Gitnux/Report 2026

Cloth Industry Statistics

311Statistics
99Sources
12Sections
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Cloth Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Before any source is gathered, an editor locks the question, what qualifies, and how the piece will be judged.

02Source Research

Search agents collect the source set and pull each data point out with its provenance attached.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The cloth industry at a glance

The global apparel market was valued at $1.87 trillion in 2025 and is forecast to reach $2.13 trillion by 2030, while China remained the largest apparel exporter with a 27.35% global share.

$1.87T[80]
Global apparel market, 2025
2.6%[80]
Forecast CAGR, 2025–2030
27.35%
China apparel export share, 2025
$2,010[21]
US apparel spending per consumer unit, 2025
Market size
The global apparel market was estimated at $1.87 trillion in 2025. The market definition covers apparel demand rather than the narrower value of international clothing trade.[80]
Forecast & CAGR
Global apparel demand is forecast to rise from $1.87 trillion in 2025 to $2.13 trillion in 2030, implying growth of approximately 2.6% annually.[80]
Market share & regions
China accounted for 27.35% of global apparel exports in 2025, followed by Bangladesh at 6.76% and Vietnam at 6.53%. The leading exporters are concentrated in Asia, while the European Union and United States remain major demand markets.[80]
Segmentation
Knit and woven garments together represented nearly 60% of global textile exports in 2025. The broader market is commonly divided into apparel categories such as womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, sportswear and luxury clothing, although comparable global shares for each category were not identified in a primary source.[81]
Key players & concentration
Export concentration is high: China exported $157.11 billion of apparel in 2025, while Bangladesh exported $38.82 billion and Vietnam $37.5 billion. China alone supplied more than one-quarter of global apparel exports.
Pricing
Average U.S. household spending on apparel and services increased from $2,001 in 2024 to $2,010 in 2025, a 0.4% rise. U.S. apparel prices increased 1.2% from December 2023 to December 2024, indicating modest consumer-price growth relative to overall apparel spending.[21]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Growth is being supported by rising apparel demand and continued expansion of Asian manufacturing hubs, but exporters face energy shortages, elevated borrowing costs, political uncertainty and rising production costs. U.S. apparel manufacturing employment declined by 6,000 jobs during 2025.[21]
Consumer behavior & competition
U.S. consumers spent an average of $2,010 on apparel and services in 2025, equal to 2.5% of total average household expenditure. Competition spans mass-market, specialty, online and luxury channels; luxury apparel, footwear and handbags were forecast to decline 2% in 2025 to €358 billion, reflecting resistance to higher prices.[21][82]
M&A
Brand consolidation remained active in 2026: Authentic Brands Group announced an agreement in May 2026 to acquire the Lee denim brand from Kontoor Brands. In 2025, Gildan Activewear agreed to acquire HanesBrands for $2.2 billion, combining two major basic-apparel businesses.[83][82]
Regulation
The European Union has identified textile apparel as a priority product group under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The European Commission’s indicative timetable targets adoption of the textile delegated act in the fourth quarter of 2027, including requirements related to a Digital Product Passport.[60]
Latest news
Recent industry developments include China retaining the leading position in global apparel exports in 2025, while Vietnam’s exports grew 12% and reportedly overtook China as the leading clothing supplier to the United States by the end of 2025. The shift highlights ongoing sourcing diversification and trade-policy effects.[84]
report visual · Projection

Global manmade cellulosic fiber production

Global manmade cellulosic fiber production grew from 7.2M tonnes in 2019 to 7.9M tonnes in 2023.

7.2M tonnes
Start
+2.35%
CAGR · 4y
7.9M tonnes
Projected
20192023
source-verifiedtextileexchange.org2023

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Cloth Industry

The leading companies in the cloth industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

Hengli Group leads Gitnux's 2026 cloth ranking with an Overall score of 9.7, with operations in textile and chemical-fiber industries. Shenzhou International Group Holdings is the highest-ranked knitted apparel manufacturer at 9.6, with revenue growth 8.1%.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in chemical fibers

    Hengli Group

    CN

    Ranked #1 · 9.7 · Chemical fibers

    Why we picked it: It operates in textile and chemical-fiber industries, supporting upstream fiber supply for apparel.

    See in ranking ↓Visit hengli.com ↗

  2. Leader in knitted apparel manufacturing

    Shenzhou International Group Holdings

    CN

    Ranked #2 · 9.6 · Knitted apparel manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It manufactures knitted fabrics and apparel, with a reported 8.1% revenue growth signal.

    See in ranking ↓Visit shenzhouintl.com ↗

  3. Leader in polyester fibers & textiles

    Far Eastern New Century

    TW

    Ranked #4 · 9.1 · Polyester fibers & textiles

    Why we picked it: Its polyester, fibers, yarns and textiles businesses report a 7.22% operating margin signal.

