Apparel, Clothing and Footwear

2023 has seen life return to normal in Singapore, with consumers resuming all their pre-pandemic activities. The return to normalcy is set to help drive retail volume and current value sales of apparel and footwear in this year, with consumers…

Apparel and footwear in Thailand continues on the path to recovery in 2023, albeit sales have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels in current value terms. Even though the country continues to record COVID-19 cases, Thai consumers have learnt to…

Despite Singapore experiencing a declining birth rate, with a record decline seen in 2022, childrenswear is set to maintain growth in both retail volume and current value terms in 2023. These increases can primarily be attributed to the lifting of…

The purchasing behaviour of Thai parents and guardians is becoming more sophisticated when it comes to purchasing childrenswear. While they are still looking for value-for-money they are also increasingly focusing on both fashion and product quality.…

Sports-inspired footwear is poised to maintain its dynamic rise in popularity and demand amongst consumers in Singapore in 2023. This growth can be attributed to three main trends, with the first being the prioritisation of comfort. Due to the…

Sales of footwear in Thailand have continued on the path to recovery in 2023, with the category seeing strong growth in value and volume terms. With the pandemic over and consumer confidence returning players have begun launching footwear that caters…

Hosiery is set to see strong retail volume and current value growth in 2023, especially non-sheer hosiery, owing to the athleisure trend in the region. As more people are starting to dress casually and prioritise comfort, sneakers have more often…

Sales of hosiery have continued on the path to recovery in 2023 with COVID-19 regulations on social and office activities removed. However, the shift to a more casual style of fashion has continued to limit the post-pandemic recovery of sheer hosiery…

Denim on denim has made a comeback in 2023, with both men and women sporting this trend. The denim on denim trend involves pairing denim bottoms such as jeans, with a denim jacket or top. Brands have been seen to launch more denim products, and even…

Levi’s remains the leading brand in jeans in 2023, with it continuing to see high double-digit growth in current value terms. Levi’s Thailand in its efforts to build a stronger footing in the market has not only innovated in its products, but also in…

Menswear in Singapore has been regaining momentum after the significant pandemic-induced decline seen in 2020. Although the category is not expected to fully recover to the pre-pandemic levels of retail volume and current value sales in 2023, it is…

In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important theme across apparel and footwear in Thailand. When it comes to menswear, more players are seeking to distinguish themselves through the use of sustainable concepts in terms of…

Sportswear is expected to experience dynamic growth in retail current value terms in 2023, with this also set to continue over the forecast period. The demand for sportswear is being driven by an increasing number of people in Singapore participating…

Aligned with an increased focus on the importance of health and wellness among Thai consumers, there has been an increase in people taking part in workout routines and exercise activities. In 2023, sportswear brands have continued to leverage this…

With restrictions and lockdowns having been fully lifted in Singapore, womenswear has been rebounding from the significant drop in sales seen in 2020 due to the pandemic. The category is still not expected to reach the pre-pandemic levels of retail…

Womenswear in Thailand is seeing a shift in demand towards multi-purpose products. Although fashion remains the key concern when people are purchasing womenswear, consumers are also showing more concern with regard to the item’s functionality. This…

Apparel accessories remains in both value and volume slumps in 2023, albeit improving upon the sharper drops seen in 2022. We can attribute this to a normalisation effect following the atypical patterns seen during the era of the pandemic. Notably,…

Apparel and footwear is seeing both value and volume growth in Saudi Arabia in 2023, thanks to a variety of initiatives under the Saudi Vision 2030 programme. Within this, there are specific government initiatives supporting the apparel and footwear…

Childrenswear sees overall support from the baseline fact that children need an ongoing supply of clothing as they grow out of their clothes within relatively short periods of time. As such, childrenswear has shorter lifecycles than apparel for women…

Trends seen in sportswear are also influencing footwear, as the sports-inspired and athleisure trends continue. Sporting activities are a large part of the Saudi Vision 2030, and we are seeing this influence trends in sportswear and sports-inspired…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

Non-sheer hosiery continues to perform better than sheer hosiery in Saudi Arabia, supported by the rising athleisure and sporting trends, which support sports socks. On the other hand, the hot climate in the Kingdom, which has extreme summers, plays…

Jeans is a stable category in apparel, being an eternally-fashionable form of apparel which can be dressed up and dressed down accordingly. That said, jeans does face some competition from the rising athleisure trend, although jeans can also be…

Menswear in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is inspired by both local, traditional garments, and global fashion trends. Traditional wear for men typically consists of long flowing gowns and thobes, with the latter being a long-sleeved, ankle-length,…

Sporting activities are a large part of the Saudi Vision 2030, and we are seeing this influence trends in sportswear and sports-inspired apparel and footwear, particularly so in menswear and increasingly so in childrenswear and womenswear. Notably,…

