GITNUXREPORT 2025

Garment Industry Statistics

Global garment industry exceeds $1.9 trillion, with fast fashion dominant and environmental impact.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The apparel segment accounts for about 32% of the total fashion market worldwide.

Statistic 2

Eco-friendly and sustainable fashion brands are growing at a CAGR of around 12%, faster than traditional brands.

Statistic 3

The share of sustainable and eco-friendly apparel brands increased by over 20% in the past five years.

Statistic 4

The average retail markup on garments is approximately 300–400%.

Statistic 5

The global garment industry was valued at approximately $1.9 trillion in 2023.

Statistic 6

Fast fashion accounts for around 60% of total apparel retail sales worldwide.

Statistic 7

The global secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $47 billion by 2025.

Statistic 8

The garment industry in Bangladesh accounts for about 84% of the country’s total exports.

Statistic 9

The average annual growth rate of the global apparel market was approximately 4.8% from 2018 to 2023.

Statistic 10

In 2022, the top three countries for apparel exports were China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

Statistic 11

The U.S. apparel industry produces around $340 billion in revenue annually.

Statistic 12

Around 17-20% of global insecticide use is dedicated to cotton cultivation.

Statistic 13

The average cost of manufacturing a pair of jeans is about $14, with retail prices often exceeding $50.

Statistic 14

Vietnam has become the second-largest exporter of garments globally after China.

Statistic 15

The global demand for sustainable fabrics is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% through 2027.

Statistic 16

The global textile recycling market size was valued at USD 4.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow significantly.

Statistic 17

The global organic fiber market was valued at approximately $4.4 billion in 2022, growing annually by about 10%.

Statistic 18

The average global price for cotton was around $1.15 per pound in 2023.

Statistic 19

The global fast fashion market is projected to reach $791 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2020.

Statistic 20

China is the world's largest producer and exporter of textiles, accounting for roughly 35% of global textile exports.

Statistic 21

The global secondhand clothing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% from 2021 to 2028.

Statistic 22

The global market for vegan and plant-based fabrics is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of around 12%, reaching $4 billion by 2025.

Statistic 23

In 2022, the top three apparel importing countries were the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Statistic 24

The global market for circular fashion is expected to reach $5.7 billion by 2027, growing rapidly due to sustainability efforts.

Statistic 25

The global market for recycled fabrics is projected to reach $5.4 billion by 2026, up from $2.4 billion in 2020.

Statistic 26

The global demand for organic and sustainable fabrics is growing at a rate of around 10-12% annually.

Statistic 27

The use of digital textile printing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18% through 2028.

Statistic 28

The average cost of sustainable textiles is approximately 20–30% higher than conventional ones.

Statistic 29

The global market for biodegradable clothing is projected to reach $2.9 billion by 2027.

Statistic 30

The textile and apparel industry employs over 60 million people globally.

Statistic 31

Approximately 75% of clothing produced globally is made in developing countries.

Statistic 32

India is the second-largest producer of garments in the world after China.

Statistic 33

The average cotton yield worldwide is about 770 kg per hectare.

Statistic 34

85% of garment workers worldwide are women.

Statistic 35

The majority of garment manufacturing garments are produced in factories with poor labor conditions.

Statistic 36

The average cost of a standard T-shirt manufactured in developing countries is around $2–3.

Statistic 37

The largest share of garment manufacturing occurs in Asia-Pacific countries.

Statistic 38

The majority of garment factories globally operate in countries with weak labor law enforcement.

Statistic 39

About 85% of global textile exports are produced in developing countries.

Statistic 40

China’s textile industry employs over 20 million workers.

Statistic 41

The total number of textile factories worldwide is estimated to be over 50,000.

Statistic 42

The average lifecycle of a garment has decreased from 4.5 years in 2000 to 2.2 years in 2020.

Statistic 43

The textile industry consumes about 93 billion cubic meters of water annually.

Statistic 44

The fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions.

Statistic 45

Over 87% of the total fiber input used in the clothing industry is synthetic, mainly derived from fossil fuels.

Statistic 46

The average water footprint per t-shirt is approximately 2,700 liters of water.

Statistic 47

The textile and apparel industry ranks third among the most water-intensive industries worldwide.

Statistic 48

Approximately 60% of textiles in the U.S. are thrown away within a year of purchase.

Statistic 49

60% of textile waste ends up in landfills.

Statistic 50

The garment industry’s energy consumption accounts for approximately 15% of the total energy use in the fashion supply chain.

Statistic 51

The use of recycled fibers in the garment industry has increased by approximately 9% annually in the past five years.

Statistic 52

Approximately 2,700 liters of water are required to produce just one cotton T-shirt.

Statistic 53

The average lifespan of fast fashion garments is less than 15 wears.

Statistic 54

The garment industry’s waste generation is estimated at 92 million tons annually worldwide.

Statistic 55

73% of the lifespan of textiles in landfills is in the form of synthetic fibers.

Statistic 56

The fashion industry accounts for 20-35% of the environmental impact of global textiles.

