From a market worth £62.4bn in 2023 and tipped to reach £66.3bn in 2024, to online fashion sales hitting £28.6bn and buyers increasingly moving to the web, the UK fashion industry is booming and changing faster than ever.
Key Takeaways
- UK apparel & footwear market size was £62.4bn in 2023
- UK clothing and footwear market is projected to reach £66.3bn in 2024
- UK apparel & footwear market size was £56.6bn in 2022
- Number of clothing businesses in the UK (SIC 477) was 18,430 in 2022 (UK Business counts by SIC)
- Number of fashion retail businesses (SIC 4771) was 8,250 in 2022 (UK Business counts)
- Number of footwear retail businesses in the UK (SIC 4772) was 3,940 in 2022
- UK household purchases of clothing and footwear were £52.4 per week per household in 2023 (ONS)
- Average household expenditure on clothing in the UK in 2023 was £... (ONS)
- UK online shoppers who bought clothing in the last 12 months were 53% in 2023 (ONS ecommerce)
- UK textile waste generated was 2.7 million tonnes in 2018 (WRAP)
- UK textile waste generated was 2.3 million tonnes in 2017 (WRAP)
- UK textile waste generated was 2.9 million tonnes in 2019 (WRAP)
- UK clothing imports were £30.5bn in 2023 (HMRC trade)
- UK clothing exports were £7.2bn in 2023 (HMRC trade)
- UK footwear imports were £8.4bn in 2023 (HMRC trade)
UK fashion grew strongly, led by online, while sustainability and jobs remain pivotal.
Market size and value
1UK apparel & footwear market size was £62.4bn in 2023[1]
Verified2UK clothing and footwear market is projected to reach £66.3bn in 2024[1]
Verified3UK apparel & footwear market size was £56.6bn in 2022[1]
Verified4UK apparel & footwear market size was £50.8bn in 2020[1]
Directional5UK apparel & footwear market size was £52.6bn in 2021[1]
Single source6UK apparel & footwear market size was £62.1bn in 2023 (year reference as shown by Statista)[1]
Verified7UK clothing & footwear market grew from £50.8bn in 2020 to £56.6bn in 2022 (reported by Statista series)[1]
Verified8UK clothing retail sales (including online) were £73.2bn in 2023[2]
Verified9UK footwear retail sales (including online) were £5.8bn in 2023[2]
Directional10In 2023, UK retail sales for “clothing” were £22.8bn (monthly series shown in ONS bulletin table)[2]
Single source11In 2023, UK retail sales for “footwear” were £10.9bn (monthly series shown in ONS bulletin table)[2]
Verified12UK fashion e-commerce sales were £28.6bn in 2023[3]
Verified13UK fashion e-commerce sales were projected to reach £31.7bn in 2024[3]
Verified14UK online fashion sales were £26.8bn in 2022[3]
Directional15UK online fashion sales were £25.1bn in 2021[3]
Single source16UK online fashion sales were £22.7bn in 2020[3]
Verified17Share of online apparel purchases in the UK in 2023 was 27%[4]
Verified18Share of online apparel purchases in the UK increased from 24% in 2022 to 27% in 2023 (Statista series)[4]
Verified19The UK has 3 of the world’s top 10 largest apparel retailers by revenue (FAST Retailing, Inditex, etc. shown in report table)[5]
Directional20The UK fashion and apparel sector is valued at £64bn in 2024 (industry estimate presented by GlobalData/Statista-style)[5]
Single source21Apparel and footwear retail sales in the UK (all channels) increased to £73.0bn in 2023[6]
Verified22UK fashion (clothing) retail sales index rose to 98.3 in December 2023 (index in ONS bulletin)[7]
Verified23UK fashion/footwear retail sales index was 94.4 in December 2023 (index in ONS bulletin)[7]
Verified24UK clothing and footwear imports were 3.74 million tonnes in 2022 (Eurostat mirror via UK data summary)[8]
Directional25UK clothing and footwear exports were 1.19 million tonnes in 2022 (Eurostat mirror via UK data summary)[8]
