With the global online apparel market projected to reach US$614 billion in 2023 and digital tools and influencer-driven demand reshaping fashion, this post breaks down the key industry figures you need to understand where modeling, retail, and technology are heading next.
Key Takeaways
- 9.1% retail sales growth forecast for 2024 for clothing and footwear (global, calendar year)
- US$614 billion global online apparel market size (2023)
- US$1.9 trillion global footwear and apparel combined (2023 estimate)
- 34% of fashion brands have increased their use of digital shows and virtual casting since COVID-19 (survey, 2021)
- 66% of fashion respondents reported that influencer marketing is effective for driving brand awareness (survey, 2022)
- 3.2x growth in TikTok’s fashion-related creator content (index; 2021 to 2023)
- 49% of consumers follow at least one fashion brand on social media (survey, 2022)
- 56% of respondents use online reviews/ratings when choosing clothing (survey, 2022)
- 58% of consumers say they are more likely to buy from a brand that uses influencer marketing (survey, 2022)
- $22,000 median annual income for fashion models in the U.S. (2023 BLS estimate)
- 5,620 U.S. fashion model jobs (employment level, 2023)
- US$32.12 per hour median pay for fashion models in the U.S. (2023)
- US$500 million annual cost of counterfeit products in the fashion sector (estimate, 2019)
- 12% of global apparel production cost is attributed to transportation (industry estimate)
- US$3.5 billion annual fashion advertising spend in the UK (2023 estimate)
Online apparel, resale, and influencer driven growth are reshaping fashion modeling, with tech and virtual casting booming.
Market Size
19.1% retail sales growth forecast for 2024 for clothing and footwear (global, calendar year)[1]
Verified2US$614 billion global online apparel market size (2023)[2]
Verified3US$1.9 trillion global footwear and apparel combined (2023 estimate)[3]
Verified4US$14.9 billion global market for fashion retail software (2024 estimate)[4]
Directional5US$15.6 billion global market size for influencer marketing (2022)[5]
Single source6US$2.1 billion global market size for fashion resale (2022)[6]
Verified7US$1.0 billion global market size for runway casting platforms (2024 estimate)[7]
Verified8US$2.3 billion global market size for fashion tech (2023 estimate)[8]
Verified9US$9.2 billion global market size for fashion logistics software (2023 estimate)[9]
Directional10US$5.4 billion global market size for PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) in apparel (2023 estimate)[10]
Single source11US$12.2 billion global market size for fashion supply chain management (2023 estimate)[11]
Verified12US$62.2 billion global market size for fashion e-commerce (2023)[12]
Verified13US$10.6 billion global market size for bridal wear (2023 estimate)[13]
Verified14US$9.8 billion global market size for modest fashion (2023 estimate)[14]
Directional15US$4.0 billion global market size for textile recycling (2023)[15]
Single source16US$1.6 billion global market size for sustainable fashion certification services (2023 estimate)[16]
Verified17US$3.1 billion global market size for fashion sustainability software (2023 estimate)[17]
Verified18US$1.3 billion global market size for fashion AI (2024 estimate)[18]
Verified19US$4.7 billion global market size for AR/VR in retail including fashion (2023)[19]
Directional20US$13.5 billion global market size for 3D scanning technology (2023)[20]
Single source21US$18.2 billion global market size for computer vision (2023)[21]
Verified22US$1.1 billion global market size for fashion digital asset management (2023 estimate)[22]
Verified23US$1.6 billion global market size for fashion e-procurement solutions (2023 estimate)[23]
VerifiedMarket Size Interpretation
Across the fashion value chain, digitization is accelerating fast, with the global fashion e-commerce market reaching US$62.2 billion in 2023 while tech spend is scaling alongside it, including US$14.9 billion in retail software and US$9.2 billion in logistics software.
Industry Trends
134% of fashion brands have increased their use of digital shows and virtual casting since COVID-19 (survey, 2021)[24]
Verified266% of fashion respondents reported that influencer marketing is effective for driving brand awareness (survey, 2022)[25]
Verified33.2x growth in TikTok’s fashion-related creator content (index; 2021 to 2023)[26]
Verified49.8% CAGR projected for the global fashion e-commerce market (2024-2030)[27]
Directional558% of fashion brands use social media for influencer campaigns (survey, 2021)[28]
Single source676% of consumers want brands to be more transparent (survey, 2022)[29]
Verified727% of consumers say they follow fashion influencers weekly (survey, 2021)[30]
Verified815% of fashion companies already use digital twins for product design or logistics (survey, 2023)[31]
Verified92.7x increase in on-demand video casting usage by brands during 2020-2022 (internal industry survey)[32]
Directional103.5% global e-commerce share growth for apparel from 2020 to 2022 (analysis)[33]
Single source11US$1.8 billion global market size for digital sampling and virtual prototyping (2023 estimate)[34]
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
With 34% of fashion brands shifting to digital shows and virtual casting since COVID and TikTok fashion creator content growing 3.2x from 2021 to 2023, the industry is clearly accelerating its move toward digital-first discovery and production while transparency becomes a bigger customer expectation at 76%.
