Apparel, Clothing and Footwear

Childrenswear has seen volume sales decline in 2023, while inflation and rising unit prices have boosted current value sales, similar to the overall trend in apparel. While childrenswear did not experience the same fluctuations as other apparel…

Childrenswear has faced various headwinds. The several increases in interest rates and high inflation, which averaged at around 4.3% in 2022 and 2023, compounded by the political turmoil revolving around the government’s contentious judicial reforms,…

The high inflation that prevailed in Hungary during 2022 and during 2023 led many consumers to make changes to their consumer habits in an effort to save money. This contributed to the significant shift towards more budget-friendly options that was…

Economic instability and high inflation continued to restrain retail volume sales of apparel and footwear in Turkey at the end of the review period. The Turkish economy is taking longer to recover than many the economies of some other countries. This…

Apparel and footwear in Sweden is expected to display weaker current retail value and volume growth in 2023. Retail volume will post an overall decline, while retail value is set to remain positive, albeit lower than levels experienced in 2021 and…

Retail sales of apparel and footwear in Spain registered a slowdown in growth in both volume and constant value terms in 2023, with the high cost of living being the key factor behind this trend. With many households exposed to rising interest rates,…

The outbreak of COVID-19, followed by the war in Ukraine, has led to high inflation rates in Portugal throughout 2023. Despite apparel and footwear products only witnessing moderate price increases, energy and packaged food saw high rises, impacting…

Apparel and footwear in Norway is expected to see a decline in retail volume terms and a modest current value sales increase in 2023, boosted by inflation and rising unit prices. The notably lower growth in 2023 follows two years of growth, which saw…

Apparel and footwear is set to record mid-single digit growth in current value terms in 2023, which translates to a decline in constant terms driven by the challenging economic and political environment that have seen Israeli consumers limiting their…

The wave of inflation that swept across Europe in the wake of the Russian Federation’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine continued into 2023, with Hungary witnessing the highest core inflation of all European countries during the year after…

Many local consumers prefer to make frequent small purchases, such as apparel accessories, in order to stylise their look without having to spend on larger, more expensive items of apparel, or at least delay their purchase. This behaviour is…

Apparel accessories has seen a weaker performance in 2023, following strong growth in 2021 and a stable development in 2022 (excluding Other Apparel, which plummeted due to face masks no longer being needed).

Retail volume sales of apparel accessories fell significantly for the second consecutive year in 2023. This was mainly due the declining performance of other apparel accessories, following the relaxation of all remaining regulations regarding the…

Being viewed as non-essential products, apparel accessories was challenged due to inflation rates in 2023. Portuguese consumers suffered from declining purchasing power, adapting their purchasing choices to focus on essential items. The recovery from…

Similar to most apparel categories, apparel accessories registered weaker volume sales in 2023 after growth in 2021 and 2022. Likewise, current value sales remained buoyant due to inflation and rising unit prices. Apparel accessories are purchased…

Seasonal sales in 2023, were impacted by unfavourable weather conditions, leading to limited and delayed consumer purchases of apparel accessories. 2023 saw unfavourable weather, with an extremely hot winter 2022/2023 leading consumers to delay…

2023 saw dips in demand for scarves, hats, gloves and similar items of winter apparel as several factors undermined the willingness of consumers to spend money on such items. The most important influence on waning demand for warm scarves, hats and…

As inflation in Poland continues to outpace the EU average, many Polish consumers are curtailing their expenditure on non-essential items like apparel. They are opting for more affordable brands, private label, and second-hand items. Women's wear…

In response to Morocco's hot climate, loose trousers, loose tops, and dresses have surged in popularity. Dresses, especially, have seen significant growth as they cater to both conservative and less conservative women. This trend aligns with a…

A mild winter in 2023 led to only modest volume growth for product areas such as jackets and coats and jumpers. However, temperatures were unusually low in late spring, with the summer season starting later than usual. This impacted sales of summer…

Retail volume sales of womenswear are projected to fall over 2023. This is partly due to stabilisation following two years of rebound, especially in 2022, from the slump recorded during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. However, demand has…

Womenswear in Argentina has long been dominated by domestic companies, with international players having a relatively limited presence in the category. Despite the most severe cost-of-living crisis in a generation, premium domestic brands that…

Despite Poland's sustained high inflation in 2023, the prices for sports and sports-inspired clothing continued their upward trajectory, albeit at a slower pace than in 2022. Consequently, sportswear experienced significant sales growth in value…

The national team's World Cup success significantly boosted sales of national football t-shirts among both locals and tourists, attributing to impressive growth. Meanwhile, BD Morocco's collaboration with athlete Hadi Laabi for brand promotion…

Although inflation is beginning to ease in 2023, average unit prices remain high, and local consumers have been forced to reduce spending on non-essential items, including apparel and footwear. Many consumers are trading down to cheaper brands of…