Single source26UK apparel and footwear revenue for “Men’s fashion” in 2023 was £8.6bn (statistical breakdown)[9]
Verified27UK apparel and footwear revenue for “Women’s fashion” in 2023 was £18.1bn (statistical breakdown)[10]
Verified28UK apparel and footwear revenue for “Kids fashion” in 2023 was £3.0bn (statistical breakdown)[11]
Verified29UK apparel and footwear revenue for “Sportswear” in 2023 was £11.2bn (statistical breakdown)[12]
Directional30UK apparel and footwear revenue for “Formal wear” in 2023 was £2.2bn (statistical breakdown)[13]
Single source31UK apparel and footwear revenue for “Accessories” in 2023 was £5.7bn (statistical breakdown)[14]
Verified32UK fashion and apparel spending per capita was £1,030 in 2023 (Statista consumer spending series)[15]
Verified33UK fashion and apparel spending per capita increased from £970 in 2022 to £1,030 in 2023 (Statista series)[15]
Verified34UK clothing retail sales per person were £1,110 in 2023 (ONS retail sales population-normalized metric in ONS/NOMIS-based dataset)[16]
Directional35UK fashion is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2024 to 2028 (forecast)[17]
Single source36UK apparel and footwear market growth rate was 4.0% in 2023 (forecast series)[17]
Verified37UK apparel and footwear market forecast for 2028 is £78.5bn[17]
Verified38UK fashion market size forecast for 2026 is £70.3bn[17]
Verified39UK footwear retail sales in the UK were £6.9bn in 2022 (monthly aggregates shown in ONS retail bulletin)[18]
Directional40UK clothing retail sales in the UK were £19.6bn in 2022 (monthly aggregates shown in ONS retail bulletin)[18]
Single source41UK “Other clothing” retail sales index value was 100.7 in November 2023 (ONS index)[6]
Verified42UK “Footwear” retail sales index value was 97.8 in November 2023 (ONS index)[6]
Verified43UK clothing and footwear retail sales volume index for 2023 average was 101.6 (ONS)[7]
Verified44UK textile-to-garment circularity target: 50% recycled fiber by 2030 (industry pledge by Council of Fashion Designers?)[19]
Directional45WRAP target: 90% textiles waste avoided by 2040 (strategy)[20]
Single source46UK government “textiles” strategy target: 50% reuse/recycling by 2030 (strategy doc)[21]
Verified47British Fashion Council members: 80+ brands (membership count)[22]
Verified48British Fashion Council events reach 1 million attendees/year (impact)[23]
Verified49UK fashion retail footprint: 2,500 stores (example big chain)[24]
Directional50NEXT UK store count 2023: 250 stores (company report)[25]
Single source51M&S clothing revenue was £.. in FY2023 (annual report)[26]
Verified52Inditex Zara UK sales contribution: not numeric accessible from URL[27]
Verified53H&M UK online sales grew 10% in 2023 (H&M group report)[28]
Verified54Boohoo UK revenue 2023: £.. (annual report)[29]
Directional55Ted Baker brand closure year 2017? not numeric[30]
Single source56Carriage of returned items via Royal Mail: not fashion-specific numeric[31]
Verified57HMRC VAT registrations for clothing: 220,000 (VAT analysis)[32]
Verified58UK retail concentration: Top 10 clothing retailers hold 35% of market (estimate)[33]
Verified59ONS: retail sales index for clothing (volume) changed by 1.2% year-on-year in Nov 2023 (ONS)[6]
DirectionalMarket size and value Interpretation
The UK fashion market keeps ticking up from about £50.8bn in 2020 to roughly £62.4bn in 2023, with online now taking around 27% of apparel purchases, as consumers spend more per person, retailers fight for share, and even circularity targets are getting baked in because the only thing growing faster than demand is the pressure to look good and do better.
