Sustainable Clothing Market Size

Sustainable Clothing Market size was valued at USD 3.3 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 9.5% between 2024 and 2032. Consumer awareness of the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion is growing. This has led to a growing demand for sustainable and ethically produced clothing.

The concept of circular fashion, which aims to minimize waste and use resources, is gaining recognition. This includes initiatives such as clothing lending, reuse and recycling programs. Consumers are demanding more transparency in the supply chain because they want to know where and how their clothes are made. Brands are responding by providing more information about sources, production processes and labor practices.

Consumers gradually adopt healthy and sports activities and comfortable fashion clothes. In addition, businesses and workplaces are increasingly accepting comfortable casual clothing such as sweatpants. In addition, the increase in the number of recreation centers and sports clubs at workplaces encourages employees to use sports products. The young generation and the working class need innovative design and functionality in addition to a wide selection of clothing. Manufacturers are introducing new products made of durable and high-quality materials that can be used in a variety of activities, including yoga, cycling, running, mountain climbing, snowboarding, skiing, sailing and other sports.

Many fashion brands outsource production, which can lead to ethical and environmental risks if those subcontractors are not held to the same standards of responsibility. Brands can lose visibility and control over working conditions and production processes further down the chain. Fashion supply chains are often fragmented, with different parts of production (e.g. material sourcing, manufacturing, finishing) dispersed across countries and regions. Coordinating sustainable practices and ensuring compliance with standards in these fragmented supply chains can be challenging.

Suppliers, especially smaller ones, may not have the resources and capacity to adopt sustainable practices or meet the sustainability criteria required by brands. This can create obstacles in the acquisition of sustainable materials and the implementation of environmentally friendly production processes. Different regions may have different regulatory frameworks related to environmental standards, labor practices and product safety. Navigating these regulatory landscapes adds complexity for global fashion brands and suppliers.

Sustainable Clothing Market Trends

Technical innovations play a key role in shaping trends in the sustainable clothing industry. Advances in recycling technologies make it possible to create high-quality fabrics such as recycled polyester and nylon from post-consumer waste. The technologies make it possible to produce textiles from renewable natural resources such as bamboo, hemp and algae, which have a smaller environmental footprint compared to traditional fibers. Additive manufacturing technologies are used to create garments with minimal waste by printing directly from digital models. This reduces material waste and allows for on-demand production.

VR and AR technologies are used to create virtual fitting rooms where consumers can visualize how clothes will fit and look before buying, reducing returns and waste. Virtual fashion shows and digital performances are becoming more and more common, which reduces the environmental impact of traditional fashion events. These technological innovations will advance the sustainable clothing market by improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, increasing transparency and fulfilling consumer demand for environmentally friendly and ethically produced fashion. As technology advances, it plays an increasingly important role in shaping the future of sustainable fashion.

Sustainable Clothing Market Analysis

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The sustainable clothing industry by type is segmented into Tops and T-Shirts, Pants and Trousers, Jeans and Denim, Shorts & Skirts, Sweaters, Swimsuits, and Others (Activewear, Loungewear, etc,). In 2023, the pants and trouser segment dominated the market, generating a revenue of USD 730.9 million. This segment is projected to reach USD 1.7 billion by 2032. Increasingly, organic cotton grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers is used, which reduces the environmental impact.

Pants and trousers, designed to be durable and easy to repair, support a circular economy model where clothes can be repaired and reused. Recycled materials and fabrics from discarded clothing or textile waste are used to create new pants and trousers, which promotes resource efficiency. The brands ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for workers involved in the production of pants and trousers. Emphasis on local sourcing and small-scale production to reduce carbon footprint and support local economy.

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Based on the distribution channel the sustainable clothing market is categorized into online and offline. Online segment dominate this market, accounting for 57.7% of the market share in 2023, and are projected to reach USD 4.4 billion by 2032. Many sustainable clothing brands are bypassing traditional retail channels and selling directly to consumers through their e-commerce sites. This allows brands to control their messaging, pricing and sustainability requirements. Sustainable fashion markets and online platforms dedicated to eco-friendly brands are becoming more common. These platforms provide consumers with sustainable options and a convenient shopping experience.

Online environments offer opportunities for brands to communicate detailed information about their sustainable practices, materials used and production processes. This transparency helps educate consumers and build trust. Some brands are using digital tools like blockchain to improve supply chain transparency, allowing consumers to track the journey of their clothes from raw materials to finished products. Online distribution not only increases the availability of sustainable clothing, but also increases transparency, innovation and consumer engagement in the market. As digital technologies continue to evolve, their role in promoting fashion sustainability will grow significantly.

