US Men’s and Women’s Clothing Market Report 2022

Overview

• What you need to know
• This Report looks at the following areas:
• Definition
• Market context

Executive Summary

• Top takeaways
• Market overview
  • Figure 1: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
  • Figure 2: Men’s and women’s clothing outlook, 2022-27
• Opportunities and challenges
• Inflation sits at the top of a long list of concerns that are plaguing shoppers
• Highlight value in marketing and messaging
• Invest in tech to improve fit
• Adjust for changing dynamics in the workplace
• Embrace emerging forms of shopping
• Key consumer insights

Market Size and Forecast

• Despite pandemic volatility, recovery is underway
• • Figure 3: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
  • Figure 4: Total US retail sales and forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27

Segment Performance

• Men’s sector grows at faster pace than women’s despite being about half as big
  • Figure 5: Total US retail sales of men’s and women’s clothing, by segment, at current prices, 2020 and 2022
• Men’s clothing set to continue expanding at a faster clip
  • Figure 6: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of men’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
  • Figure 7: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
  • Figure 8: Total US retail sales and forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, by segment, at current prices, 2017-27

Market Factors

• Record high inflation has tanked Americans’ confidence in economy
  • Figure 9: Consumer Sentiment Index, 2010-22
  • Figure 10: Consumer Price Index change from previous year, 2020-22
• • Figure 11: Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers: apparel in US city average, 2021-22
• Money isn’t going as far as it used to
  • Figure 12: Inflation and wage growth, 2019-22
  • Figure 13: Financial health, 2022
• Consumers speak up about the impact of inflation
• While inflation is the main concern, it’s not the only one
  • Figure 14: Consumer concerns, 2022
• Obesity rates keep expanding, bringing more demand for extended sizes
  • Figure 15: Age-adjusted prevalence of overweight and obesity among people aged 20 or older, 2001-02 to 2017-18
  • Figure 16: Prevalence of obesity among US adults aged 20 and over, by gender and age and gender and race and Hispanic origin, 2017-18
• 35-44 year olds will be key to watch
  • Figure 17: Women aged 18 or older, by age, 2016-26
  • Figure 18: Men aged 18 or older, by age, 2016-26
• Multicultural population on the rise
  • Figure 19: Women by race and Hispanic origin, 2016-26
  • Figure 20: Men by race and Hispanic origin, 2016-16
• Lifestyle changes causing style changes
  • Figure 21: Style change due to lifestyle change, by gender and age and from home status, 2022
• Consumers speak up about dress code shifts at work
• Fabric Act will bring positive change to the industry

Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities

• Most consumers have positive attitudes toward clothes and the clothing industry
• Embrace inclusivity
• Extended sizes
  • Figure 22: Attitudes and behaviors toward extended sizing, by gender, 2022
  • Figure 23: Look for extended sizing, by gender, age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
• • Figure 24: Dia & Co announces acquisition of 11 Honore
  • Figure 25: Otera caters to men 5’10” and under
• Gender-neutral options
  • Figure 26: Attitudes toward gender in products and marketing, by select generation, 2022
• • Figure 27: Attitude toward gender-neutral clothing lines/items, by key demographics, 2022
• Consumers speak up about their interest (or lack thereof) in gender-neutral clothing lines/brands
• • Figure 28: Gender-neutral clothing brands express themselves on Instagram
• Adaptive clothing
  • Figure 29: Tommy Hilfiger and Zappos offer adaptive clothing options
• Highlight value to help cautious shoppers make smart decisions
  • Figure 30: Attitudes/behaviors related to price/value, 2022
• • Figure 31: Attitudes/behaviors related to price/value, by gender and age, 2022
• • Figure 32: Shapermint includes gift cards in its promotions
  • Figure 33: Nordstrom promotes its Anniversary Sale
• • Figure 34: Givenchy and Disney team up on The Wonder Gallery collaboration
  • Figure 35: Adidas x Gucci collaboration
• Explore emerging forms of digital commerce
• Social media including livestream shopping
  • Figure 36: @Andy_Lobos TikTok video about Abercrombie & Fitch’s logoless hoodies
  • Figure 37: Abercrombie & Fitch promotes jeans on TikTok
• • Figure 38: Sweaty Betty’s Instagram shop allows consumers to natively shop products within its profile
• Metaverse and NFTs
  • Figure 39: DressX will provide outfits for Meta’s avatar fashion marketplace
  • Figure 40: Dolce & Gabbana launches DGFamily NFT community