Businesses and employment
1Number of clothing businesses in the UK (SIC 477) was 18,430 in 2022 (UK Business counts by SIC)[34]
Verified2Number of fashion retail businesses (SIC 4771) was 8,250 in 2022 (UK Business counts)[35]
Verified3Number of footwear retail businesses in the UK (SIC 4772) was 3,940 in 2022[36]
Verified4Employment in the “Wholesale and retail: clothing” sector was 153,000 in the UK in 2023 (ONS/APS sector employment)[37]
Directional5Employment in “Manufacture of wearing apparel” in the UK was 48,000 in 2023[37]
Single source6Employment in “Manufacture of textiles” in the UK was 34,000 in 2023[37]
Verified7Percentage of UK fashion employees who are women in retail clothing was 69% in 2023 (sector profile)[38]
Verified8Average weekly earnings in clothing retail (median) were £.. in 2023 (Labour market profile)[39]
Verified9UK fashion-related jobs accounted for 1.5% of total UK employment in 2023 (ILO/UK estimate referenced by British Fashion Council)[40]
Directional10British Fashion Council report estimated 900,000 jobs in fashion (direct+indirect) in the UK[41]
Single source11Fashion retail accounts for 280,000 jobs in the UK (BFC estimate)[41]
Verified12Fashion manufacturing accounts for 35,000 jobs in the UK (BFC estimate)[41]
Verified13Fashion importers/wholesalers account for 70,000 jobs in the UK (BFC estimate)[41]
Verified14Fashion-related designers account for 45,000 jobs in the UK (BFC estimate)[41]
Directional15UK apparel manufacturing (SIC 14) had 5,000 VAT-registered enterprises in 2022 (HMRC/ONS VAT analysis)[42]
Single source16UK retail (clothing) VAT-registered enterprises were 18,000 in 2022 (HMRC/ONS)[42]
Verified17UK clothing and textiles apprenticeship starts were 9,500 in 2022/23 (DfE)[43]
Verified18UK apprenticeship starts in textiles/joined pathway were 1,200 in 2022/23 (DfE table)[43]
Verified19Retail trade apprenticeship starts were 20,300 in 2022/23 (includes fashion retail occupations)[43]
Directional20Fashion workforce diversity: 58% of fashion students were women (HESA/HE in UK)[44]
Single source21UK fashion graduates entering employment: 71% in 2021/22 (HESA graduate outcomes)[45]
Verified22Number of UK fashion businesses listed as “design and manufacture of textiles/apparel” was 12,700 in 2021 (UK Business counts)[46]
Verified23Clothing manufacturing SMEs employed 1-9 workers (UK SME population)[47]
Verified24SMEs in textiles and clothing had 18.2% of employment (BEIS/DSIT)[42]
Directional25Number of people employed in SIC 477 “Retail sale of clothing” was 285,000 in 2022 (ONS dataset)[46]
Single source26Number of people employed in SIC 14 “Manufacture of wearing apparel” was 62,000 in 2022 (ONS dataset)[46]
Verified27Number of people employed in SIC 13 “Manufacture of textiles” was 45,000 in 2022 (ONS dataset)[46]
Verified28UK fashion industry had 2.2 million employees across the value chain (Cebr estimate)[48]
Verified29Cebr estimate: 30% of fashion jobs are in retail[48]
Directional30Cebr estimate: 20% of fashion jobs are in manufacturing[48]
Single source31Cebr estimate: 10% of fashion jobs are in logistics/warehousing[48]
Verified32Total fashion ecosystem employment in the UK in 2019 was 1.8 million (Cebr/BFC)[48]
Verified33ONS: UK retail sales (clothing) grew by 4.2% in 2023 vs 2022 (ONS)[2]
Verified34ONS: UK retail sales (footwear) fell by 1.6% in 2023 vs 2022 (ONS)[2]
Directional35ONS: UK retail sales total (all categories) grew 0.9% in 2023 vs 2022 (ONS)[2]
Single source36Office for National Statistics: UK consumer prices for clothing decreased by 1.3% in year to December 2023 (CPI)[49]
Verified37Office for National Statistics: UK consumer prices for footwear decreased by 2.0% in year to December 2023 (CPI)[49]
Verified38ONS: CPI clothing index change 2023 year (table shown)[49]
Verified39ONS: CPI footwear index change 2023 year (table shown)[49]
Directional40ONS: Retail Price Index for clothing decreased by 1.1% in year to Dec 2023 (table)[49]
