From the trillion-dollar threads of fast fashion to the quiet hum of ethical manufacturing, the global apparel and textile industry is not just clothing the world but stitching together an economic powerhouse that shapes everything from our closets to our climate.
Key Takeaways
- The global apparel market was valued at approximately USD 1.7 trillion in 2023, with projections to reach USD 2.25 trillion by 2028 at a CAGR of 5.7%
- In 2022, the textile industry generated revenues of over USD 1.1 trillion worldwide, driven by demand in Asia-Pacific
- The U.S. apparel market size stood at USD 369.4 billion in 2023, expected to grow to USD 432 billion by 2030 at 2.2% CAGR
- Global cotton production reached 25.3 million metric tons in 2022/23, with China leading at 29%
- Synthetic fiber production worldwide hit 73 million metric tons in 2022, polyester accounting for 54%
- India produced 5.8 million tons of textiles in 2023, 40% man-made fibers
- The global apparel workforce is 75 million direct jobs, mostly women at 75%
- Bangladesh employs 4.4 million in RMG sector, 85% women
- China's textile and apparel industry employs 20 million workers, 60% migrants
- Online apparel sales grew 20% YoY to USD 500 billion globally in 2023
- Fast fashion brand Shein captured 50% of US Gen Z apparel market in 2023
- 62% of consumers prefer sustainable brands, willing to pay 9.7% premium
- Apparel industry responsible for 10% global CO2 emissions, more than aviation
- Textile production uses 20% global industrial water pollution, 93 billion m³ water/year
- 92 million tons textile waste generated annually, 87% landfilled/incinerated
The global apparel industry is a massive and growing market with significant environmental impacts.
Consumer Trends and Sales
- Online apparel sales grew 20% YoY to USD 500 billion globally in 2023
- Fast fashion brand Shein captured 50% of US Gen Z apparel market in 2023
- 62% of consumers prefer sustainable brands, willing to pay 9.7% premium
- Athleisure sales surged 25% post-COVID, 40% of US women's apparel spend
- Global second-hand apparel market reached USD 177 billion in 2023, CAGR 11.5%
- 45% of millennials buy apparel online weekly, vs 20% Gen X
- Denim jeans average purchase 2.5 pairs/year per US consumer
- Luxury resale market grew 15% to USD 40 billion in 2023
- 70% of consumers influenced by social media in apparel purchases, TikTok 35%
- Activewear sales USD 400 billion globally, 30% growth since 2020
- US apparel per capita spend USD 700 in 2023, down 15% from 2019 peak
- 55% of Gen Z prioritize affordability over brand in apparel
- Footwear accounts for 25% of global apparel sales value, USD 400 billion
- Rental apparel market USD 1.8 billion in 2023, projected USD 7 billion by 2030
- China e-commerce apparel sales 50% of total retail, USD 800 billion
- Organic cotton apparel demand up 20% YoY, 1% of total market
- Black Friday apparel sales USD 9 billion online in US 2023
- 40% consumers returned apparel online in 2023, average 30% return rate
- Men's grooming/apparel crossover sales grew 12%, USD 20 billion
- Europe circular fashion sales 10% of market, up from 5% in 2020
- Sleepwear sales boomed 18% post-pandemic, USD 15 billion US
- 65% consumers check reviews before apparel buy, 80% abandon if negative
- Kids apparel e-sales 25% of total, driven by personalization
- Vegan leather apparel demand up 50%, market USD 80 million 2023
- India apparel consumption per capita 8 kg/year vs global 13 kg
- 30% sales from direct-to-consumer brands in 2023, up 10%
Consumer Trends and Sales Interpretation
While a surging tide of fast fashion and influencer-driven purchases continues to reshape the apparel landscape, a powerful undercurrent is pulling the industry toward sustainability, second-hand markets, and conscious consumerism that prioritizes value and ethics over pure brand loyalty.
