By 2030, China to become world's biggest apparel market

30 Jul '16

5 min read

The $100 billion initiative would help fuel growth for China after its economy has seen a period of slowing down. It would be a massive undertaking but could also be a tremendous opportunity those who live, work, and conduct business there.

The Cotton Council International (CCI) and Cotton Incorporated Chinese Consumer Survey have found that although China's apparel market is fragmented, it is becoming less so. The top 10 brands purchased in activewear, jeanswear, tops, and bottoms have increased market share of consumer purchases over the past three years. This means both established brands and new entrants will have to work harder to realize the growth potential in China.

In India, the past 15 years have seen shoppers in major metropolitan cities gravitate toward specialty, department, and hypermarket shops and away from unorganized street markets and independents stores as the retail landscape in these cities has developed, according to the CCI and Cotton Incorporated Global Lifestyle Monitor Survey. The CCI and Cotton Incorporated Indian Consumer Survey finds that, as this trend has accelerated, international brands have continued to flock to India, taking share from domestic players. In 2015, international brands accounted for 35 per cent of men's and women's wear purchases.

Those businesses that are already in or entering the Indian market should know almost 3 in 4 Indian consumers would be more likely to shop at a store offering 100 per cent cotton apparel, according to the Indian Consumer Survey. An impressive 73 per cent say they “could spend the rest of their life” in the fibre. Additionally, 7 in 10 Indian shoppers say they would be more likely to shop at a store offering clothes made from more sustainable materials, and nearly 8 in 10 (79 per cent) say they put effort into finding sustainable apparel. As more manmade fibers have entered India's market, businesses that promote natural fibers stand to be noticed.

In China, 68 per cent of consumers are willing to pay more to keep clothing cotton-rich, according to the CCI and Cotton Incorporated Chinese Consumer Survey. And 76 per cent of shoppers are more loyal to brands offering natural fibres like cotton. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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