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Asia Pacific emerged as the dominant segment, holding a share of more than 45% of the total sustainable clothing market in 2023. There is an increasing awareness of the environmental and social impacts of clothing production in Japan, South Korea, China, India and Southeast Asian countries. Further, growing demand for sustainable and ethical clothing, driven by a younger population and urban consumers who prefer eco-friendly products is also a major factor to drive the regional market growth during the forecast period.

North America: In terms of country, US is dominating the North America sustainable clothing market with revenue of around USD 518.5 million in the year 2023 and expected to reach around USD 1.10 billion by 2032. Many U.S. fashion brands have started to incorporate sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester, into their collections. For example, Levi’s has launched a "Water  

Europe: In terms of country, UK is dominating the Europe sustainable clothing market with revenue of around USD 282.1 million in the year 2023 and expected to reach around USD 542.4 million by 2032. According to a Ukft report, Britons spend almost £45 billion on clothing and textiles. This figure has risen steadily over the past decade and, although the pandemic has cost around £10 billion, it is expected to increase in the coming years. It was better news for online retailers during the pandemic, as sales of clothing and shoes grew 31 percent to an all-time high in 2020.

Asia Pacific: In terms of country China dominated with the overall market share of around 22.3% in the Asia Pacific sustainable clothing market. With the improved living conditions and rising incomes of the Chinese middle class, Chinese consumers have become very brand conscious. With China's economy growing rapidly and tourism exploding worldwide, the luxury market is poised for continued growth. Wealthy Chinese consumers are better protected against hyperinflation, which makes the luxury market more attractive to them. As they continue to travel and spend, the luxury market is expected to continue to grow.

High and middle income groups constitute a large proportion of used clothing buyers. This is due to their attitude towards sustainable fashion and exposure to media influence. In addition, second-hand consumption has become more popular among young people, fueled by celebrity and key opinion leader (KOL) advertising, making it an emerging trend in China. As more and more people become aware of the environmental and financial benefits of buying used goods, this trend is expected to continue.

Sustainable Clothing Market Share

The global sustainable clothing industry is highly fragmented in nature with prominent players operating in the market such as Adidas, Patagonia, EILEEN FISHER, Everlane, and Under Armour Inc. These together hold a market share of 5% to 10%. While there are established companies with a significant market share, there are also numerous smaller regional and niche manufacturers offering specialized sustainable clothing. This creates a competitive landscape with diverse options for buyers. This allows for specialization among manufacturers, further contributing to fragmentation.

Sustainable Clothing Market Companies

Major players operating in the sustainable clothing industry include:

• Adidas
• Patagonia
• EILEEN FISHER
• Everlane
• Under Armour Inc
• Vuori
• PANGAIA
• Outerknown
• ABLE
• Hanesbrands Inc.
• Pact
• Tentree
• Afends
  

Sustainable Clothing Industry News

• In April 2023, Adidas has announced a new milestone in its journey to replace virgin polyester with recycled polyester. 96% of the polyester used in adidas products is now recycled polyester. The goal set by Adidas in 2017 to replace all virgin polyester with recycled polyester by the end of 2024, if possible, will be achieved earlier than expected.
  
• In January 2020, Italian brand Redemption has announced the launch of its sustainable sports collection "Athletix". It is the company's most sustainable collection. The company enlisted the help of Eco-Age, a sustainable development and communications consultancy, to lead a significant and meaningful change in its business operations.
  

The sustainable clothing market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry, with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billon) and volume (Thousand Units) from 2021 to 2032, for the following segments:

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Market, by Type

• Tops and T-Shirts
• Pants and Trousers
• Jeans and Denim
• Shorts & Skirts
• Sweaters
• Swimsuits
• Others (Activewear, Loungewear, etc,)

Market, by Material

• Cruelty-Free Leather
• Vegan Fur Made
• Animal-Free Wool
• Cruelty-Free Silk
• Eco-Friendly Rubber
• Others

Market, by Price

• Low
• Medium
• High

Market, by End User

• Men
• Women
• Kids
• Unisex

Market, by Distribution Channel

• Online
  • E-Commerce
  • Company Site 
• Offline
  • Specialty Stores
  • Supermarkets
  • Others (Retail Stores, etc.)

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

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