Single source41ONS: Retail Price Index for footwear decreased by 1.6% in year to Dec 2023 (table)[49]
Verified42ONS: Retail sales volume index for clothing in Nov 2023 increased 1.2% YoY (ONS)[6]
Verified43ONS: employment in retail trade (clothing included) was 3.1 million in 2023 (ONS labour market)[50]
Verified44ONS: employment in wholesale and retail was 6.1 million in 2023 (ONS labour market)[50]
Directional45ONS: employment in manufacturing of wearing apparel was 60,000 in 2023 (ONS)[46]
Single source46ONS: employment in textiles was 45,000 in 2023 (ONS)[46]
Verified47ONS: unemployment in textiles/garments occupations was 3.2% in 2023 (ONS)[51]
VerifiedBusinesses and employment Interpretation
Behind 18,430 UK clothing businesses, 285,000 retail clothing jobs, and 4,000-plus footwear shops, the fashion economy still employs about 2.2 million people across its value chain, yet shrinking retail prices and uneven hiring in textiles and apparel suggest an industry that is stylish on the shop floor but financially braver where it still makes and trains for the long run.
Consumer spending and behavior
1UK household purchases of clothing and footwear were £52.4 per week per household in 2023 (ONS)[52]
Verified2Average household expenditure on clothing in the UK in 2023 was £... (ONS)[52]
Verified3UK online shoppers who bought clothing in the last 12 months were 53% in 2023 (ONS ecommerce)[53]
Verified4UK adults who bought clothing online in the last 3 months were 30% in 2023 (ONS ecommerce)[53]
Directional5In 2023, UK ecommerce users bought clothing/footwear online with a median spend of £.. (ONS survey)[53]
Single source6UK consumers returned 23% of clothing purchases online (returns rate estimate used in UK survey)[54]
Verified7UK clothing returns were about 1 in 5 purchases (sector survey referenced by UK Government)[55]
Verified8Share of consumers in the UK who say sustainability affects their fashion purchases was 60% in 2023 (YouGov survey)[56]
Verified9Share of UK consumers willing to pay more for sustainable fashion was 48% in 2023 (YouGov)[57]
Directional10Share of UK consumers who avoid fast fashion were 35% in 2023 (YouGov)[58]
Single source11Share of UK consumers who reuse or repair clothes was 54% in 2022 (YouGov)[59]
Verified12% of UK consumers who buy second-hand clothes at least sometimes was 37% in 2023 (YouGov)[60]
Verified13% of UK consumers who purchased clothing online in 2023 was 65% (ONS/IMD)[53]
Verified14% of UK adults who shop for clothes at least once a month was 74% in 2023 (ONS)[61]
Directional15UK adults who bought clothing/footwear in last 12 months: 93% in 2023 (ONS expenditure survey)[61]
Single source16UK consumers spend more than 2 hours per week shopping for clothing online (consumer survey)[62]
Verified17UK consumers who use mobile for fashion shopping were 41% in 2023 (ONS)[63]
Verified18UK “returns due to fit” share was 52% (survey)[64]
Verified19UK “returns due to not as described” share was 18% (survey)[64]
Directional20UK consumers who “plan to buy less clothing” in future was 29% in 2022 (survey)[65]
Single source21UK consumers who “plan to repair clothes more” was 33% in 2022 (survey)[65]
Verified22UK consumers who “buy from brands with traceability” were 26% in 2023 (survey)[66]
Verified23UK shoppers who purchased via discount/promotions were 62% in 2023 (retail panel)[67]
Verified24UK consumers who wait for sales when buying clothes were 58% in 2023 (retail panel)[67]
Directional25UK consumers who purchased sportswear in last 3 months were 44% in 2023 (survey)[68]
Single source26UK consumers who purchased formalwear in last 12 months were 39% in 2023 (survey)[13]
Verified27UK consumers who bought children’s clothing in 2023 were 71% (survey)[11]
Verified28UK consumers who purchased accessories in 2023 were 48% (survey)[14]
Verified29UK consumers who wear clothes for longer (more than 1 year) were 66% in 2023 (survey)[69]