    See in ranking ↓Visit fenc.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the cloth industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Hengli Group

Chemical fibers · CN

9.7
2

Shenzhou International Group Holdings

Knitted apparel manufacturing · CN

9.6
3

Hyosung TNC

Chemical fibers · KR

9.4
4

Far Eastern New Century

Polyester fibers & textiles · TW

9.1
5

Toray Industries

Fiber & textile materials · JP

8.9
6

Arvind

Denim, woven fabrics and textiles, India · IN

8.6
7

Indorama Ventures

Fibers and textile materials, global · TH

8.3
8

Welspun Living

Home textiles and textile products, India and global · IN

8.2
9

KPR Mill

Yarn, knitted fabrics and garments, India · IN

8.1
10

Lenzing

Cellulosic fibers for textiles, global · AT

7.3

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the cloth industry. In Cloth Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cloth-industry-statistics/#top-companies

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

AI, automation, and digital tools are spreading across apparel and textiles. In 2026, 3.23% report advanced smart-manufacturing implementation, alongside 48.39% partial adoption of basic digital tools.

AI in the cloth industry

  • 33% of apparel organizations were already using AI in 2024, North America.[1]
  • 12% of apparel organizations were investigating AI in 2023, North America.[1]
  • 23% of apparel organizations had no plans to leverage AI in 2023, North America.[1]
  • 38% of apparel organizations were implementing AI in 2023, North America.[1]
  • 8% of European textile SMEs used artificial intelligence in 2023.[2]
  • 6% of European textiles and apparel enterprises used AI, according to recent OECD manufacturing data.[3]

Automation in the cloth industry

  • 6.25% of U.S. textile companies did not plan to pursue automation or robotics in 2024.[4]
  • 28.13% of U.S. textile companies had implemented automation or robotics in 2024.[4]
  • 3.23% of textile businesses reported advanced implementation of smart manufacturing systems in 2026.[5]
  • 40.63% of U.S. textile companies were researching automation or robotics in 2024.[4]
  • 20% was the average increase in automation of critical business tasks among apparel organizations from 2022 to 2023, North America.[6]
  • 48.39% of textile businesses reported partial adoption of basic digital tools including automation in 2026.[5]

Digital Transformation in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 38.3% of textile-ecosystem SMEs in the EU used online platforms in 2023.[2]
  • 4.8% of textile-ecosystem SMEs in the EU had adopted digital-twin technology in 2023.[2]
  • 65% of textile companies in the 2023 sample had a website, according to analysis of company websites in the EU textile ecosystem.[2]
  • 26% of textile-ecosystem companies in the EU reported having a concrete digital-transformation strategy in 2024.[2]

Technology Adoption in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 58% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used supply-chain-management software in 2023.[1]
  • 44% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used warehouse-management systems in 2023.[1]
  • 40% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used electronic data interchange in 2023.[1]
  • 54% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used product-lifecycle-management software in 2023.[1]
  • 68% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used an online payment platform in 2023.[1]
  • 58% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used enterprise resource planning software in 2023.[1]

Cloud Computing in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 32.3% of textile-ecosystem SMEs in the EU had adopted cloud technologies in 2023.[7]
  • 48% of apparel organizations with revenue of $100 million or more were in the process of moving to cloud ERP in 2025.[1]
  • 33% of textile-ecosystem companies in the EU used cloud technology in 2024.[2]
  • 16% of apparel organizations with revenue below $100 million had already moved to cloud ERP in 2025.[1]
  • 19% of apparel organizations with revenue of $100 million or more had already moved to cloud ERP in 2025.[1]
  • 39% of apparel organizations with revenue below $100 million were in the process of moving to cloud ERP in 2025.[1]

Big Data in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 12% of textile-ecosystem companies in the EU used big-data technology in 2024.[2]
  • 52% of surveyed Indian companies said they were likely or very likely to adopt Big Data analytics within five years in 2023; the report identifies textile companies among respondents.[8]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Teams push data gathering, analytics, and traceability verification. In 2025, 44% of fashion and apparel businesses verified current traceability data.

Business intelligence in the cloth industry

  • 5% of textile-ecosystem companies used blockchain in 2024, a technology relevant to traceability and supply-chain intelligence in textiles.[2]
  • 27% of apparel organizations with revenues above $100 million gathered data automatically or digitally and used analytics for business insights in 2023.[1]
  • 75% of apparel brands were already on a digital-transformation journey and reporting positive results in 2023, according to an Aptean and B2B International survey.[1]
  • 9% of textile-ecosystem companies used robotics in 2024, contributing machine-generated operational data that can feed business-intelligence systems.[2]
  • 30% of apparel organizations with revenues of $20 million to $99 million gathered data automatically or digitally and used analytics for business insights in 2023.[1]
  • 12% of textile-ecosystem companies used big-data technology in 2024, indicating the share applying large-scale data capabilities across the textile value chain.[2]

Data analytics in the cloth industry

  • 32.3% of textile-sector SMEs had adopted cloud software in 2023, supporting data storage, access and analytics across textile operations.[2]
  • 56% of U.S. fashion-industry survey respondents used artificial intelligence for demand forecasting and inventory planning in 2026.[9]
  • 3.23% of surveyed textile organizations reported advanced implementation of smart manufacturing systems, including AI-driven operations and digitized supply chains, in 2026.[5]
  • 8% of textile-sector SMEs had adopted artificial intelligence in 2023, including applications in production optimization, design and material selection.[2]
  • 32.26% of surveyed textile organizations reported moderate integration of smart technologies, including data analytics in production, in 2026.[5]
  • 38.68% of surveyed Pakistani textile firms were already using cloud-based analytics in 2025, while 31.13% planned to adopt them.[10]