Statistic 57

Over 60% of clothing items in Western countries are made from synthetic fibers.

Statistic 58

The average carbon footprint per kilogram of clothing is roughly 23 kg CO2e.

Statistic 59

The low-cost garment industry severely impacts the environment through water pollution, chemical use, and waste.

Statistic 60

The adoption of sustainable practices in the garment supply chain has increased by approximately 15% annually over the past decade.

Statistic 61

The majority of textile dyeing contributes approximately 17–20% of industrial water pollution globally.

Statistic 62

The apparel industry’s overall energy consumption is estimated at about 1,300 terawatt-hours annually.

Statistic 63

Textile waste constitutes approximately 60–70% of all solid waste in landfills in developed countries.

Statistic 64

About 4% of global greenhouse emissions are directly attributable to the textile and apparel sector.

Statistic 65

The average lifespan of garments in developed countries is about 3.3 years.

Statistic 66

The use of organic cotton accounts for less than 1% of global cotton production but is on the rise.

Statistic 67

Approximately 60% of the water used in textile dyeing is discharged as wastewater without proper treatment.

Statistic 68

The use of cheap synthetic dyes in the garment industry contributes significantly to environmental pollution.

Statistic 69

The use of biodegradable fabrics in the garment industry is increasing, but currently accounts for less than 2% of the market.

Statistic 70

The average age of a garment in a typical wardrobe is around 2.5 years.

Statistic 71

Nearly 8 million metric tons of textile waste are generated each year in the European Union.

Statistic 72

The apparel industry’s contribution to global water pollution is equivalent to the wastewater produced by a country like Germany on a daily basis.

Statistic 73

The percentage of clothing waste recycled into new fibers increased by 11% from 2018 to 2022.

Statistic 74

Nearly 90% of the garments produced arrive in landfills within a year of production.

Statistic 75

The rise of automation and AI in garment manufacturing is projected to reduce labor costs by up to 25% in the next decade.

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Key Highlights

The global garment industry was valued at approximately $1.9 trillion in 2023.
The apparel segment accounts for about 32% of the total fashion market worldwide.
The textile and apparel industry employs over 60 million people globally.
Approximately 75% of clothing produced globally is made in developing countries.
Fast fashion accounts for around 60% of total apparel retail sales worldwide.
The average lifecycle of a garment has decreased from 4.5 years in 2000 to 2.2 years in 2020.
The textile industry consumes about 93 billion cubic meters of water annually.
The fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions.
Over 87% of the total fiber input used in the clothing industry is synthetic, mainly derived from fossil fuels.
The global secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $47 billion by 2025.
The average water footprint per t-shirt is approximately 2,700 liters of water.
The textile and apparel industry ranks third among the most water-intensive industries worldwide.
India is the second-largest producer of garments in the world after China.

The garment industry, a $1.9 trillion global powerhouse employing over 60 million people, is at a critical crossroads where fast fashion’s rapid turnover and environmental impacts threaten sustainability, prompting a surge in eco-friendly innovations and secondhand markets.

Fashion Industry Trends and Market Share

The apparel segment accounts for about 32% of the total fashion market worldwide.
Eco-friendly and sustainable fashion brands are growing at a CAGR of around 12%, faster than traditional brands.
The share of sustainable and eco-friendly apparel brands increased by over 20% in the past five years.
The average retail markup on garments is approximately 300–400%.

Fashion Industry Trends and Market Share Interpretation

With nearly a third of the global fashion market sewn into apparel, the surge of eco-friendly brands growing faster than traditional ones and a hefty retail markup reveal a paradox—while sustainability gains ground and consumer awareness rises, the industry's profit margins continue to thrive, highlighting both the fashion industry's commitment to change and its unwavering devotion to profits.

Market Size and Economic Impact

The global garment industry was valued at approximately $1.9 trillion in 2023.
Fast fashion accounts for around 60% of total apparel retail sales worldwide.
The global secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $47 billion by 2025.
The garment industry in Bangladesh accounts for about 84% of the country’s total exports.
The average annual growth rate of the global apparel market was approximately 4.8% from 2018 to 2023.
In 2022, the top three countries for apparel exports were China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.
The U.S. apparel industry produces around $340 billion in revenue annually.
Around 17-20% of global insecticide use is dedicated to cotton cultivation.
The average cost of manufacturing a pair of jeans is about $14, with retail prices often exceeding $50.
Vietnam has become the second-largest exporter of garments globally after China.
The global demand for sustainable fabrics is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% through 2027.
The global textile recycling market size was valued at USD 4.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow significantly.
The global organic fiber market was valued at approximately $4.4 billion in 2022, growing annually by about 10%.
The average global price for cotton was around $1.15 per pound in 2023.
The global fast fashion market is projected to reach $791 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2020.
China is the world's largest producer and exporter of textiles, accounting for roughly 35% of global textile exports.
The global secondhand clothing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% from 2021 to 2028.
The global market for vegan and plant-based fabrics is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of around 12%, reaching $4 billion by 2025.
In 2022, the top three apparel importing countries were the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The global market for circular fashion is expected to reach $5.7 billion by 2027, growing rapidly due to sustainability efforts.
The global market for recycled fabrics is projected to reach $5.4 billion by 2026, up from $2.4 billion in 2020.
The global demand for organic and sustainable fabrics is growing at a rate of around 10-12% annually.
The use of digital textile printing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18% through 2028.
The average cost of sustainable textiles is approximately 20–30% higher than conventional ones.
The global market for biodegradable clothing is projected to reach $2.9 billion by 2027.