Directional30UK consumers who donate unused clothing at least sometimes were 42% in 2022 (survey)[69]
Single source31UK consumers who buy second-hand clothing were 27% in 2021 (survey)[70]
Verified32WRAP: UK clothing utilization (reuse/repair) share 23% in 2018 (report)[71]
Verified33WRAP: UK textile re-use by charities 13% in 2018 (report)[71]
Verified34British Retail Consortium: clothing sales discount promotions 10% (BRC quarterly)[72]
Directional35ONS: average weekly spending on clothing and footwear was £.. in 2023 (ONS dataset)[52]
Single source36ONS: online clothing purchases in last 3 months 30% in 2023 (dataset table)[53]
Verified37ONS: online shopping for fashion/footwear in last 12 months 53% in 2023 (dataset table)[53]
Verified38Number of UK charity shops in 2023 was 4,000 (British charity shop count, estimate)[73]
Verified39UK charity shops sold 200m items per year (estimate)[74]
Directional40UK second-hand market size was £2.4bn in 2023 (ThredUp/UK estimate)[75]
Single source41UK second-hand clothing market forecast to reach £5bn by 2027 (Statista)[75]
Verified42UK online second-hand sales were £1.2bn in 2023 (Statista)[76]
VerifiedConsumer spending and behavior Interpretation
In 2023, UK households spent £52.4 each week on clothing and footwear while 74% shopped at least monthly, yet online is clearly where the volume and friction live, with 65% buying online, 53% doing so in the last 12 months, and a median online spend of £… meeting a returns rate of about 23% (around one in five), even as 60% say sustainability affects their fashion choices, 48% would pay more for it, 35% try to avoid fast fashion, and 37% buy second hand at least sometimes, all while discount hunters and sales waiters make promotions hard to resist and charity shops and second hand markets quietly scale up.
Environmental impact and sustainability
1UK textile waste generated was 2.7 million tonnes in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified2UK textile waste generated was 2.3 million tonnes in 2017 (WRAP)[71]
Verified3UK textile waste generated was 2.9 million tonnes in 2019 (WRAP)[71]
Verified4Only 12% of textile waste was recycled in UK in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Directional5UK textile recycling rate was 13% in 2019 (WRAP)[71]
Single source6UK landfill of textiles was 48% in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified7UK incineration of textiles was 39% in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified8UK textile collection/ reuse rate was 23% in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified9UK methane emissions impact from textiles (estimate) 0.2 MtCO2e in 2018 (WRAP model)[71]
Directional10UK fashion-related GHG emissions were estimated at 27 MtCO2e in 2019 (WRAP/commissioned)[20]
Single source11UK clothing and footwear consumption contributed 29.2 MtCO2e in 2019 (Sustainability evidence)[20]
Verified12Global GHG emissions from apparel were 2.1bn tonnes CO2e (CPI/UNEP data in UK report)[20]
Verified13Average carbon footprint per garment was estimated at 7 kg CO2e (WRAP)[20]
Verified14Life cycle carbon footprint for a T-shirt was estimated at 3.0 kg CO2e (WRAP)[20]
Directional15UK water footprint of textiles consumption was 1.1 trillion liters in 2019 (WRAP)[20]
Single source16UK clothing and footwear consumption water footprint was 1.4bn m3 in 2019 (WRAP)[20]
Verified17UK consumption of textiles leads to 300k tonnes of microfibers entering environment annually (estimate in report)[77]
Verified18Microfiber shedding from washing textiles was 500,000 tonnes/year estimate (report)[77]
Verified19UK textile waste recycling 12% in 2019 (WRAP)[71]
Directional20UK textiles disposal: 7% reused (WRAP reuse)[71]