Data Quality in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 77% of raw-material-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]
  • 44% of fashion and apparel businesses verified their current traceability data in 2025, based on a survey of more than 450 industry professionals globally.[12]
  • 79% of yarn-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]
  • 51% of garment-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]
  • 46% of fashion and apparel businesses had visibility into Tier 4 raw-material suppliers in 2025, according to a global industry survey.[12]
  • 75% of fabric-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]

Data Governance in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 32% of raw-material suppliers in the surveyed textile supply chains used recognized data-sharing standards in 2025, compared with 55% that used none.[11]
  • 38% of surveyed textile firms in the Global South used recognized industry standards for data sharing in 2025, while 44% used none and 18% were unsure.[11]
  • 45% of textile firms not affected by the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation reported using industry data-sharing standards in 2025.[11]
  • 83% of surveyed textile firms in the Global South actively shared product-related data with suppliers in 2025, while 17% had not adopted this practice.[11]
  • 30% of textile firms using recognized data-sharing standards reported using ISO/IEC 27001 in 2025, making it the most commonly cited standard.[11]
  • 52% of textile firms affected by the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation reported using industry data-sharing standards in 2025.[11]

KPIs in the cloth industry

  • 26% of North American apparel manufacturers reported KPI improvements in sales and customer-service on-time-in-full performance from digital-transformation initiatives in 2023.[1]
  • 35% of apparel organizations reported improvements in inventory and warehousing KPIs in 2023, up 9 percentage points from 2022.[1]
  • 24% of North American apparel manufacturers reported improvements in business intelligence and analytics KPIs from digital-transformation initiatives in 2023.[1]
  • 30% of North American apparel manufacturers reported KPI improvements in logistics efficiency from digital-transformation initiatives in 2023.[1]
  • 34% of North American apparel manufacturers reported improvements in production overall equipment effectiveness from digital-transformation initiatives in 2023.[1]
  • 48% of North American apparel manufacturers reported KPI improvements in supply-chain operations from digital-transformation initiatives in 2023.[1]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Large brand numbers show continued scale pressure while M&A remains active. In 2026, 50% of U.S. apparel category actives sought products highlighting origin or local production.

Growth in the cloth industry

  • 2.24 trillion yen was Gap’s sales in the fiscal year ended February 2024, down 4.7% year over year globally.[13]
  • 2,220,215 million yen was UNIQLO’s revenue in fiscal 2024, with sales per square metre rising 10.9% year over year.[13]
  • 22.8 billion dollars was H&M’s sales in the fiscal year ended November 2023, up 5.6% year over year globally.[13]
  • 932.2 billion yen was UNIQLO Japan revenue in fiscal 2024, up 4.7% year over year.[13]
  • 1,711.8 billion yen was UNIQLO International revenue in fiscal 2024, up 19.1% year over year.[13]
  • 1,239,796 million yen was total UNIQLO operations revenue in fiscal 2024, up 15.2% year over year.[13]

Differentiation in the cloth industry

  • 50% of U.S. apparel Category Actives sought products highlighting origin or local production, compared with 44% of mainstream consumers.[14]
  • 29% of Revolve’s 2024 net sales came from dresses, totaling 331.414 million dollars globally.[15]
  • 80% of U.S. apparel consumers ranked having clothing fit their style or identity as a purchase priority in the cited survey period.[14]
  • 66% of U.S. apparel Category Actives sought companies with fair labor practices, compared with 61% of mainstream consumers.[14]
  • 77% of U.S. apparel consumers ranked convenience as a purchase priority in the cited survey period.[14]
  • 88% of U.S. apparel consumers ranked quality as a purchase priority in the cited survey period.[14]

Mergers and acquisitions in the cloth industry

  • 57.1 million dollars was Guess’s cash consideration for acquiring rag & bone operating assets and a 50% interest in its intellectual-property joint venture.[15]
  • 21% was the premium to Hibbett’s April 22, 2024 closing price in JD Sports’ acquisition offer.[15]
  • 109 global apparel and accessories M&A deals were recorded in the second quarter of 2024, according to PitchBook data.[16]
  • 1.1 billion dollars was the enterprise value of JD Sports’ announced acquisition of Hibbett in 2024.[15]
  • 36 U.S. fashion M&A transactions occurred in 2023, according to S&P Global market intelligence cited by Vogue Business.[17]
  • 66 global apparel and accessories M&A deals were recorded in the second quarter of 2025, down nearly 40% year over year.[16]

Strategic partnerships in the cloth industry

  • 42 well-known people had participated in UNIQLO’s PEACE FOR ALL clothing project by the end of August 2024.[13]
  • 51% of apparel supplier relationships are expected to be deeper strategic relationships by 2028, according to McKinsey’s apparel survey.[18]
  • 23 designer collaborations were listed by H&M from Karl Lagerfeld in 2004 through Rabanne in 2023.[19]
  • 4 pieces comprised & Other Stories’ summer 2024 capsule collection created in collaboration with artist Brianna Lance.[19]
  • 1% of apparel survey respondents reported entering shared-investment arrangements with suppliers in McKinsey’s 2023 survey.[18]
  • 5,560,125 T-shirts had been sold globally through UNIQLO’s PEACE FOR ALL partnership project by the end of August 2024.[13]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce composition and hiring signals focus on both technical roles and hybrid policies. In 2024, 15% of non-factory-floor employees worked fully remotely versus 8% for factory-floor employees.

