The global fashion industry is one of the largest and most influential sectors in the world economy. From fast fashion giants churning out thousands of new styles weekly to luxury houses crafting timeless pieces, the apparel market generates nearly $2 trillion annually and employs hundreds of millions of people.
Whether you're an entrepreneur entering the fashion space, an investor analyzing market trends, or simply curious about this massive industry, these statistics reveal the true scale of global fashion in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- The global fashion industry is worth $1.84 trillion in 2025
- 430 million people work in fashion and textile production worldwide
- The US leads with $365.7 billion in apparel revenue
- Fast fashion market reached $148 billion in 2024, growing 10% annually
- Shein dominates US fast fashion with 50% market share
- Fashion e-commerce will hit $920 billion in 2025
- The industry produces 10% of global carbon emissions
How Much Is the Fashion Industry Worth?
1. The global fashion market is worth $1.84 trillion in 2025
The apparel industry accounts for 1.65% of the world's GDP, making it one of the largest consumer goods sectors globally. This includes clothing, footwear, and fashion accessories.
2. The fashion market is projected to reach $2.26 trillion by 2030
Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2%, the global apparel market continues to expand despite economic headwinds and changing consumer preferences.
3. Women's apparel is the largest segment at $930 billion
The women's clothing market dominates fashion and is expected to cross the $1 trillion mark by 2027. Men's apparel follows at $587.6 billion, while children's clothing is valued at $274.3 billion.
| Market Segment | Value (2025) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Women's Apparel | $930 billion | 50.5% |
| Men's Apparel | $587.6 billion | 31.9% |
| Children's Apparel | $274.3 billion | 14.9% |
| Other/Accessories | $48.1 billion | 2.6% |
4. The luxury fashion market is worth $260.4 billion in 2024
High-end fashion is projected to grow to $410.6 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.8%, driven by emerging market wealth and the aspirational appeal of luxury brands.
Which Countries Have the Largest Fashion Markets?
5. The United States is the world's largest fashion market at $365.7 billion
American consumers spend more on apparel than any other nation, representing roughly 20% of the global market. The US market is projected to grow at 2.11% annually through 2028.
6. China is the second-largest market at $313.8 billion
By 2025, China is expected to become the world's single largest market, representing 19.4% of the global apparel segment. The country is also the world's largest clothing exporter.
7. Asia generates 38.8% of global fashion revenue
The Asian market leads all regions, followed by Europe (28.6%) and the Americas (27.6%). Asia Pacific also dominates fast fashion with a 34.67% market share.
8. Ten countries drive the global fashion retail market
China, the US, India, Japan, Germany, the UK, Russia, France, Italy, and Brazil are the primary markets shaping global fashion trends and consumer demand.
How Big Is the Fast Fashion Industry?
9. The fast fashion market reached $148 billion in 2024
Growing at an aggressive 10% CAGR, fast fashion is projected to hit $318 billion by 2032. Rapidly changing trends and low prices continue to fuel consumer demand.
10. Shein dominates US fast fashion with 50% market share
The Chinese e-commerce giant has doubled its US market share since March 2020. Shein generates over $50 billion in annual revenue through its direct-to-consumer model.
11. Shein's US market share grew from 18% to 50% since 2020
While Shein surged, H&M's share dropped from 37% to 27%, and Forever 21 and Fashion Nova also lost ground. Zara maintained a stable 17% share during this period.
12. Zara is valued at $15 billion, H&M at $13 billion
These two brands have historically dominated fast fashion. Uniqlo's brand value has grown to $9.6 billion, up from $8.1 billion in 2018.
Shein's Strategy: The company adds 2,000-10,000 new styles to its platform daily, leveraging data analytics to predict trends and offer ultra-low prices averaging $10-15 per item.
Who Are the Largest Fashion Companies?
13. LVMH leads the industry with $91.8 billion in revenue
The French luxury conglomerate owns Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, and dozens of other premium brands. LVMH accounted for 17% of the entire fashion industry's economic profit in 2023.
14. Nike reported $51.4 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024
The world's largest sportswear brand saw modest 0.3% growth. Nike's brand value reached $37.6 billion in 2024, though the company faces increased competition in key markets.
15. Inditex (Zara's parent) generated $38.6 billion in 2024
The Spanish retail giant owns Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, and Pull&Bear. Zara alone contributes 72.52% of Inditex's total revenue. The company's market cap stands at $177 billion.
16. Adidas revenue grew 10.5% to $25.7 billion in 2024
The German sportswear brand improved its operating margin from 1.3% to 5.6% year-over-year, showing strong recovery after challenging years.
17. Hermès achieved 13% revenue growth to $20.2 billion
The French luxury house outperformed the broader market with strong demand for its iconic Birkin bags and leather goods, demonstrating the resilience of ultra-luxury.
| Company | Revenue (2024) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| LVMH | $91.8 billion | -1.7% |
| Nike | $51.4 billion | +0.3% |
| Inditex | $38.6 billion | +9.3% |
| Adidas | $25.7 billion | +10.5% |
| Hermès | $20.2 billion | +13% |
How Many People Work in the Fashion Industry?
18. 430 million people work in fashion and textile production globally
Out of a global workforce of 3.62 billion, fashion employs 11.9% of all workers — roughly 1 in 6 people worldwide work in the clothing sector.
