Cotton Incorporated’s Supply Chain Insights highlight a growing focus on plus-size apparel, forecasting significant growth. The overall apparel market, currently valued at $1.43 trillion in 2023, is projected to grow by 30% over the next five years. Meanwhile, plus-size apparel is expected to see an even greater growth of 40%.
When it comes to shopping for clothes, consumers prioritize size and fit, with 81% indicating that these factors are important when choosing where to shop. Additional key considerations include price, quality, and style, with 76% of consumers highlighting price and quality as important, and 73% noting style and selection as key factors.
The shopping experience for plus-size consumers differs slightly from that of standard-size consumers, with 27% of plus-size shoppers reporting dissatisfaction with in-person shopping, compared to 20% of standard-size consumers. Online shopping shows a similar trend, with 30% of plus-size shoppers disliking the experience versus 23% of standard-size consumers.
Fit issues remain a common challenge for many, with 45% of consumers reporting difficulties with the fit of shirts, and 41% reporting similar issues with pants. Among plus-size consumers, 50% struggle with areas such as torso length, arms, or bust, compared to 44% of standard-size consumers. For pants, 44% of plus-size shoppers report poor fit in areas like hips, waist, or length, compared to 40% of standard-size shoppers.
Plus-size consumers show a clear preference for cotton, with 80% favoring cotton or cotton blends in their clothing, as opposed to 69% of standard-size consumers. They are also more likely to seek out performance features in their clothing, with 72% of plus-size consumers valuing stretch, 69% prioritizing breathability, and 62% considering chafe resistance, compared to 63%, 60%, and 51% of standard-size consumers, respectively.