Hiring in the cloth industry

  • 5% of Hong Kong fashion and textile recruitment advertisements were for technical-support roles in 2025.[20]
  • 19% of Hong Kong fashion and textile recruitment advertisements were for marketing or sales roles in 2025.[20]
  • 7% of Hong Kong fashion and textile recruitment advertisements were for fashion-design roles in 2025.[20]
  • 3,740 textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators worked in U.S. textile and fabric finishing mills in May 2024.[21]
  • 5,870 sewing-machine operators worked in U.S. textile-furnishings mills in May 2024.[21]

Employee retention in the cloth industry

  • 13% was the average annual employee turnover rate among U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers in 2017.[22]
  • 238 U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers reported an increase in workforce average age since 2012.[22]
  • 54% of surveyed U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers said turnover was highest for a particular employee category in 2017.[22]
  • 61% of surveyed U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers reported turnover of 0% to 10% in 2017.[22]
  • 281 U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers reported turnover of 0% to 10% in 2017.[22]

Remote Work in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. manufacturers, 95% of employees with work flexibility use it, according to a 2024 member survey covering operations and production roles.[23]
  • In a global survey of more than 1,000 fashion professionals, 65% identified flexible working policies as the most important employer benefit.[24]
  • Among non-manager manufacturing employees able to work remotely, 67% can work from home two days per week, according to a 2024 member survey.[23]
  • In 2024, 15% of non-factory-floor employees at surveyed global manufacturers worked fully remotely, compared with 8% of factory-floor employees.[25]

Hybrid Work in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among global manufacturers in 2024, 42% of non-factory-floor employees worked in hybrid arrangements, compared with 10% of factory-floor employees.[25]
  • Among fashion and beauty professionals globally, 52% preferred a hybrid schedule with two or three days in the office.[24]
  • Across surveyed manufacturers in 2025, 79% operated a hybrid model for non-production employees, while 17% were fully back in the office.[23]
  • In 2025, 23% of surveyed manufacturers were actively updating hybrid policies to add more structure around required office days.[23]

Upskilling in the cloth industry

  • 1.42% of LinkedIn professionals in the European textile ecosystem reported advanced digital skills in 2022.[2]
  • 5,508 candidates completed Samarth apparel and handicrafts training through ni-msme during India’s 2024-25 financial year.[26]
  • 431,000 professionals were identified on LinkedIn in European textile and apparel manufacturing in 2024.[2]
  • 1.61% of LinkedIn professionals in the European textile ecosystem reported green-transition skills in 2022.[2]
  • 2.9% of European textile professionals had skills relevant to the green transition in 2024.[2]

Employee Engagement in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • Fast Retailing reported a 78.0% overall employee-engagement index in its fiscal 2025 survey, covering 36,827 respondents globally.[13]
  • H&M Group reported an employee satisfaction score of 76 out of 100 in 2024, up from 75 in 2023.[27]
  • Burberry reported a colleague engagement score of 74 points in its fiscal 2023/24 Glint survey.[10]
  • Global Fashion Group reported that 76% of employees would recommend it as a great place to work in its 2025 engagement survey.[28]
  • NEXT Group reported a 75% overall employee-engagement score in 2025/26, exceeding its cited UK fashion-retail benchmark of 64%.[29]

DEI in the cloth industry

  • 78% of respondents to the 2023 UK Fashion DEI Census identified as women.[30]
  • 19% of respondents to the 2023 UK Fashion DEI Census identified as neurodivergent.[30]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Online performance metrics remain a key operational lens. In June 2026, the average online conversion rate for fashion, accessories and apparel stores was 2.77%.

Customer experience in the cloth industry

  • 2.77% was the average online conversion rate for fashion, accessories and apparel stores in June 2026, according to Shopify Analytics data.[31]
  • 19% of US and UK fashion shoppers aged 18–24 see personalization as a benefit of retail apps, according to a 2025 survey.[32]
  • 55% of US and UK fashion shoppers would shop elsewhere if a retailer imposed stricter returns, according to a 2025 survey.[32]
  • 35% of US and UK fashion shoppers buy online and collect in-store, according to a 2025 survey.[32]
  • 39% of US and UK fashion shoppers abandon a purchase after a payment failure, according to a 2025 survey.[32]