Sportswear in Austria is starting to show signs of saturation after an excellent recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Many consumers purchased sportswear/athleisure for comfort and ease during long periods at home in the wake of…

Import restrictions and capital controls have driven a number of international sportswear brands to withdraw from Argentina in recent years. Several of those that continue trading in the country meanwhile have attempted to mitigate the challenges…

In 2023, outbound tourism from Poland expanded significantly, while domestic tourism witnessed double-digit growth, significantly contributing to the increased demand for men's swimwear. The rise in international and domestic travel has spurred a…

Increasing price-sensitivity among male consumers led to a notable shift in preferences towards more affordable clothing options, particularly in economy clothing. This trend was further accentuated by the rise in customs duties on imported textile…

The impact of hikes in production and transport costs is leading to price increases across menswear in Greece, which was visible in mid-2022 and continues to influence category performance in 2023. Amid the cost of living crisis, which is taking its…

As in womenswear, retail volume sales of menswear are projected to decline over 2023, as the category stabilised following rebounds, especially in 2022, from the Coronavirus (COVID-19)-induced slump in 2020. Moreover, economic uncertainty amid high…

Fashion styles and workplace dress codes for men in Argentina have been becoming more casual for several years. This trend has recently been reinforced by changes brought about by COVID-19, most notably the wider adoption of remote/hybrid work…

Circular fashion, a sustainable approach encompassing recycling, upcycling, and extending the lifespan of jeans through repair and resale, stands at the forefront of the fashion industry's movement towards reducing waste and environmental impact.…

Tough economic conditions have led consumers to favour more affordable yet quality jeans, resulting in increased demand for economy and standard jeans. Standard jeans are preferred for their affordability, while economy jeans, especially favoured by…

The lifting of pandemic restrictions has boosted sales of Jeans in Greece in 2023, while unusually low temperatures in May and June prolonged the jeans-wearing season (usually, sales begin to decline in mid-spring, when local consumers switch to…

Men’s jeans and women’s jeans are projected to see retail volume sales decline across price segments over 2023. In Austria, the purchase of new jeans was not a priority at the end of the review period, with many consumers already owing one or more…

While the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades is the main reason jeans is set to record a steep decline in retail volume terms in 2023, it also continues to be more exposed to the growing willingness of Argentinians to purchase second-hand clothes…

Economic dynamics, notably high inflation and escalating living costs have fuelled a greater emphasis among consumers in Poland on price-consciousness. This inclination has driven a significant demand for cost-effective yet high-quality hosiery…

Hosiery purchases in Morocco continue to reflect low brand loyalty, primarily occurring as incidental buys during other shopping trips. The prevailing difficult economic conditions have severely constrained consumer finances, prompting a…

Extremely high inflation levels, resulting in price increases across most consumer goods, have directly impacted household purchasing power and led to changes in consumer behaviour. Within hosiery, consumers have become more price-sensitive,…

Hosiery slowed down in Austria in 2023 in comparison with 2022, as the cost of living crisis instilled caution over spending among consumers. Additionally, consumers purchased more hosiery in 2022, after two years of reduced demand due to the…

Retail sales of hosiery in Argentina have historically been concentrated in specialist stores. This is particularly the case with sheer hosiery items, which are mainly sold in outlets that also offer underwear, swimwear and nightwear. Similarly,…

The ongoing fluctuations in global temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns have instigated notable shifts in consumer behaviour. With the occurrence of an unusually cold spring and warm autumn in 2023, Polish consumers have adjusted their…

The surge in sports participation among various age groups and genders in Morocco has notably impacted footwear sales in 2023. With an increased focus on health and wellness, evidenced by the rise in gyms, walking tracks, and outdoor fitness…

Discounting activities have been gathering pace in footwear as players deploy this strategy to clear out accumulated stock gathered during the pandemic, and to mitigate declines in volume sales as a result of inflationary pressures which are…

Footwear has been under particular stress with the shift from traditional leather shoes to other materials and sports shoes for many years. In particularly, children’s footwear has been under pressure, and it is projected to see the biggest decline…

A large proportion of footwear sold in Argentina is manufactured domestically using imported raw materials. This is particularly the case with sports footwear from leading international brands. For example, the Brazilian Grupo Dass manufactures…

Over recent years, second-hand shopping gained global traction, primarily among Gen Z. This trend has now transcended demographics, notably appealing to parents of small children. With Poland's ongoing cost of living crisis and the rapid growth of…

Decreasing birth rates, largely influenced by post-pandemic economic repercussions, led to a weakened market for baby and toddler wear. The postponement of childbearing due to economic uncertainty, reduced marriages, and increased celibacy, driven by…

Within apparel and footwear, childrenswear was the least affected by COVID-19 and lockdowns, so the high growth recovery rates seen in apparel for adults are not as evident in childrenswear in 2023. Widespread and ongoing economic uncertainty is…