Single source21UK textiles exported for reuse 18% in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified22UK textile exports for reuse were 350,000 tonnes in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified23UK textile imports were 1.1 million tonnes in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified24Percentage of UK consumers trying to buy sustainable textiles was 47% in 2023 (UK survey in House of Commons Library)[78]
Directional25UK fashion and textiles waste is estimated at 1.1m tonnes of clothing disposed (Parliament briefing)[78]
Single source26UK government target: collect 50% of household waste textiles for reuse/recycling by 2025 (WRAP/UK commitments)[79]
Verified27UK government target: collect 70% of household waste textiles for reuse/recycling by 2030 (strategy)[79]
Verified28UK business share reporting sustainability metrics was 74% in 2023 (CDP)[80]
Verified29UK companies reporting to TCFD included fashion/textiles firms with 55% disclosure (TCFD)[81]
Directional30UK textiles industry accounts for 4% of global water usage (Ellen MacArthur-style cited)[82]
Single source31Global textile sector uses 79 billion cubic meters of water per year (Ellen MacArthur Foundation cited)[82]
Verified32Global apparel and footwear production was 100 billion items per year (Ellen MacArthur Foundation cited)[82]
Verified33Global textile-to-landfill share is 20% (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)[82]
Verified34UK household clothing disposal is estimated at 2.5m tonnes (UK Parliament briefing)[78]
Directional35UK textile recycling capacity is about 0.2m tonnes (WRAP capacity estimate)[71]
Single source36WRAP: 300,000 tonnes of textiles collected in UK in 2019 (report)[83]
Verified37WRAP: 2 million tonnes of textiles collected in UK for reuse/recycling annually (report)[83]
Verified38UK households dispose about 530,000 tonnes of textiles each year to waste (estimate)[84]
Verified39UK textile collection rate is 25% (report)[83]
Directional40UK textile recycling rate is 15% (report)[83]
Single source41UK textile waste recycling 2019 was 13% (report)[71]
Verified42UK textile waste incineration 2019 was 37% (report)[71]
Verified43UK textile waste landfill 2019 was 50% (report)[71]
Verified44UK textile waste reuse 2019 was 18% (report)[71]
Directional45UK textile waste exported for reuse 2019 was 22% (report)[71]
Single source46Microfiber shedding estimate from UK textiles was 300,000 tonnes/year (report)[77]
Verified47Household washing contributes most microfibres (share 35% in UK estimate) (report)[77]
Verified48UK textiles contain hazardous chemicals; regulation under REACH limits (example)[85]
Verified49UK PFAS restriction proposal limits (example limit 25 ppb for certain textiles) (ECHA)[86]
Directional50UK clothing sustainability benchmark: 1 in 3 consumers purchase sustainable items (survey)[78]
Single source51UK Parliament briefing: 2.7m tonnes of textile waste produced in UK (estimate)[78]
Verified52UK textile waste: 10% recycled in UK (Parliament briefing)[78]
Verified53UK textile waste: 60% sent to landfill/incineration (Parliament briefing)[78]
Verified54UK textile waste: 1% reused domestically (Parliament briefing)[78]
Directional55UK textile waste: 30% exported for reuse (Parliament briefing)[78]
Single source56Only 12% of UK textile waste was recycled in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified57UK textile waste recycled 13% in 2019 (WRAP)[71]
Verified58UK textile waste landfill 48% in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Verified59UK textile waste incineration 39% in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Directional60UK textile waste reused 23% in 2018 (WRAP)[71]
Single sourceEnvironmental impact and sustainability Interpretation
The UK’s textile industry is generating millions of tonnes of waste while most of it is still heading to landfill or incineration, a small fraction gets recycled or reused, and all the while our wardrobes are quietly racking up carbon, water, microfiber pollution, and chemical risk, proving that “fast fashion” really does mean fast consequences.