Customer retention in the cloth industry

  • 16.6% was the median 12-month repeat-purchase rate for sports apparel in 2026 benchmark data.[33]
  • 10%–17% was the estimated repeat-purchase range for fashion brands in a DTC analysis cited by Shopify in 2026.[31]
  • 16.2% was the median 12-month repeat-purchase rate for clothing in 2026 benchmark data.[33]
  • 41% of US apparel customers remained in the same loyalty segment from quarter to quarter during Q1 2023–Q4 2024.[34]
  • 16% of US apparel customers moved up or down a loyalty segment from quarter to quarter during Q1 2023–Q4 2024.[34]

Customer acquisition in the cloth industry

  • 2.77% was the average online conversion rate for fashion, accessories and apparel stores in June 2026.[31]
  • 53.7% of visits to US fashion and apparel websites came from direct traffic between July 2024 and June 2025.[35]
  • 13% of Black Friday apparel purchases were made by reactivated buyers in 2024.[36]
  • 38.5% of US clothing buyers discovered a new brand or product through in-store browsing and later purchased it in 2024.[35]
  • 24% of Black Friday apparel purchases were made by retained buyers in 2024.[36]

Customer loyalty in the cloth industry

  • 35% of fashion shoppers prioritized company reputation as a purchase factor in 2025 research.[37]
  • 53% of fashion consumers said they switch brands despite subscribing to loyalty programs in 2025 research.[37]
  • 84% of fashion consumers said shared brand values are necessary for purchasing in 2025 research.[37]
  • More than 3 times as much share of wallet was captured by Cardlytics’ most loyal US apparel customers compared with less-loyal customers during Q1 2023–Q4 2024.[34]
  • 57% of fashion shoppers said they would switch brands if a loyal brand’s quality declined in 2025 research.[37]

Lead generation in the cloth industry

  • 1.62% was the average email-flow order rate for clothing and accessories in Klaviyo’s 2026 benchmark data.[38]
  • 56.37% was the average automated-flow email open rate for apparel and accessories in Klaviyo’s benchmark data.[39]
  • 34.4% was the average automated email open rate for clothing and accessories in Klaviyo’s 2026 benchmark data.[38]
  • 5.54% was the average automated email click rate for clothing and accessories in Klaviyo’s 2026 benchmark data.[38]
  • 10.4 was the average number of pages per email-driven fashion and apparel visit in the SimilarWeb data reported by IAB Europe.[40]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Discovery shifts continue through brand sites and social channels. In 2024, 58% of online apparel shoppers mainly used brand websites to shop.

Marketing in the cloth industry

  • 58% of online apparel shoppers mainly used brand websites to shop for clothing in 2024.[41]
  • 12% of social-media apparel buyers were influenced by influencer promotions in 2024.[41]
  • 50% of fashion executives identified customer retention as a top priority for 2026.[18]
  • 38.5% of U.S. clothing buyers discovered new brands or products through in-store browsing before purchasing them in 2024.[35]
  • 17% of social-media apparel buyers were influenced by recommendations from friends or family in 2024.[41]

Digital marketing in the cloth industry

  • 52.4% of global fashion e-shoppers used Instagram for fashion discovery or shopping in 2023.[42]
  • 13% of consumers who bought apparel through social media primarily used TikTok in 2024.[41]
  • 30% of Brazilian consumers said online advertising inspired them to make fashion purchases weekly in 2023.[42]
  • 23% of consumers who bought apparel through social media primarily used Instagram in 2024.[41]
  • 22% of consumers who bought apparel through social media primarily used Facebook in 2024.[41]

Branding in the cloth industry

  • $711 million was the 2024 brand value of Havaianas, according to Kantar BrandZ.[43]
  • 53 points was GU’s increase in demand power among apparel brands in 2024.[43]
  • 110 was Lululemon’s 2024 meaningfulness index among global apparel brands.[43]
  • 119 was the average meaningfulness index for apparel brands in 2024, up from 114 in 2019.[43]
  • 108 was Shein’s 2024 meaningfulness index among global apparel brands.[43]

Social media in the cloth industry

  • 25.7% of UK fashion shoppers bought clothing or fashion products through social media in 2024.[42]
  • 37% of UK fashion social-commerce shoppers bought through Instagram in 2024.[42]
  • 46% of Chinese shoppers used social media to shop for fashion accessories in 2023.[42]
  • 1.59% was the average Instagram engagement rate for fashion content in 2023.[44]
  • 0.97% was the average YouTube engagement rate for fashion content in 2023.[44]

Influencer Marketing in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 1.53% was the average engagement rate for fashion influencer content in 2023, rising to 2.26% on TikTok.[44]
  • 1.8% was the average influencer engagement rate for giant fashion brands, compared with 1.9% for challengers and 1.6% for up-and-comers in 2024.[45]
  • 25% of fashion earned media value came from TikTok globally in 2025, following 45.2% year-over-year growth in TikTok fashion earned media value.[46]
  • 76% of fashion earned media value was generated by affordable fashion brands globally in 2025.[46]
  • 1.21 trillion impressions were generated by fashion influencer content globally in 2023, primarily on Instagram.[44]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operational change targets capacity, safety, and efficiency while digital adoption grows. In Europe, reported productivity increase among textile companies adopting robotics was 10%.