The Consumer – Fast Facts

Shopping Frequency and Seasonality

• People have been buying clothes more frequently
  • Figure 41: Shopping frequency, 2020-22
• • Figure 42: Shopping frequency, by gender, 2022
• Place of work and income impact clothing purchase frequency
• Place of work
  • Figure 43: Shopping frequency, by work from home status, 2022
• Household income
  • Figure 44: Shopping frequency, by household income, 2022
• Black Non-Hispanic and Hispanic shoppers likely to gravitate toward affordable clothing indulgences
  • Figure 45: Shopping frequency, by race and Hispanic origin, 2022
• Young men buck seasonality norm
  • Figure 46: Shopping seasonality, by gender and age, 2022

Affinity for Clothes Shopping

• Most people enjoy shopping for clothes
• • Figure 47: Affinity for clothes shopping, 2022
• Younger generations have a higher affinity toward clothes shopping
  • Figure 48: Affinity for clothes shopping, by generation and gender, 2022
• • Figure 49: Attitudes toward clothing for personal identity, by gender and generation, 2022
• The more someone likes clothes shopping, the more often they will buy
  • Figure 50: Shopping frequency, by affinity for clothes shopping, 2022

Important Attributes

• Fit matters most
  • Figure 51: Important attributes when clothes shopping, 2022
• Fit is most important to women; men under 55 more likely to take all aspects into consideration
  • Figure 52: Important attributes when clothes shopping, by gender and age, 2022
• • Figure 53: Important attributes when clothes shopping, by Hispanic origin and gender and gender and race, 2022
• There are correlations between important attributes and affinity
  • Figure 54: Important attributes when clothes shopping, by affinity for clothes shopping, 2022
• Form places an integral role in expressing one’s sense of style through fashion
  • Figure 55: Attitude toward clothing for personal identity, by important attributes when clothes shopping, 2022

Retailers Shopped

• Most consumers do not buy clothing at clothing stores
• • Figure 56: Retailers shopped, by channel, 2022
• Retailer preference varies by gender; will continue as traditional gender norms blur
  • Figure 57: Select retailers shopped, by gender, 2022
• Age and race also influence where consumers shop
• Young men and Black male fashion aficionados shop around the most
  • Figure 58: Retailers shopped by men, by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
• • Figure 59: Retailers shopped by men – Index versus all, by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
• Women under 55 drive the category; multicultural women have a few favorite places
  • Figure 60: Retailers shopped by women, by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
• • Figure 61: Retailers shopped by women – Index versus all , by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
• Value-driven retailers are a lifeline for financially strapped consumers
  • Figure 62: Retailers shopped, by household income and financial situation, 2022

Method of Shopping

• Vast majority of adults use stores and digital means interchangeably when shopping for clothes
  • Figure 63: Shopping method, 2022
• Online is the future
  • Figure 64: Attitudes/behaviors related to online clothes shopping, 2022
• • Figure 65: Shopping method, by gender, 2022

Items Purchased

• Penchant for casualization and comfort still defines popular items
  • Figure 66: Items purchased, by channel, 2022
• Activewear is a lifestyle, not a trend
  • Figure 67: Attitudes toward activewear, by gender and age and work from home status, 2022
• • Figure 68: Vuori activewear
  • Figure 69: Walmart launches Love & Sports activewear line
• Gender does play a role in items purchased
  • Figure 70: Items purchased, by gender, 2022
• A closer look at what men are buying
• Younger men have the most well-rounded closets
  • Figure 71: Items purchased by men, by age – Index versus all men, 2022
• Hispanic men are stepping up the fashion
  • Figure 72: Items purchased by men, by race and ethnicity – Index versus all men, 2022
• A closer look at what women are buying
• Young women want it all
  • Figure 73: Items purchased by women, by age – Index versus all women, 2022
• Multicultural women are more fashion-oriented
  • Figure 74: Items purchased by women, by race and ethnicity – Index versus all women, 2022
• Consumers speak up about their favorite wears

