Fashion Industry Statistics 2026: Consumer Trends, Spending & Sustainability

The global fashion industry is one of the world's largest economic sectors. Here are the most comprehensive fashion statistics for 2026, covering consumer behavior, sustainability, and market trends.

Fashion Industry Size

• The global fashion industry is valued at $1.7 trillion in 2026
• US apparel and footwear retail sales reached $398 billion in 2025
• E-commerce now accounts for 36% of all US fashion sales
• The secondhand clothing market reached $43 billion in the US in 2025

Consumer Shopping Habits

• The average American buys 68 new clothing items per year
• Only 20% of clothing purchased is worn regularly
• Women make 80% of household fashion purchasing decisions
• 59% of Gen Z shoppers research fashion purchases on social media first
• Mobile devices account for 72% of all fashion e-commerce traffic

Fast Fashion Statistics

• The average garment is worn only 7-10 times before disposal
• Americans throw away 81 pounds of clothing per person annually
• 85% of discarded textiles go to landfill or incineration
• The average US shopper now buys 5x more clothing than in 1980

Sustainable Fashion

• 66% of consumers consider sustainability when making fashion purchases
• The sustainable fashion market is projected to reach $33 billion by 2027
• 73% of Millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable clothing

Plus Size and Inclusive Fashion

• The plus-size apparel market reached $32.4 billion in 2025
• 67% of American women wear a size 14 or above
• Only 2% of mainstream fashion advertising features plus-size models

Sources

McKinsey Global Fashion Index 2025, Statista Fashion Report, Business of Fashion Global Report 2026.