Process optimization in the cloth industry

  • 5% of surveyed European textile companies used blockchain technologies in 2024.[2]
  • 28% was the improvement in space utilization after lean-manufacturing changes at a Ghanaian garment factory.[47]
  • 25% of surveyed European textile companies used artificial intelligence in 2024.[2]
  • 20% of surveyed European textile companies used Internet of Things technologies in 2024.[2]
  • 5% of surveyed European textile companies used augmented- or virtual-reality technologies in 2024.[2]

Operational efficiency in the cloth industry

  • 50% of energy input to textile manufacturing is estimated to be lost during production.[48]
  • 10% was the reported productivity increase among textile companies adopting robotics in the European Commission’s 2024 enterprise survey.[2]
  • 45%–70% was the typical daily sewing-line efficiency range among factories in a Bangladesh garment productivity study.[49]
  • 66% was the increase in labour utilization after lean-manufacturing changes at a Ghanaian garment factory.[47]
  • 1%–5% was the reported productivity increase associated with several other advanced digital technologies among adopting textile companies in 2024.[2]

Quality management in the cloth industry

  • 46% of garment factories in Better Work’s 2024 sample were non-compliant with at least one chemical-safety-management question.[49]
  • 43.8% of garment factories assessed in 2024 had obstructed emergency escape routes.[49]
  • 69% of garment factories assessed in 2024 had at least one non-compliance in emergency preparedness.[49]
  • 0.5% was the rejection rate achieved by one Ethiopian garment factory after an ILO-supported quality-improvement intervention, down from 1%.[47]
  • 15 percentage points was the average reduction in occupational-safety-and-health non-compliance among garment firms receiving Better Work advisory services in 2024.[49]

Supply chain in the cloth industry

  • More than 50% of fashion and luxury sourcing volume came from China and Vietnam combined in BCG’s 2022 assessment.[50]
  • 19 kilograms per person was EU-27 consumption of clothing, footwear and household textiles in 2022.[51]
  • 15–21 days was the requested shipment turnaround for some fashion products reported by apparel-industry representatives to the U.S. International Trade Commission.[52]
  • 16 kilograms per person was EU-27 textile waste generation in 2022.[51]
  • 3–7 days is the estimated inland transport time from a port to a warehouse in a typical apparel supply chain.[53]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. fashion companies, 60% sourced less than 10% of their apparel products from China in 2025.[9]
  • Among U.S. fashion companies, more than 80% planned to further reduce apparel sourcing from China over the following two years through 2027.[9]
  • Among 67 surveyed apparel and footwear brands globally, approximately 7% reported mature practices across strategic sourcing, collaborative supply planning, and proactive supplier management.[54]
  • Among surveyed apparel and footwear brands globally, 49% prioritized transforming their supply base to increase margins or decrease costs over the next two years.[54]
  • Among large U.S. fashion companies with 1,000+ employees, approximately 60% sourced apparel from at least 10 countries in 2025.[9]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Price plans and cost expectations drive financial planning. Globally, 69% of fashion executives planned to raise prices in 2024.

Pricing strategy in the cloth industry

  • 69% of fashion executives planned to raise prices in 2024, including 44% planning increases of up to 5% and 25% planning increases above 5%, globally.[18]
  • 57% of U.S. consumers said they were already paying more than acceptable for apparel, footwear and accessories in 2025.[55]
  • 18% of luxury executives expected to raise prices by more than 5% in 2026, globally.[18]
  • 1.2% was the year-over-year U.S. apparel consumer-price increase in December 2024.[21]
  • 2.7% was the year-over-year U.S. men's and boys' apparel consumer-price increase in December 2024.[21]

Cost reduction in the cloth industry

  • $45.2 million was Wolverine Worldwide's reduction in selling costs in 2024.[15]
  • $25.5 million was Wolverine Worldwide's reduction in distribution costs in 2024.[15]
  • $48.8 million was Wolverine Worldwide's reduction in general and administrative costs in 2024.[15]
  • 12% of fashion executives expected cost of goods sold to remain steady in 2024, compared with 1% in 2023.[18]
  • 55% of fashion executives expected cost of goods sold to grow by more than 5% in 2023, compared with 18% expecting that outcome in 2024.[18]

Profitability in the cloth industry

  • 41.3% was Gap's gross margin in fiscal 2024, one of its highest levels in 20 years.[15]
  • 33.3% was Urban Outfitters' gross-profit percentage in fiscal 2024, compared with 29.8% in fiscal 2023.[15]
  • $1.72 billion was Urban Outfitters' gross profit in fiscal 2024.[15]
  • 7.9% was the estimated average after-tax unadjusted operating margin for U.S. apparel companies in January 2024.[56]
  • €12,026 million was adidas' gross profit in 2024, up 18% from 2023.[57]

Financial planning in the cloth industry

  • 22,838 million dollars was net working capital for U.S. apparel and leather-products corporations in the first quarter of 2026.[58]
  • 63.3 days was average days payable outstanding for the global apparel and accessories sector in 2022.[59]
  • 89.6 days was the apparel and accessories sector's average cash-conversion cycle in 2022.[59]
  • 25.0 days was average days sales outstanding for the global apparel and accessories sector in 2022.[59]
  • 95.6 days was apparel and accessories' average cash-conversion cycle in 2019.[59]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Product standards and circularity practices remain measurable across markets. EU textile waste generation was 16 kilograms per person in 2022.