Market Size and Economic Impact Interpretation

Despite a $1.9 trillion valuation and rapid growth in fast fashion and secondhand markets, the garment industry’s mounting environmental footprint—including 17-20% of global insecticide use on cotton—remains a stark reminder that fashion's true cost extends far beyond price tags.

Production and Employment Data

The textile and apparel industry employs over 60 million people globally.
Approximately 75% of clothing produced globally is made in developing countries.
India is the second-largest producer of garments in the world after China.
The average cotton yield worldwide is about 770 kg per hectare.
85% of garment workers worldwide are women.
The majority of garment manufacturing garments are produced in factories with poor labor conditions.
The average cost of a standard T-shirt manufactured in developing countries is around $2–3.
The largest share of garment manufacturing occurs in Asia-Pacific countries.
The majority of garment factories globally operate in countries with weak labor law enforcement.
About 85% of global textile exports are produced in developing countries.
China’s textile industry employs over 20 million workers.
The total number of textile factories worldwide is estimated to be over 50,000.

Production and Employment Data Interpretation

With over 60 million employed worldwide—predominantly women in Asia’s garment factories—amidst staggering underpayment and poor labor conditions, the global textile industry sews together economic dependence and human rights concerns, highlighting the urgent need for ethical reforms in a landscape where developing countries produce approximately 75% of our clothes for just a few dollars each.

Sustainability and Recycling

The average lifecycle of a garment has decreased from 4.5 years in 2000 to 2.2 years in 2020.
The textile industry consumes about 93 billion cubic meters of water annually.
The fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions.
Over 87% of the total fiber input used in the clothing industry is synthetic, mainly derived from fossil fuels.
The average water footprint per t-shirt is approximately 2,700 liters of water.
The textile and apparel industry ranks third among the most water-intensive industries worldwide.
Approximately 60% of textiles in the U.S. are thrown away within a year of purchase.
60% of textile waste ends up in landfills.
The garment industry’s energy consumption accounts for approximately 15% of the total energy use in the fashion supply chain.
The use of recycled fibers in the garment industry has increased by approximately 9% annually in the past five years.
Approximately 2,700 liters of water are required to produce just one cotton T-shirt.
The average lifespan of fast fashion garments is less than 15 wears.
The garment industry’s waste generation is estimated at 92 million tons annually worldwide.
73% of the lifespan of textiles in landfills is in the form of synthetic fibers.
The fashion industry accounts for 20-35% of the environmental impact of global textiles.
Over 60% of clothing items in Western countries are made from synthetic fibers.
The average carbon footprint per kilogram of clothing is roughly 23 kg CO2e.
The low-cost garment industry severely impacts the environment through water pollution, chemical use, and waste.
The adoption of sustainable practices in the garment supply chain has increased by approximately 15% annually over the past decade.
The majority of textile dyeing contributes approximately 17–20% of industrial water pollution globally.
The apparel industry’s overall energy consumption is estimated at about 1,300 terawatt-hours annually.
Textile waste constitutes approximately 60–70% of all solid waste in landfills in developed countries.
About 4% of global greenhouse emissions are directly attributable to the textile and apparel sector.
The average lifespan of garments in developed countries is about 3.3 years.
The use of organic cotton accounts for less than 1% of global cotton production but is on the rise.
Approximately 60% of the water used in textile dyeing is discharged as wastewater without proper treatment.
The use of cheap synthetic dyes in the garment industry contributes significantly to environmental pollution.
The use of biodegradable fabrics in the garment industry is increasing, but currently accounts for less than 2% of the market.
The average age of a garment in a typical wardrobe is around 2.5 years.
Nearly 8 million metric tons of textile waste are generated each year in the European Union.
The apparel industry’s contribution to global water pollution is equivalent to the wastewater produced by a country like Germany on a daily basis.
The percentage of clothing waste recycled into new fibers increased by 11% from 2018 to 2022.
Nearly 90% of the garments produced arrive in landfills within a year of production.

Sustainability and Recycling Interpretation

As fast as our garments wear out—shrinking from 4.5 to 2.2 years—so does the planet’s patience, with the clothing industry’s water use, carbon footprint, and waste output racing to meet the speed of fast fashion, leaving sustainability as the only truly timeless measure.

Technological Advancements and Innovations

The rise of automation and AI in garment manufacturing is projected to reduce labor costs by up to 25% in the next decade.

Technological Advancements and Innovations Interpretation

As automation and AI stitch their way into the garment industry, they're not just hemming costs—they're unraveling the traditional role of human labor in fashion's future.