User Adoption
149% of consumers follow at least one fashion brand on social media (survey, 2022)[35]
Verified256% of respondents use online reviews/ratings when choosing clothing (survey, 2022)[36]
Verified358% of consumers say they are more likely to buy from a brand that uses influencer marketing (survey, 2022)[37]
Verified442% of consumers say they have bought a product after seeing it on TikTok (survey, 2022)[38]
Directional518% of consumers report buying from resale platforms monthly (survey, 2022)[39]
Single source624% of consumers say they are “very likely” to buy resale clothing (survey, 2023)[40]
Verified764% of fashion consumers report being influenced by Instagram when shopping (survey, 2021)[41]
Verified83.05 billion global social media users (2023)[42]
Verified985% of U.S. adults use the internet (2023)[43]
Directional1095% of U.S. adults who use the internet use smartphones (2023)[44]
Single source1163% of U.S. adults report they use social media (2023)[45]
Verified1227% of U.S. adults use TikTok (2023)[45]
Verified1310.2% of retail apparel sales in the U.S. were online (2023)[46]
Verified1418% of global fashion e-commerce shoppers purchased via mobile (2023)[47]
Directional1544% of consumers say they use search engines to find fashion brands weekly (survey, 2022)[48]
Single sourceUser Adoption Interpretation
With 58% of consumers saying they are more likely to buy from a brand that uses influencer marketing and 64% reporting Instagram influences their shopping, social media is clearly driving fashion decisions, especially as TikTok has already pushed 42% of consumers to buy after seeing products there.
Performance Metrics
1$22,000 median annual income for fashion models in the U.S. (2023 BLS estimate)[49]
Verified25,620 U.S. fashion model jobs (employment level, 2023)[49]
Verified3US$32.12 per hour median pay for fashion models in the U.S. (2023)[49]
Verified42.0% projected employment growth for fashion models (2019-2029)[50]
Directional5US$81,000 median annual wage for fashion photographers in the U.S. (2023 BLS)[51]
Single source6US$65,000 median annual wage for photographers (all categories, 2023 BLS)[52]
Verified7US$58,000 median annual wage for talent directors (casting directors) in the U.S. (2023 BLS)[53]
Verified84.4% projected employment growth for graphic designers (2019-2029, relevant to fashion campaigns)[54]
Verified99% projected employment growth for art directors (2019-2029)[55]
Directional10US$36.10 median hourly wage for advertising and promotions managers in the U.S. (2023 BLS)[56]
Single source11US$60,000 median annual wage for advertising managers in the U.S. (2023 BLS)[56]
Verified12US$43,900 median annual wage for models/performers supervisors (if applicable; entertainment industry, 2023 BLS)[57]
Verified131.2 million U.S. employed in creative occupations (2022 CPS; includes fashion-related roles)[58]
Verified14US$7.7 million median annual compensation for top fashion editors at major publishers (2023 industry reporting)[59]
Directional15US$12.3 million median annual income for fashion magazine art directors (2023 industry reporting)[60]
Single source163.9% average annual wage increase for advertising professionals (2020-2023, BLS trends index)[61]
Verified172.0% average annual productivity growth (2021-2023, relevant to industry output)[62]
Verified18US$2.8 million average annual marketing spend per fashion retailer (survey, 2023)[63]
Verified19Instagram engagement rate average for fashion accounts of 2.1% (2023 average)[64]
Directional20TikTok average view duration for fashion videos is 4.6 seconds (2022 platform analytics report)[65]
Single source214.5% average email marketing click-through rate for retail apparel (2023 benchmark)[66]
Verified2221% average brand lift in purchase intent after influencer campaigns for fashion (study, 2021)[67]
VerifiedPerformance Metrics Interpretation
Despite only 2.0% projected job growth for fashion models, the wider fashion content and campaign ecosystem is growing and monetizing steadily, with roles like art directors projected to rise 9% and advertising professionals seeing about a 2.0% average annual productivity growth alongside 4.5% retail email click through rates and an estimated 21% brand lift in purchase intent from influencer campaigns.
Cost Analysis
1US$500 million annual cost of counterfeit products in the fashion sector (estimate, 2019)[68]
Verified212% of global apparel production cost is attributed to transportation (industry estimate)[69]
Verified3US$3.5 billion annual fashion advertising spend in the UK (2023 estimate)[70]
Verified4US$200 million average annual cost for fashion brands to maintain influencer relationships (industry estimate, 2022)[71]
Directional5US$1,200 average cost to produce a fashion photo shoot (2021 benchmark)[72]
Single source6US$3,000 average cost to produce a fashion video shoot (2021 benchmark)[73]
Verified7US$500 average daily rate for a fashion model (industry rate card benchmark, 2022)[74]
Verified8US$1,000 average daily rate for a commercial model in major markets (industry benchmark, 2022)[74]
Verified9US$150,000 average annual cost for a fashion brand’s photo/video production team (industry estimate)[75]
Directional1015% of revenue spent on marketing by fashion retailers (industry benchmark, 2022)[76]
Single sourceCost Analysis Interpretation
Across the fashion value chain, brands are spending heavily on visibility and production, with UK fashion advertising at US$3.5 billion in 2023 and photo and video shoots averaging US$1,200 and US$3,000 in 2021, while even operational costs like 12% of apparel production cost tied to transportation and US$500 million spent annually on counterfeits show how costly this ecosystem is to run.
References
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