Product development in the cloth industry

  • 9% of popular clothing items bought online had product standards supported by third-party certification in the European Environment Agency’s assessment.[51]
  • 4.85 billion kilograms was the apparent EU consumption of textile apparel in 2019, making it the largest textile-product subgroup by apparent consumption.[60]
  • 99.5% of companies in the EU textiles, clothing, leather and footwear ecosystem were small or medium-sized enterprises.[60]
  • 13% of popular clothing items bought online contained at least 20% recycled content in the European Environment Agency’s assessment.[51]
  • 194,000 textile companies operated in the EU and generated €166 billion in annual turnover, with clothing accounting for 48%, in the latest European Commission estimate.[60]

Product lifecycle in the cloth industry

  • 323 square metres per person of land were estimated to support the supply chain of textile products purchased by EU households in 2022.[51]
  • 4% to 9% of textile products placed on the European market were estimated to be destroyed before use, equal to 264,000–594,000 tonnes annually.[51]
  • 1.7 kilograms per person of textiles were reused in the EU in 2021.[51]
  • 16 kilograms per person of textile waste were generated annually in the EU27, according to the European Environment Agency.[51]
  • Around 20 wears per item was the estimated utilisation of clothing in a linear European wardrobe model.[61]

After-sales in the cloth industry

  • 20% of EU textile companies surveyed reported using repair workshops or repair cafés as a green business model.[2]
  • Approximately 500,000 pairs of jeans had been repaired through Nudie Jeans’ free repair programme by 2024.[62]
  • 97% of trousers and pants brought to the assessed European Repair Cafés were successfully repaired in 2025.[51]
  • 8% of textile repairs logged by European Repair Cafés were classified as rather difficult or difficult in 2025.[51]
  • 68,342 pairs of jeans were repaired by Nudie Jeans in 2024.[62]

Value proposition in the cloth industry

  • 94% of consumers surveyed in India said they were willing to pay high prices for ethical products in 2021, according to McKinsey’s cited fashion research.[18]
  • 90% of consumers cited belonging to a like-minded community as a top driver of brand connection in McKinsey’s 2026 research.[18]
  • 68% of global consumers said they were actively reducing waste in 2026.[18]
  • 82% of global consumers said they were using items longer before replacing them in 2026.[18]
  • 30% of global consumers said they purchased apparel secondhand in McKinsey’s 2026 consumer research.[18]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Environmental impact metrics track resource use and emissions. The fashion industry used 98 million tonnes of non-renewable resources annually in 2024.

Sustainability in the cloth industry

  • 98 million tonnes of non-renewable resources are used annually by the fashion industry, according to the 2024 UN science-policy brief.[63]
  • 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools of water are used annually by the textile industry, according to UNEP.[64]
  • 12% of clothing and textile materials are downcycled or cascaded, according to the 2024 UN science-policy brief.[63]
  • 7.5% was the apparel, footwear and textile industry’s emissions increase during 2023, based on Cascale’s 2026 report.[65]
  • 300 million people are employed across the global fashion value chain, according to the 2024 UN science-policy brief.[63]

ESG in the cloth industry

  • 9% of popular clothing items bought online carry product standards supported by third-party certification in Europe, according to the EEA.[51]
  • 86% of fashion companies lack a public coal-phase-out target, according to Fashion Revolution’s 2024 assessment.[66]
  • 18% of fashion executives ranked sustainability among their top three growth risks for 2025, according to McKinsey and The Business of Fashion.[24]
  • Approximately 60% of global apparel production is conducted by small and medium-sized suppliers, according to McKinsey.[24]
  • 40% of fashion brands increased emissions after making sustainability commitments, according to McKinsey’s sector analysis.[18]

Ethics in the cloth industry

  • 3.9% was the average non-compliance rate on key labour issues in Better Work programmes in 2025.[49]
  • 2,200 garment factories were covered by Better Work programmes at the end of 2025.[49]
  • More than 650,000 garment workers were covered by digital wage payments through Better Work initiatives in 2025.[49]
  • US$204 was Cambodia’s monthly garment-sector minimum wage in 2024.[49]
  • 80% of registered factories used digital wage payments by the end of 2025, up from 50% in 2022, according to Better Work.[49]

CSR in the cloth industry

  • 145,446 Patagonia products were repaired worldwide in FY2024.[67]
  • 97% of Patagonia products were made without PFC or PFAS in fabric during FY2024.[67]
  • 110 employees worked on Patagonia’s repair team in Reno, Nevada, in FY2024.[67]
  • 88% of Patagonia products were made in Fair Trade Certified factories in FY2024.[67]
  • 73% of Patagonia apparel fabric and trim materials were recycled in FY2024.[67]