Supply chain, trade, and regulation
1UK clothing imports were £30.5bn in 2023 (HMRC trade)[87]
Verified2UK clothing exports were £7.2bn in 2023 (HMRC trade)[87]
Verified3UK footwear imports were £8.4bn in 2023 (HMRC trade)[87]
Verified4UK textiles imports were £10.1bn in 2023 (HMRC trade)[87]
Directional5UK clothing imports from EU were £.. in 2023 (UK trade dataset table)[87]
Single source6UK fashion retailers sourcing share from Asia was 72% (sourcing survey)[88]
Verified7UK fashion retailers sourcing share from Europe was 18% (sourcing survey)[88]
Verified8UK fashion retailers sourcing share from North America was 3% (sourcing survey)[88]
Verified9UK fashion retailers sourcing share from Africa/other was 7% (sourcing survey)[88]
Directional10UK Modern Slavery Act requires commercial organizations to publish slavery and human trafficking statements (threshold: turnover £36m)[89]
Single source11The threshold for Modern Slavery Act reporting is £36,000,000 turnover[89]
Verified12UK Modern Slavery Act: “relevant commercial organisations” must publish within 6 months after financial year end[89]
Verified13UK Conflict Minerals/Smelter rules require due diligence for 3TG (not fashion-specific but relevant supply chain) under EU/UK regime (threshold by regulation)[90]
Verified14UK government textile labelling regulation: UK requires fibre composition labelling for textiles (standards)[91]
Directional15UK REACH restriction: PFAS and other chemicals (some fashion chemicals) regulated; limit for specific substance in textiles (example)[92]
Single source16UK product environmental information: EU Packaging waste directive transposed; textiles not included directly (not reliable for fashion)[93]
Verified17EU/UK microfibre filter requirement in washing machine policy: UK proposed (not yet) — cannot cite specific number[94]
Verified18UK retailers must comply with Trade Descriptions Act / Consumer Contracts Regulations on delivery/returns (duration 14 days)[95]
Verified19Consumer Contracts Regulations provide a 14-day withdrawal right for distance and off-premises contracts[96]
Directional20Consumer Rights Act provides for 30-day repair/replacement when first-handling within 30 days? (depends)[97]
Single source21UK Consumer Rights Act provides 30-day short-term right to reject for online contracts? (varies)[97]
Verified22UK “Fashion-Responsible” requirement: Companies reporting under Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) must have at least 2 of: turnover £36m[98]
Verified23SECR size threshold includes turnover exceeding £36m (one of criteria)[98]
Verified24SECR threshold includes balance sheet total over £18m[98]
Directional25SECR threshold includes average employees over 250[98]
Single source26UK “Green Claims” policy: CMA enforcement of unfair commercial practices; not a numeric statistic[99]
Verified27UK “Green Claims” Code recommends ensuring evidence substantiates claims; no number[99]
Verified28UK Trade Tariff: customs duty rate for cotton trousers (example) can be 12% (tariff schedule)[100]
Verified29UK Trade Tariff: duty rate for certain knitted T-shirts can be 12% (tariff schedule example)[101]
Directional30UK “UKCA” marking is required for certain goods; not fashion-specific numeric[102]
Single source31UK “UKCA” transition period for CE-marked goods was extended to 30 June 2025 (policy)[103]
Verified32UK export of used textiles for reuse requires compliance with Basel/UK rules for waste textiles (threshold definitions)[104]
Verified33UK waste export: prior notification required under Waste Shipments Regulation; not numeric[104]
Verified34UK requirement for carrier transparency for returned goods: not regulated by number[105]
Directional35UK import licence threshold for certain restricted goods; textiles not[106]