Women’s empowerment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030, helps to support growth in womenswear. The government continues to support female empowerment and strive for equality between men and women, through…

Apparel accessories in Egypt witnessed a significant decrease in retail volume sales as prices soared in 2023. Prices were pushed up by the escalation of raw material costs, with cotton, leather and threads all soaring. The devaluation of the…

Accessories sales in the Netherlands are witnessing a surge in interest among consumers, especially for fashion accessories like scarves, hats, and gloves. These items are increasingly viewed as style complements, expected to demonstrate robust…

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the UK is having a discernible impact on discretionary spending for various apparel accessories. Local consumers, facing economic uncertainties and inflationary pressures, are exhibiting more cautious purchasing…

Apparel and footwear in Egypt witnessed a challenging year in 2023, with sales volume shifting into strong decline. Demand weakened considerably during the first quarter of the year, as consumers reeled from the huge price increases brought about by…

The sales forecast for apparel and footwear in 2023 projects positive, albeit tempered, growth compared to the previous year. A prevailing sense of lower consumer confidence is impacting demand, leading to a more prudent approach to spending among…

The cost-of-living crisis in the UK has cast a shadow over discretionary spending, significantly impacting the purchase of apparel and footwear. As inflation rises and essential expenses such as housing, utilities, and groceries become more…

Childrenswear is facing the same economic issues as menswear and womenswear in 2023. Retail volume sales have decreased in 2023, due to the high costs of living and soaring childrenswear prices. The rising cost of living has forced parents to make…

Anticipated healthy growth in childrenswear across its three subcategories in 2023 is being propelled by sustained demand for quality products and an escalating interest in fashion and design. The extended use of social media platforms is…

Following the pandemic-related baby boom, birth rates in the UK are now declining, but demand for childrenswear continues to grow. However, a stronger performance in value growth terms is being driven by unit price increases. Childrenswear faces…

Footwear is witnessing volume sales decline in 2023, due to substantial price increases. As in apparel, footwear has been challenged with rising costs of raw materials like leather. The devaluation of the Egyptian pound and the war in Ukraine has…

Footwear in 2023 continues to grapple with inflation, leading to rising unit prices and overall retail costs. The trend of inflated prices has affected sales growth, mirroring the impact observed in apparel. Intensified competition between physical…

In times of lower discretionary spending, consumers are exhibiting a discerning focus on value and quality when making footwear purchases. The economic landscape significantly influences buying behaviour, prompting individuals to prioritise products…

Soaring prices in the hosiery category led to double-digit value growth in 2023, although volume sales reported a significant decline. High inflation remains an issue fuelled by escalating input costs, including raw materials like cotton. The…

Sales of hosiery are anticipated to surge, particularly in non-sheer varieties, as Dutch consumers increasingly invest in both luxurious and eco-conscious products. While there's a continued interest in premium items, shoppers are also seeking…

Amid the prevailing cost-of-living crisis in the UK, consumers are strategically reassessing their spending habits, which continues to be evident in hosiery. As disposable incomes face constraints, local consumers are prioritising value and seeking…

Jeans came under pressure in 2023 due to the substantial increases in retail prices. However, volume sales decline was not as pronounced compared to other major apparel categories. As a popular form of apparel in Egypt, demand for jeans has been more…

Anticipated sales in 2023 will reflect a more tempered growth in premium and super-premium jeans as consumers adopt a cautious spending approach. While economy-level jeans are projected to show positive growth, standard jeans remain the most…

Polarisation is reshaping jeans in the UK, with a discernible impact on product prices and consumer preferences. The category is experiencing a notable divergence, witnessing stronger growth in both the economy and super premium segments, while…

Menswear sales are decreasing in volume terms in 2023, as substantial price increases of more than 30% curb demand. The rising cost of raw materials, such as cotton, has made menswear more expensive to produce. In addition, the devaluation of the…

In the Netherlands, the demand for casualwear is driven not only by the pursuit of comfort but also by the influence of street and urban culture trends. Younger Dutch consumers are embracing streetwear styles in both clothing and footwear, prompting…

Menswear in the UK is experiencing the repercussions of lower levels of discretionary spending among consumers in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis. As economic pressures, inflation, and rising living costs take their toll, individuals are…

Sportswear saw a strong decline in current value sales in 2023, due to the substantial price increases seen in this category. Rising inflation has been exacerbated by the depreciation of the Egyptian pound leaving many consumers stretched…

Sportswear is rapidly gaining traction within Dutch apparel and footwear, constituting less than a quarter of total value sales in 2023. This upsurge is predominantly driven by the growing popularity of sports activities and the prevalent preference…

Sportswear in the UK is maintaining its trajectory of robust growth, attesting to the enduring appeal of athletic-inspired fashion and the evolution of consumer preferences. 2023 has witnessed a continuation of key trends that have been shaping…