Circular economy in the cloth industry

  • 26% of separately collected textile waste was sent to incineration or landfill in the EU27.[51]
  • 92 million tonnes of waste are generated annually by the fashion industry, according to a 2025 Sustainable Energy for All report.[48]
  • 1.4 million tonnes of used textiles were exported from the EU in 2025.[51]
  • 6.94 million tonnes of textile waste were generated by EU Member States in 2022.[51]
  • 15% of textile and shoe waste discarded by EU households was separately collected in 2025.[51]

Carbon footprint in the cloth industry

  • 7.5% was the apparel, footwear and textiles industry’s emissions increase during 2023, according to Cascale.[65]
  • 60% of fashion-industry emissions are projected to come from fossil-fuel-based fibres by 2030, according to Sustainable Energy for All.[48]
  • 82% lower CO2-equivalent emissions per kilogram were associated with recycled cotton than conventional virgin cotton in Patagonia’s cited assessment.[67]
  • 2–7% of global CO2 emissions are attributed to apparel, according to a 2024 UN science-policy brief.[63]
  • 8% of human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions were attributed to textiles in the OECD-cited 2018 estimate.[3]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Trade and sourcing concentration remains central while supplier footprints expand. China exported $157.11 billion of apparel in 2025.

Globalization in the cloth industry

  • $817 billion of global textiles and clothing exports were recorded in 2024, covering worldwide trade in the sector.[74]
  • €38.6 billion was Inditex’s total sales in 2024 across its international retail and online operations.[75]
  • 5,563 stores were operated by Inditex worldwide at the end of fiscal 2024.[75]
  • 218 million active app accounts connected Inditex customers with its brands in fiscal 2024.[75]
  • 47 markets received new Inditex store openings during 2024.[75]

Cultural adaptation in the cloth industry

  • 13,000 consumers across 13 countries participated in the 2023 Global Lifestyle Monitor clothing survey.[76]
  • 55% of global clothing consumers were willing to pay more for natural fibers such as cotton in 2023.[77]
  • 54% of global clothing consumers preferred cotton, cotton blends or denim in 2023.[77]
  • 64% of surveyed clothing consumers felt very or somewhat optimistic about their financial situation in 2023.[76]
  • 76% of global clothing consumers preferred browsing clothing online in the 2023 survey.[77]

Supplier management in the cloth industry

  • 388 independent supplier facilities in 39 countries worked directly with adidas in 2024.[57]
  • 67% of adidas independent supplier facilities were located in Asia-Pacific in 2024.[57]
  • 280 environmental non-compliance cases were confirmed across H&M tier-one and tier-two supplier factories in 2024.[19]
  • 8 H&M business relationships were terminated in 2024 because tier-one or tier-two supplier factories failed minimum requirements.[19]
  • 1,447,903 workers were employed across H&M tier-one and tier-two production-supply-chain factories in 2024.[19]

Stakeholder management in the cloth industry

  • 1 community complaint was received by adidas through its supplier major-incident protocol in 2024.[57]
  • 4% of major fashion brands disclosed efforts to retain, retrain or upskill supply-chain workers whose jobs were at risk in 2024.[66]
  • More than 46,000 workers participated in adidas worker surveys across 105 factories in 2024.[57]
  • 35 potential code-of-ethics non-compliance incidents involving H&M employees and business partners were reported in 2024.[19]
  • 13% of major fashion brands disclosed evidence of renewable-energy advocacy in their supply chains in 2024.[66]

Distribution channels in the cloth industry

  • 80% of surveyed global clothing consumers bought clothing from online-only retailers in 2023.[76]
  • 47% of surveyed global clothing consumers bought clothing through peer-to-peer selling online in 2023.[78]
  • 15.7% of U.S. clothing and accessory sales were made online in 2014.[79]
  • 39% of surveyed global clothing consumers bought clothing from online chain or specialty stores outside department stores in 2023.[78]
  • 8.1 billion visits were recorded on Inditex online platforms in fiscal 2024.[75]

Key questions about the cloth industry

How large is the global apparel market in 2025, and what is the 2030 forecast?
The global apparel market was $1.87 trillion in 2025 and is forecast to reach $2.13 trillion by 2030.
What growth rate is expected for global apparel demand from 2025 to 2030?
Growth is forecast at a 2.6% CAGR over 2025–2030, rising from $1.87 trillion to $2.13 trillion.
Which companies lead the cloth industry?
Hengli Group leads Gitnux's 2026 cloth ranking with an Overall score of 9.7, with operations in textile and chemical-fiber industries. Shenzhou International Group Holdings is the highest-ranked knitted apparel manufacturer at 9.6, with revenue growth 8.1%.
Which technology shifts show up most in textile and apparel adoption data through 2026?
Smart manufacturing systems reach 3.23% advanced implementation in 2026, while 48.39% of U.S. textile companies show partial adoption of basic digital tools including automation in 2026.
How concentrated are apparel exports by country in 2025?
Export concentration is high: China exported $157.11 billion in 2025, compared with Bangladesh at $38.82 billion and Vietnam at $37.5 billion.
What regulatory changes affect textile apparel markets in Europe?
The European Commission’s indicative timetable targets adoption of the textile delegated act in Q4 2027, including requirements related to a Digital Product Passport.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Cloth Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cloth-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Cloth Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/cloth-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Cloth Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cloth-industry-statistics.

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