Employment and Labor
- The global apparel workforce is 75 million direct jobs, mostly women at 75%
- Bangladesh employs 4.4 million in RMG sector, 85% women
- China's textile and apparel industry employs 20 million workers, 60% migrants
- Vietnam's textile sector provides 2.5 million jobs, 70% female
- India has 45 million employed in textiles, 14% of manufacturing jobs
- Global garment workers earn average USD 200/month, 50% below living wage
- Turkey's textile industry employs 2 million, 40% in apparel manufacturing
- US apparel manufacturing jobs numbered 100,000 in 2023, down 80% since 1990
- Pakistan employs 15 million in cotton/textiles, 70% informal
- Cambodia's garment industry has 800,000 workers, average wage USD 200/month
- Indonesia's textile sector employs 3.5 million, 55% women
- Ethiopia's industrial parks employ 50,000 in textiles, targeting 1 million by 2025
- 80% of apparel workers in developing countries are women, facing gender pay gap of 20%
- Bangladesh RMG overtime averages 50 hours/month, 60% workers exceed 48-hour limit
- Global apparel child labor affects 170,000 children under 14
- Italy's textile district Prato employs 50,000 Chinese migrants in underground factories
- Vietnam minimum wage in textiles USD 180/month in 2023, 40% below living wage
- Morocco's textile jobs 200,000, 50% women, average salary MAD 3,500/month
- US fashion industry supports 2.8 million jobs indirectly via retail/supply
- 25% of apparel workers exposed to hazardous chemicals without PPE
- India's garment workers strike rate 15% annually due to wage disputes
- Global apparel unionization rate under 10%, lowest in Bangladesh at 1%
- Pakistan's textile layoffs hit 100,000 in 2023 due to energy crisis
- Sri Lanka apparel employs 350,000, 55% women, post-crisis wage USD 100/month
- Haiti’s apparel sector 60,000 jobs, 90% women, average USD 5/day
- Jordan garment workers 80% migrant from South Asia, 70% women
- Lesotho's textile jobs 40,000, 87% women, reliant on US AGOA trade
- 60 million informal workers in global textiles, no social protection
Employment and Labor Interpretation
Behind the global fashion industry's dazzling veneer lies a sobering truth: a vast, predominantly female workforce of 75 million people stitches our clothes into existence while often being stitched out of fair wages, safe conditions, and basic rights.
Market Size and Growth
- The global apparel market was valued at approximately USD 1.7 trillion in 2023, with projections to reach USD 2.25 trillion by 2028 at a CAGR of 5.7%
- In 2022, the textile industry generated revenues of over USD 1.1 trillion worldwide, driven by demand in Asia-Pacific
- The U.S. apparel market size stood at USD 369.4 billion in 2023, expected to grow to USD 432 billion by 2030 at 2.2% CAGR
- China's textile and apparel exports reached USD 323 billion in 2022, accounting for 37% of global exports
- The fast fashion segment of the apparel market is projected to grow from USD 123 billion in 2023 to USD 185 billion by 2030 at 6.2% CAGR
- Europe's apparel market value was EUR 250 billion in 2022, with online sales comprising 30% of total
- The global athleisure market, a subsector of apparel, reached USD 347 billion in 2023, growing at 8.5% CAGR
- India's textile industry contributes 5% to GDP and 14% to industrial production, with exports at USD 44 billion in FY2023
- The luxury apparel segment worldwide was valued at USD 80 billion in 2023, projected to hit USD 110 billion by 2027
- Bangladesh's ready-made garments exports totaled USD 45 billion in 2022-23, up 6.7% YoY
- Vietnam's textile and garment exports surged to USD 44 billion in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022
- The global denim market size was USD 67.5 billion in 2022, expected to reach USD 102 billion by 2030 at 5.3% CAGR
- Turkey's apparel exports hit EUR 19.7 billion in 2022, with EU as top destination at 80%
- The sustainable apparel market is forecasted to grow from USD 9.3 billion in 2023 to USD 15.2 billion by 2028 at 10.3% CAGR
- Pakistan's textile exports reached USD 19.4 billion in FY2023, comprising 60% of total exports
- The Middle East apparel market valued at USD 45 billion in 2022, projected CAGR 5.1% to 2030
- Indonesia's textile and apparel industry generated USD 13.5 billion in exports in 2023
- The global workwear market size was USD 18.2 billion in 2023, to grow at 5.4% CAGR to 2030
- Brazil's apparel market reached BRL 150 billion in 2022, with e-commerce at 15% share
- The kids' apparel market worldwide was USD 230 billion in 2023, growing 4.8% CAGR
- The men's apparel segment globally valued USD 550 billion in 2022
- South Korea's apparel market size USD 35 billion in 2023, with K-fashion trend boosting growth
- The global lingerie market reached USD 40 billion in 2023, projected to USD 55 billion by 2030
- Morocco's textile and apparel exports hit EUR 3.8 billion in 2022
- The sportswear market worldwide was USD 335 billion in 2022, to reach USD 496 billion by 2028
- Global apparel e-commerce sales hit USD 500 billion in 2023, 30% of total apparel sales
- The wool apparel market size USD 15 billion in 2023, growing at 3.5% CAGR
- Cambodia's garment exports reached USD 9.2 billion in 2022, employing 800,000 workers
- The global plus-size apparel market valued at USD 520 billion in 2023, CAGR 6.1%
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
We're literally clothing the entire planet in an ever-accelerating wardrobe that’s valued in the trillions, yet the real story is in the seams, where breakneck fast fashion and the slow stitch of sustainability are pulling the industry in opposite directions.
