Sustainable Fashion Industry Statistics: Facts and Trends [2024]

July 22, 2024 0 Comments

Market Growth and Projections

  1. Sustainable Clothing Market Share: The global market share for sustainable clothing is set to rise from 3.9% in 2021 to an impressive 6.1% by 2026.
  2. Ethical Fashion Market Expansion: The ethical fashion market is forecasted to soar from $7.5 billion in 2022 to a staggering $16.8 billion by 2032, growing at an annual rate of 8.6%.
  3. Sustainable Fashion Industry Growth: Expect the sustainable fashion sector to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% from 2021 to 2028.
  4. Sustainable Fashion Market Size: By 2023, the global sustainable fashion market is projected to reach $8.25 billion.

Employment and Industry Impact

  1. Job Creation Potential: Transitioning to a sustainable textiles industry could generate 18 million new jobs worldwide by 2030.
  2. US Apparel Manufacturing Jobs: The apparel manufacturing sector in the US employs over 100,000 workers.

Consumer Behavior and Preferences

  1. Secondhand Shopping Trends: 42% of millennials and Gen Z are likely to purchase secondhand items.
  2. Willingness to Pay More: A whopping 75% of millennials are ready to spend extra on sustainable brands.
  3. Sustainable Fashion Demographics: Men aged 25-34 are the most inclined to buy sustainable fashion.
  4. Global Consumer Willingness: 66% of global consumers express willingness to pay more for sustainable apparel.

Environmental Impact and Resource Usage

  1. Clothing Consumption Reduction: The average person consumes 11.4 kilograms of clothes annually, but sustainable fashion can slash this waste by up to 62%.
  2. Water Consumption: Producing a conventional cotton t-shirt typically requires 2,700 liters of water.
  3. Organic Cotton Benefits: Using organic cotton in fashion cuts down blue water consumption by 91%.

Industry Practices and Materials

  1. Synthetic Fibers Dominance: In 2021, synthetic fibers held a dominant 60% share of the worldwide textile fiber market.
  2. Sustainable Sourcing Strategies: By 2021, over half of fashion retailers are expected to adopt sustainable sourcing practices.
  3. Use of Sustainable Materials: The use of sustainable raw materials in brand collections surged from 10.6% in 2017 to 35.3% in 2019.

Professional Insights and Beliefs

  1. Sustainability’s Importance: In a 2020 survey, 82% of fashion professionals agreed that sustainability is vital for the industry’s future.