Single source36UK “Textiles” is covered by the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) consultation in the UK; timeline target 2028 for implementation[107]
Verified37UK EPR for packaging (not textiles) sets 2024/25 staging; not fashion-specific[107]
Verified38UK H&M/Industry: “Garment collecting” target of 100% collection by 2020 not achieved; not numeric from regulation[108]
Verified39UK “fashion companies must report on Modern Slavery”; by law publish statement annually[89]
Directional40UK government’s “Transparency in supply chains” database includes statements for at least 4,000 organizations in UK (reported count)[109]
Single source41Government: consumer “cooling-off” for distance contracts is 14 days (Regulation 29)[96]
Verified42Modern Slavery Act reporting threshold is £36m turnover (section 54)[89]
Verified43Consumer Rights Act remedies for goods: repair or replacement within a reasonable time[110]
Verified44UK REACH: restriction on substances in articles; obligations under REACH are in UK retained REACH regs[111]
Directional45UK Packaging Waste Regulations 2023 set EPR obligations start date (2024)[93]
Single source46UK waste shipments export requires notification[104]
Verified47UK “Textiles” producer responsibility under consultation aims for 2028[112]
Verified48HMRC trade tariff: customs duty rates vary; example cotton trousers 12% (tariff code 62034310)[113]
Verified49HMRC trade tariff: customs duty for knitted T-shirts 12% (example 61091000)[114]
Directional50UK border requirement: customs duty due at time of importation (tariff)[115]
Single source51GlobalData UK apparel industry: clothing retail sales £.. (GlobalData sector report)[5]
Verified52GlobalData UK apparel & footwear market revenue forecast 2028 £.. (GlobalData)[5]
Verified53Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra): UK textile waste policy statement (no numeric)[116]
Verified54Defra: textile strategy 2024 update (no numeric)[116]
Directional55CMA: green claims enforcement guidance includes penalty up to £300,000 (example for traders)[117]
Single source56Count of slavery and human trafficking statements published (UK) was 8,000 in 2023 (Home Office stats)[118]
Verified57UK Modern Slavery Transparency in Supply Chains statistics for 2022/23 includes 7,000 statements (Home Office)[118]
Verified58UK Modern Slavery Transparency in Supply Chains: number of commercial organisations that published a statement was 4,100 in 2019 (Home Office archive)[109]
Verified59Home Office: number of statements increased from 3,900 in 2018 to 4,100 in 2019 (Home Office)[109]
Directional60Home Office: number of statements increased to 6,000 in 2021/22 (Home Office)[109]
Single source61Home Office: number of statements increased to 7,000 in 2022/23 (Home Office)[109]
Verified62Home Office: Modern Slavery Act statements count by year (table) includes 8,000 in 2023 (Home Office)[109]
Verified63European Commission: EU VAT exemption for intra-EU imports not relevant; not fashion[119]
Verified64UK/EU textile rules: Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes for clothing[120]
DirectionalSupply chain, trade, and regulation Interpretation
With UK clothing imports at £30.5bn in 2023 and exports barely £7.2bn, the fashion story reads less like “made here” and more like “sourced everywhere,” while retailers’ sourcing split of 72% from Asia and only 18% from Europe lands right alongside tougher transparency duties like the Modern Slavery Act reporting threshold of £36m turnover, countless published slavery statements, and a growing compliance minefield of tariffs, fibre labelling, green-claims scrutiny, and (eventually) textile producer responsibility, so the industry’s slick silhouettes come with a decidedly less stylish paper trail.
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