Production and Supply Chain
- Global cotton production reached 25.3 million metric tons in 2022/23, with China leading at 29%
- Synthetic fiber production worldwide hit 73 million metric tons in 2022, polyester accounting for 54%
- India produced 5.8 million tons of textiles in 2023, 40% man-made fibers
- Bangladesh has 4,500 garment factories producing 80% of exports for EU/US markets
- Vietnam's textile mills number over 6,000, producing 5.5 billion meters of fabric annually
- China accounts for 50% of global textile production capacity, with 45,000 factories
- The global supply chain for apparel involves 100 million workers across 100 countries
- Turkey produces 1.5 million tons of yarn annually, exporting 60% to Europe
- Pakistan's spinning capacity is 9.5 million spindles, producing 3.2 million tons cotton yarn yearly
- Indonesia's garment production capacity exceeds 1 billion pieces per year
- Global apparel production totaled 100 billion units in 2022, up 2% from 2021
- Egypt produces 300,000 tons of cotton lint annually, 95% extra-long staple
- Brazil's textile industry has 28,000 companies, producing BRL 50 billion worth annually
- The average lead time for apparel supply chain from Asia to US is 45-60 days
- 70% of global apparel production is concentrated in Asia, with China, Bangladesh, Vietnam top three
- Global fabric production reached 120 billion meters in 2023, knits 55%, wovens 45%
- Morocco has 200 industrial textile units producing 200 million garments yearly
- US textile mills produced 8.5 billion square meters of fabric in 2022
- Ethiopia's garment factories number 120, exporting USD 200 million to US/EU
- Global dye consumption in textiles was 1.8 million tons in 2022
- Cambodia produces 400 million garments annually, 80% for US market
- Italy's textile machinery exports totaled EUR 3.5 billion in 2022, 40% to Asia
- Global apparel inventory turnover averaged 4.5 times per year in 2023
- Sri Lanka's apparel exports USD 5.5 billion in 2023, with 300 factories
- The apparel industry uses 93 billion cubic meters of water annually for production
- Global polyester production capacity is 80 million tons/year, 70% for apparel
- Jordan's garment sector produces 100 million pieces/year, 90% for US
Production and Supply Chain Interpretation
Behind the fleeting trends of your closet lies a planetary-scale industrial ballet of mind-boggling scale, stitching together water, fiber, and 100 million workers across a vast, carbon-heavy, and thirsty global supply chain whose sheer, staggering output of over 100 billion garments a year makes "fast fashion" feel like a comical understatement.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Apparel industry responsible for 10% global CO2 emissions, more than aviation
- Textile production uses 20% global industrial water pollution, 93 billion m³ water/year
- 92 million tons textile waste generated annually, 87% landfilled/incinerated
- Cotton farming uses 16% world's insecticides, 7% pesticides
- Microplastics from synthetics: 0.5 million tons/year enter oceans from laundry
- Fast fashion produces 10% global carbon emissions, projected 26% by 2050
- Only 1% apparel recycled into new clothes, 75% incinerated
- Dyeing processes consume 200 liters water/kg fabric, polluting rivers
- Global apparel GHG emissions 1.2 billion tons CO2e in 2018, scope 3 dominant
- Leather tanning pollutes with 100 chemicals, chromium VI carcinogenic
- Organic cotton: only 0.9% global production 2022/23
- Recycled polyester: 14 million tons in 2022, but only 0.5% from post-consumer waste
- Sheep farming for wool emits 4x more methane than cotton per kg
- 35% brands have science-based targets, covering 25% emissions
- Water scarcity: textile mills in India use 200 million m³/year from rivers
- Circular economy could save USD 500 billion/year in textiles by 2030
- Bangladesh tanneries discharge 22,000 m³ untreated wastewater daily
- Global textile chemical use 8% petrochemicals
- Fashion contributes 20% global wastewater from industrial dyeing
- Biodiversity loss: 30% Aral Sea dried due to cotton irrigation
- 60 billion m² polyester produced yearly, equivalent to 16 million barrels oil/day
- EU textile waste 5.8 million tons/year, only 1% recycled into fiber
- Sustainable cotton initiatives cover 25% production
- Apparel supply chain deforestation: 415,000 hectares soy/cattle leather yearly
- 11% global fiber production from recycled materials in 2022, up from 8%
Sustainability and Environmental Impact Interpretation
The fashion industry is dressing the planet in a shroud of pollution and waste, proving that our thirst for cheap trends is costing us the Earth.
