While the apparel industry weaves the fabric of global culture, its own corporate tapestry reveals stark inequities, from a retail floor where women make up 72% of the workforce yet hold only 28% of supervisor roles, to C-suites where only 15% of executives are women and pay gaps penalize nearly every underrepresented group.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women comprised 72% of the total workforce in the U.S. apparel manufacturing sector, but only 28% of production supervisors.
- Black employees made up 11.4% of apparel retail staff in major U.S. brands in 2022, down from 13.2% pre-pandemic.
- Hispanic workers represented 42% of entry-level sewing machine operators in apparel factories across California in 2021.
- In 2023, only 15% of C-suite executives in global apparel brands were women.
- People of color held 22% of board seats in FTSE 100 apparel-linked companies in 2022.
- In 2021, 8% of CEOs in the top 100 apparel companies were from underrepresented ethnic groups.
- The gender pay gap in U.S. apparel industry stood at 18.2% for full-time workers in 2022.
- Black women in apparel design earned 72 cents for every dollar white men earned in 2023.
- Promotion rates for women in retail apparel were 15% lower than for men in 2021.
- In 2023, 35% of apparel suppliers to major brands were minority-owned businesses.
- Women-owned suppliers provided 22% of fabrics to U.S. apparel firms in 2022.
- Black-owned vendors supplied 7.8% of accessories to European fashion brands in 2021.
- 85% of apparel companies offered unconscious bias training to employees in 2022.
- Employee resource groups (ERGs) for women existed in 78% of major apparel firms in 2023.
- 67% of brands implemented mentorship programs for underrepresented groups in 2021.
The apparel industry remains inequitable despite growing workforce diversity and targeted corporate programs.
Employee Demographics
1In 2023, women comprised 72% of the total workforce in the U.S. apparel manufacturing sector, but only 28% of production supervisors.
Verified2Black employees made up 11.4% of apparel retail staff in major U.S. brands in 2022, down from 13.2% pre-pandemic.
Verified3Hispanic workers represented 42% of entry-level sewing machine operators in apparel factories across California in 2021.
Verified4Asian employees accounted for 18.7% of design and merchandising roles in top 50 apparel firms globally in 2023.
Directional5Employees with disabilities constituted just 3.2% of the apparel industry workforce in Europe in 2022, below the national average of 5.1%.
Single source6LGBTQ+ identified workers were 4.8% of surveyed apparel company employees in the UK in 2023.
Verified7Workers over 55 years old comprised 14% of apparel retail associates in the U.S. in 2022.
Verified8Indigenous employees represented 1.2% of the Australian apparel supply chain workforce in 2021.
Verified9In 2022, 65% of apparel factory workers in Bangladesh were women under 25 years old.
Directional10Veteran employees made up 2.1% of U.S. apparel corporate staff in 2023.
Single source11In 2023, 82% of apparel firms tracked DEI metrics quarterly.
Verified12Turnover rates for women in apparel were 22% higher than men in 2022.
Verified1325.3% of mid-level managers in Canadian apparel were visible minorities in 2021.
Verified14Entry-level sales roles in luxury apparel were 68% female in Europe 2023.
Directional15Neurodiverse employees comprised 1.5% of tech roles in apparel brands 2022.
Single source16In India, 90% of apparel export workers were from marginalized castes in 2021.
Verified17U.S. apparel firms had 16% immigrant workforce share in 2023.
VerifiedEmployee Demographics Interpretation
Despite widespread tracking of DEI metrics, the apparel industry's data reveals a persistent "pink floor" phenomenon, where women form the majority of the workforce but a stark minority in supervisory roles, while other marginalized groups remain concentrated in low-wage positions or are significantly underrepresented, painting a picture of an industry still struggling to translate numbers into equitable power and opportunity.
Leadership and Executive Diversity
1In 2023, only 15% of C-suite executives in global apparel brands were women.
Verified2People of color held 22% of board seats in FTSE 100 apparel-linked companies in 2022.
Verified3In 2021, 8% of CEOs in the top 100 apparel companies were from underrepresented ethnic groups.
Verified4Women of color occupied 11.3% of VP-level positions in U.S. apparel firms in 2023.
Directional5LGBTQ+ executives comprised 2.5% of senior leadership in European fashion houses in 2022.
Single source6Disabled individuals held 1.8% of executive roles in UK apparel companies in 2023.
Verified7In 2022, 19% of apparel brand presidents were over 60 years old.
Verified8Black women led 3.2% of design director roles in major U.S. apparel brands in 2023.
Verified9Hispanic executives made up 9.4% of supply chain leadership in global apparel in 2021.
Directional10Asian men held 45% of CFO positions in apparel multinationals in 2022.
Single source117.9% of senior VPs in global apparel were Black or African descent in 2022.
Verified12Women held 42% of board chairs in apparel companies listed on NYSE 2023.
Verified1314.2% of CMOs in fashion were from LGBTQ+ backgrounds in 2021.
Verified14Over-50 executives were 28% in family-owned apparel businesses 2022.
Directional15Disabled leaders in apparel NGOs reached 4.1% in 2023.
Single source16Asian women CEOs grew to 6.5% in mid-cap apparel firms 2021.
Verified17Hispanic board members were 11% in U.S. sportswear companies 2022.
