Apparel market in the United Kingdom (UK) - statistics & facts
UK apparel retail market
In 2023, the value of clothing retail sales in Great Britain increased by roughly seven percent. When it comes to places of purchase, British households prefer to shop from outlets as opposed to clothing and supermarket chains. On average, expenditure on clothing and footwear at outlets reached just over 10 British pounds per week.There are many well-known brands and retailers in the UK market, some of which generate billions of pounds in revenue. Big names include high street retailers, such as Primark and Next, and online shops, like ASOS.
Manufacturing & trade
The apparel manufacturing market in the UK has also seen changes in recent years. Despite annual turnover of apparel and footwear wholesalers actually growing over the last three years, the annual sales from manufacturers of wearing apparel had fallen in 2023. The value of clothing exports from the country also fell dramatically in 2021, to just over four billion pounds, with exports to the EU worth less than half as much as the year before. This downward trend continued throughout 2023, as both EU and non-EU exports fell.The apparel industry in the United Kingdom has shown resilience and adaptability in the face of economic uncertainties. With continued efforts made towards sustainability and taking consumers’ wishes into account, the fashion sector has set itself up for further growth.