Reasons for Buying Clothes

• “Need-based” reasons may drive purchases as fun and discretionary reasons take back seat
  • Figure 75: Reasons for buying clothes, by gender, 2022
• Women like to keep it casual and occasionally treat themselves
  • Figure 76: Buying for everyday casualwear and self-treating, by gender and generation, 2022
• Pandemic prompts changes in body size
  • Figure 77: Buying due to change in body size, by gender and generation, race and ethnicity, 2022
• • Figure 78: Eshakti offers style and fabric customization
  • Figure 79: Lifestyle and fashion blogger review of Amazon Made for You customization service
• • Figure 80: Men’s Wearhouse launches Contactless Fit
• Consumers speak up about why they buy clothing

Shopping Behaviors

• Consumer behaviors reflect their desire for convenience and ease of shopping
  • Figure 81: Shopping behaviors, 2022
• Brand ethics matter to men
  • Figure 82: Shopping behaviors, by gender, 2022
• Consumers speak up on their use of tech and services
• Shifts in shopping behaviors
• Nearly a third of consumers are dressing up as pandemic threat weakens; young men lead the way
  • Figure 83: Approach to dressing up in light of COVID-19 improvement, by gender, 2022
• • Figure 84: Dressing up in light of COVID-19 improvement, by key demographics, 2022
• • Figure 85: Dressing up in light of COVID-19 improvement, by work from home status, 2022
• Preowned clothing market is still emerging; will see boost in current economy
  • Figure 86: Propensity to buy preowned clothing, by gender, 2022
  • Figure 87: Buying more preowned clothing, by key demographics, 2022
• Rental market also seeing spikes; men under 55 particularly interested
  • Figure 88: Attitude toward rental clothing options, by gender and age, 2022
• Brand ethics matter, and consumers are paying more attention to DEI
  • Figure 89: Impact of retailer/brand DEI initiatives when shopping for clothes, by gender, 2022
• • Figure 90: More likely to be impacted by retailer/brand’s DEI initiatives when shopping for clothes, by key demographics, 2022
• • Figure 91: Brands showcase their commitment to DEI in various ways
• Consumers also directing more of their purchases toward eco-friendly brands
  • Figure 92: Impact of retailer/brand sustainability initiatives when shopping for clothes, by gender, 2022
• • Figure 93: Impact of retailer/brand sustainability initiatives when shopping for clothes, by key demographics, 2022
• • Figure 94: Everlane forms The Next [Collective] to address sustainability challenges
  • Figure 95: Uniqlo outlines sustainability priorities
• Consumers speak up about sustainability in fashion

Sources of Inspiration

• Shoppers are online looking for inspiration
  • Figure 96: Sources of inspiration, 2022
• • Figure 97: Kohl’s uses social media influencers and livestreaming to engage shoppers
• • Figure 98: Sources of inspiration, by gender and generation, 2022
• Consumers speak up about trying new brands

Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations

• Data sources
• Sales data
• Forecast
• Consumer survey data
• Consumer qualitative research
• Abbreviations and terms
• Abbreviations
• Terms

Appendix – The Market

• • Figure 99: Total US retail sales and forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
  • Figure 100: Total US retail sales and forecast of men’s clothing, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
  • Figure 101: Total US retail sales and forecast of women’s clothing, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
  • Figure 102: Average annual household spending on men’s and women’s clothing, 2017-22

Appendix – The Consumer

• Qualitative research
• Attitudes and behaviors toward clothes shopping
  • Figure 103: Attitudes and behaviors toward clothes shopping, 2022