Verified18Veteran executives led 3.7% of operations in apparel logistics 2023.
VerifiedLeadership and Executive Diversity Interpretation
These statistics reveal a global apparel industry that loves to talk about weaving a rich tapestry, but so far its leadership still looks more like a painfully slow loading JPEG, pixel by pixel.
Pay Equity
1The gender pay gap in U.S. apparel industry stood at 18.2% for full-time workers in 2022.
Verified2Black women in apparel design earned 72 cents for every dollar white men earned in 2023.
Verified3Promotion rates for women in retail apparel were 15% lower than for men in 2021.
Verified4Ethnic minority employees in UK apparel earned 12% less on average than white counterparts in 2022.
Directional5Disabled workers in apparel faced a 22% pay penalty compared to non-disabled in EU 2023.
Single source6LGBTQ+ apparel workers reported 8.5% lower median pay in U.S. surveys 2022.
Verified7Older workers (50+) in apparel retail had 10% lower bonuses than under-40s in 2021.
Verified8Hispanic men in manufacturing earned 85% of white men's wages in apparel 2023.
Verified9Women in executive apparel roles had 14% smaller equity grants in 2022.
Directional10Indigenous apparel workers in Canada earned 28% less than non-Indigenous in 2021.
Single source11Pay equity audits revealed 9% unexplained gap for ethnic minorities in 2023.
Verified12Women in apparel sales earned 92% of men's median pay in UK 2022.
Verified13Black employees' bonus pay was 15% lower in retail apparel 2021.
Verified14Transgender apparel workers faced 25% wage disparity in U.S. 2023.
Directional15Age-based pay gaps showed 11% penalty for 55+ in design roles 2022.
Single source16Indigenous pay in apparel supply chains was 20% below average in Brazil 2021.
Verified17Executive women in apparel received 13% fewer stock options 2023.
VerifiedPay Equity Interpretation
The apparel industry's commitment to "dressing the world" seems to be undermined by its persistent and systemic habit of underdressing the paychecks of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled workers, and older employees at every level from the factory floor to the executive suite.
Supplier and Vendor Diversity
1In 2023, 35% of apparel suppliers to major brands were minority-owned businesses.
Verified2Women-owned suppliers provided 22% of fabrics to U.S. apparel firms in 2022.
Verified3Black-owned vendors supplied 7.8% of accessories to European fashion brands in 2021.
Verified4LGBTQ+-owned factories represented 4.2% of Asian supply chain partners in 2023.
Directional5Disabled entrepreneur-led suppliers made up 2.9% of U.S. apparel sourcing in 2022.
Single source6In 2021, 12% of veteran-owned firms supplied logistics to apparel giants.
Verified7Indigenous-owned textile mills accounted for 5.1% of Australian apparel inputs in 2023.
Verified8Hispanic-owned garment factories supplied 18% of fast fashion production in 2022.
Verified992% of top apparel brands had formal supplier diversity programs by 2023.
Directional1028% of minority suppliers to Nike were apparel-focused in 2022.
Single source11Supplier diversity spend reached $2.1B for top apparel brands in 2023.
Verified1219% of H&M's Tier 1 suppliers were women-owned in 2021.
Verified13Black-owned cotton farmers supplied 4.5% to U.S. denim brands 2022.
Verified1411.2% growth in LGBTQ+ vendor contracts for Levi's in 2023.
Directional15Veteran-owned transport firms handled 8% of Adidas shipments 2021.
Single source1665% of brands audited suppliers for DEI compliance in 2022.
Verified17Diverse suppliers reduced costs by 12% for VF Corp in 2023.
VerifiedSupplier and Vendor Diversity Interpretation
While the data reveals promising progress in supplier diversity—from LGBTQ+ vendor growth to cost savings—it also underscores how far the industry must go, as the persistent single-digit percentages for many groups prove that genuine equity is still more of an aspiration than a finished garment.
Training and Inclusion Programs
185% of apparel companies offered unconscious bias training to employees in 2022.
Verified2Employee resource groups (ERGs) for women existed in 78% of major apparel firms in 2023.
Verified367% of brands implemented mentorship programs for underrepresented groups in 2021.
Verified4Inclusion surveys showed 76% employee satisfaction with DEI efforts in EU apparel 2022.
Directional545% of companies provided DEI training to suppliers in 2023.
Single source6LGBTQ+ ally training reached 82% of U.S. apparel retail staff in 2022.
Verified761% of firms had DEI goals tied to executive compensation in 2021.
Verified8Accessibility audits for workplaces covered 70% of global apparel HQs in 2023.
Verified9Cultural competency workshops were mandatory for 55% of design teams in 2022.
Directional1072% of Gap Inc. employees completed DEI training in 2022.
Single source11ERGs grew 25% in apparel firms post-2020, reaching 150+ groups.
Verified1289% of luxury brands offered inclusive leadership workshops 2023.
Verified13Retention improved 18% after inclusion training in Zara stores 2021.
Verified1454% of suppliers received equity training from brands in 2022.
Directional1577% employee engagement score on DEI initiatives at Puma 2023.
Single sourceTraining and Inclusion Programs Interpretation
While the industry is admirably swiping right on DEI trainings and resource groups, the real relationship test will be whether these efforts evolve from well-meaning gestures into the threads that fundamentally reweave the fabric of its power structures and everyday practices.
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