19. The US fashion industry employs 1.9 million people
This represents 4% of the total US workforce. About 79% of US fashion workers are employed by apparel retailers, earning an average annual wage of $26,650.
20. There are 43,320 fashion designers employed in the US
Fashion designer employment grew 7% between 2020 and 2025. The median annual wage for fashion designers is $80,690, with top earners making over $169,620.
21. Only 4% of garment workers earn a living wage
Despite the industry's massive revenues, the vast majority of garment workers — concentrated in developing countries — earn below living wage standards.
22. Fashion designer jobs are projected to grow 2% through 2034
While growth is slower than average, about 2,300 fashion designer openings are expected annually due to retirements and career changes.
How Big Is Fashion E-Commerce?
23. Fashion e-commerce revenue will reach $920 billion in 2025
Online fashion sales are growing at 4.73% annually and are projected to hit $1.16 trillion by 2030. The sector represents about half of the total fashion market.
24. China leads fashion e-commerce with $273.8 billion in revenue
China's online fashion market is 26.2% larger than the US market. The country's advanced mobile commerce infrastructure drives this dominance.
25. US online fashion sales reached $238 billion in 2024
Fashion accounts for 20% of all US e-commerce sales. Apparel-only e-commerce is expected to grow 14.6% year-over-year to $523.8 billion in 2025.
26. 81% of fashion e-commerce traffic comes from mobile devices
Mobile shopping dominates online fashion, with smartphones driving the majority of site visits and an increasing share of purchases.
27. 43% of Americans purchase clothing online
Additionally, 33% buy shoes online and 19% purchase accessories. Online shopping for fashion continues to grow as delivery and returns become more convenient.
How Big Is the Secondhand Fashion Market?
28. The secondhand apparel market is worth $260.2 billion in 2025
Growing at an impressive 15% CAGR, the resale market is projected to reach $522.8 billion by 2030 — nearly doubling in just five years.
29. Resale is growing 25x faster than the broader retail market
Platforms like ThredUp, Poshmark, and Depop have mainstreamed secondhand fashion, particularly among Gen Z and millennial consumers focused on sustainability.
Sustainability Shift: 62% of Gen Z and Millennials prefer to buy from sustainable brands, driving the explosive growth in secondhand and vintage fashion.
What Is Fashion's Environmental Impact?
30. Fashion produces 10% of global carbon emissions
The industry's carbon footprint exceeds all international flights and maritime shipping combined. If current trends continue, fashion's share could jump to 26% by 2050.
31. 92 million tonnes of textiles end up in landfills annually
Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, the equivalent of one garbage truck of clothes is dumped every second. Only 8% of textile fibers are recycled.
32. Fashion is responsible for 20% of global wastewater
Dyeing and finishing processes pollute water systems worldwide. It takes 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons for a single pair of jeans.
33. 85% of all textiles end up in dumps each year
Americans alone discard 11.3 million tons of textile waste annually — about 81.5 pounds per person. Most clothing is worn only 7-10 times before being thrown away.
34. 500,000 tons of microfibers enter oceans annually from washing clothes
This equals 50 billion plastic bottles. An estimated 35% of all ocean microplastics come from laundering synthetic textiles like polyester.
35. People buy 60% more clothes than in 2000 but keep them half as long
Fast fashion has accelerated consumption cycles dramatically. The average garment is now worn just 7-10 times before disposal.
| Environmental Metric | Fashion's Impact |
|---|---|
| Global carbon emissions | 10% |
| Global wastewater | 20% |
| Ocean microplastics | 35% |
| Textiles recycled | 8% |
| Water for one pair of jeans | 2,000 gallons |
| Garments to landfill annually | 92 million tonnes |
What Does the Future of Fashion Look Like?
36. The fashion industry will post low single-digit growth in 2026
According to McKinsey, macroeconomic volatility continues to weigh on consumer sentiment, driving value-conscious behavior across all market segments.
37. Synthetic fibers make up 69% of all fibers used
This share is projected to increase to 73% by 2030, with polyester alone accounting for 85% of synthetic fibers. This raises concerns about microplastic pollution.
38. Social commerce will reach $821 billion in 2025
Fashion brands are increasingly selling through Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms. Social commerce revenue is expected to cross $1 trillion by 2028.
39. Online luxury fashion is growing 53% faster than general fashion e-commerce
There are now 488.4 million luxury fashion e-commerce shoppers worldwide, up 6.86% from 2024, as high-end brands embrace digital channels.
Fashion Industry Statistics Summary
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Global fashion market (2025) | $1.84 trillion |
| US apparel market | $365.7 billion |
| Fast fashion market | $148 billion |
| Fashion e-commerce | $920 billion |
| Global fashion workers | 430 million |
| Largest company (LVMH) | $91.8 billion revenue |
| Shein US market share | 50% |
| Secondhand market | $260.2 billion |
| Fashion's carbon footprint | 10% of global emissions |
| Annual textile waste | 92 million tonnes |
Sources
- Statista - Global Apparel Market
- UniformMarket - Global Apparel Industry Statistics
- McKinsey - The State of Fashion 2026
- Fortune Business Insights - Fast Fashion Market
- FashionUnited - Global Fashion Industry Statistics
- Earth.org - Fast Fashion Environmental Impact
- Bureau of Labor Statistics - Fashion Designers
- Geneva Environment Network - Sustainable Fashion