Sources & References
- Reference 1STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 2GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 3WITSwits.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 4MORDORINTELLIGENCEmordorintelligence.comVisit source
- Reference 5EUROSTATeurostat.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 6ALLIEDMARKETRESEARCHalliedmarketresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 7TEXMINtexmin.nic.inVisit source
- Reference 8BAINbain.comVisit source
- Reference 9BGMEAbgmea.com.bdVisit source
- Reference 10VIETNAMTEXTILEvietnamtextile.org.vnVisit source
- Reference 11FORTUNEBUSINESSINSIGHTSfortunebusinessinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 12ITKIBitkib.org.trVisit source
- Reference 13MARKETSANDMARKETSmarketsandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 14PTApta.org.pkVisit source
- Reference 15KEMENDAGkemendag.go.idVisit source
- Reference 16ABVTEXabvtex.com.brVisit source
- Reference 17KOFOTIkofoti.or.krVisit source
- Reference 18PERSISTENCEMARKETRESEARCHpersistencemarketresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 19AMITHamith.maVisit source
- Reference 20BUSINESSRESEARCHINSIGHTSbusinessresearchinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 21FUTUREMARKETINSIGHTSfuturemarketinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 22GMCAMBODIAgmcambodia.comVisit source
- Reference 23SKYQUESTTskyquestt.comVisit source
- Reference 24ICACicac.orgVisit source
- Reference 25TEXTILEEXCHANGEtextileexchange.orgVisit source
- Reference 26CIBDELHIcibdelhi.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 27VITRASvitras.org.vnVisit source
- Reference 28CHINA-TEXTILEchina-textile.orgVisit source
- Reference 29ILOilo.orgVisit source
- Reference 30PCMApcma.org.pkVisit source
- Reference 31ASOSIASIINDUSTRIasosiasiindustri.netVisit source
- Reference 32MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 33COTTONARCcottonarc.egVisit source
- Reference 34ABITabit.org.brVisit source
- Reference 35OECoec.worldVisit source
- Reference 36ITMFitmf.orgVisit source
- Reference 37NTMAntma.orgVisit source
- Reference 38ETEXetex.org.etVisit source
- Reference 39TDCAtdca.orgVisit source
- Reference 40ACIMITacimit.itVisit source
- Reference 41SLAEAslaea.lkVisit source
- Reference 42WWFwwf.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 43CEFICcefic.orgVisit source
- Reference 44JAQTFOjaqtfo.org.joVisit source
- Reference 45CHINA-TEXTILEchina-textile.org.cnVisit source
- Reference 46TEXMINtexmin.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 47CLEANCLOTHEScleanclothes.orgVisit source
- Reference 48BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 49IPDCipdc.gov.etVisit source
- Reference 50HRWhrw.orgVisit source
- Reference 51CONFINDUSTRIAconfindustria.itVisit source
- Reference 52JOBSjobs.senate.govVisit source
- Reference 53WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 54CITIZENMATTERScitizenmatters.inVisit source
- Reference 55ITUC-CSIituc-csi.orgVisit source
- Reference 56DAWNdawn.comVisit source
- Reference 57HAITIINDUSTRYhaitiindustry.orgVisit source
- Reference 58LNCCIlncci.org.lsVisit source
- Reference 59BUSINESSOFFASHIONbusinessoffashion.comVisit source
- Reference 60NIELSENIQnielseniq.comVisit source
- Reference 61THREDUPthredup.comVisit source
- Reference 62PWCpwc.comVisit source
- Reference 63SHOPIFYshopify.comVisit source
- Reference 64NPDnpd.comVisit source
- Reference 65ADOBEadobe.comVisit source
- Reference 66EUROMONITOReuromonitor.comVisit source
- Reference 67EURACTIVeuractiv.comVisit source
- Reference 68BAZAARVOICEbazaarvoice.comVisit source
- Reference 69VEGANELDERveganelder.comVisit source
- Reference 70UNEPunep.orgVisit source
- Reference 71EARTHearth.orgVisit source
- Reference 72WORLDWILDLIFEworldwildlife.orgVisit source
- Reference 73IUCNiucn.orgVisit source
- Reference 74ELLENMACARTHURFOUNDATIONellenmacarthurfoundation.orgVisit source
- Reference 75GREENPEACEgreenpeace.orgVisit source
- Reference 76NATUREnature.comVisit source
- Reference 77PETApeta.orgVisit source
- Reference 78CARBONTRUSTcarbontrust.comVisit source
- Reference 79SCIENCEBASEDTARGETSsciencebasedtargets.orgVisit source
- Reference 80WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 81BLOODANDWATERbloodandwater.orgVisit source
- Reference 82ENVIRONMENTenvironment.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 83BETTERCOTTONbettercotton.orgVisit source
