. Comfort-driven fashion is on the rise-through athleisure and active wear-particularly due to increased health awareness and the demand for versatile clothing which transition from working out to ordinary wear.
   
• Massachusetts state implemented new waste ban regulations that encourage recycling and reuse, limit trash disposal, and support the expansion of recycling businesses. Mattresses and textiles cannot be disposed of in the trash, according to the legislation. Also, the state's department of environmental protection unveiled a fresh funding program to support the development of the infrastructure for collecting textiles, mattresses, and food waste.
   
• On the other hand, there is a surging demand for personalized clothing customized prints, and custom-fit clothing. In addition, millennial and Gen Z consumers lead the market. They are taking the market through insistence on such values as sustainability, ethics, and diversity.    
   

Europe: Europe is one of the leading apparel markets globally and is home to the largest apparel brands worldwide. Europe's apparel import market was estimated to be worth USD 191.5 billion in 2023. Suppliers from developing countries accounted for 44.4% of all clothing imported into the EU in value terms, having fallen from 48.4% in 2018. From 2018 to 2023, the European apparel market grew by an average annual growth rate of 4.1%. The largest European importing markets are Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland.   
 

Plus Size Clothing Market Share

• The top five companies in Adidas, Hennes & Mauritz, Nike, Puma, Under Armour and they collectively hold a share of 10%-12% in the market.
   
•  These companies continue to acquire and merge with others, expand facilities, and make various collaborations to increase their product offerings, access customer bases, and secure their market positions.
   
• Ashley Stewart announced initiatives for taking the neighbourhood girl global. As part of the company's ongoing mission to further women's empowerment, inclusivity, and body positivity.
   
• Arket, a Nordic design company, has teamed with Asos to offer its products on its website for the first time. Expand on its current relationship with H&M Group, which owns brands like & Other Stories, Monki, and Weekday that are all offered on the online behemoth, Arket’s autumn/winter collection will debut on the platform.
   

Plus Size Clothing Market Companies

Major players operating in the plus size clothing industry are:

• Adidas
• Aditya Birla Fashion
• Arula
• Ashley Stewart
• ASOS
• Billoomi Fashion
• City Chic
• FullBeauty Brands
• Hennes & Mauritz
• Lane Bryant
• Mango
• Nike
• Puma
• Ralph Lauren
• Under Armour      
   

To improve the services and market share key players are constantly investing in technological activities and are also entering into partnerships to provide improved and better solutions for the customers. These investments are benefiting both companies and customers as they help develop and offer solutions as per the changing technological trends and thus the customer requirements.
 

In May 2024, Reliance Retail and ASOS have announced a long-term partnership to establish a multi-channel presence for ASOS's own brands in India. Leveraging its extensive experience of operating omni-channel retail networks, Reliance Retail will introduce ASOS’s curated portfolio of fashion-led own brand labels to the Indian market through a multi-channel presence for ASOS and a diverse array of retail formats, including exclusive brand stores, multi-brand store expressions, and digital commerce platforms.
 

In May 2024, Specialty plus-sized fashion brand Big Hello launched four new retail experience stores in Hyderabad, India. These retail stores will have high-quality plus-sized clothes and accessories for plus-sized men and women. Designed as 'Experience Stores', these Hyderabad stores sport bright interior spaces, dancing mannequins, and world-class customer services.
 

Plus Size Clothing Industry News

• In June 2024, FullBeauty Brands announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Avenue Stores from City Chic Collective Limited. Avenue is a U.S.-based digital specialty retailer of plus-size apparel, targeting value-conscious women aged 25 to 55.  The acquisition of Avenue will provide FullBeauty further scale and increased market presence in the women’s plus-size sector, and add to FullBeauty’s traditional, classic digital mall.
   
• In August 2023, British fashion retail group AK Retail Holdings acquired Australian-listed firm City Chic Collective’s plus-size brand Evans, its intellectual property and the customer base as part of an $10m agreement. The deal includes the closure of City Chic’s UK warehouse and the sale of all inventories in City Chic’s EMEA Europe, Middle East, and Africa business.
   
• In March 2023, H&M US expanded its plus collection. The expansion will roll out nationwide online and in-store up to 2XL, with products available in sizes up to 4XL for women and 3XL for men. Prior to this expansion, H&M’s full womenswear and menswear assortment sizes only went up to XL in stores and online, with a select assortment for womenswear in sizes 3XL to 4XL online as part of H&M+.
   
• In August 2021, Mango introduced an expansion of its plus collection into its general Woman collection and plans to enlarge its size range. In addition, the company has decided to extend the size range of the rest of the collection, by adding the sizes 32 (XXS) and 46 (XXL) to almost all of the designs in the Woman collection.  
   

This plus size clothing market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and volume (Million Units) from 2021 to 2032, for the following segments:

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Market, By Type

• Casual
• Sportswear
• Formal
• Inner wear
• Others (ethnic, nightwear, etc.)    

Market, By Material

• Synthetic fabrics
  • Polyester
  • Nylon
• Natural fabrics
  • Cotton
  • Wool
  • Others (Hemp, Bamboo, etc.)       

Market, By Consumer Group

• Men
• Women
• Children        

Market, By Age Group

• Below 15
• 16 to 45 age
• 45 and above        

Market, By Price Range

• Economy
• Medium
• Premium       

Market, By Distribution Channel 

• Online
  • E-commerce
  • Company website 
• Offline 
  • Specialty stores
  • Mega retails stores
  • Other retail stores

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa