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Supply Chain Insights: Home Textiles in China

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3 stacked white towels

Chinese consumers spent ¥167 billion ($23.4B USD) on home textile products in 2019. While a drop in spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic is expected in 2020, this market is projected to recover by 2021 and to show a 5-year growth of 42% with ¥238 billion ($33.4B USD) spent in 2024.1

Consumers seek quality and comfort, paying attention to fiber content to bring them safe and sustainable home textiles.

Key Insights

Meet consumer demand using sustainable fibers such as cotton.

Consumers see the role fiber plays in softness, quality, comfort, and sustainability.

Consumers try out new styles, brands, and innovations.

90% want home textiles to be environmentally friendly.

79% say that 100% cotton is important for home textiles.

68% look for newness when buying home textiles.

Consumer-Owned Home Textile Products

Towels

Avg. 13 owned
Avg. ¥107 ($15) spent

Bedding

Avg. 3 owned

Sheet Sets

Avg. 11 owned
Avg. ¥613 ($86) spent

Blankets

Avg. 3 owned

Bar graph of average number of products owned

Purchase Drivers

Consumers purchase
home textile goods
like sheets, bedding,
and towels due to:

Sheets & Bedding

83% – Comfort
83% – Quality
78% – Durability
77% – Softness
81% – Breathability

Towels

79% – Quality
77% – Durability
82% – Softness
80% – Doesn’t Hold Odor
74% – Perfect Features

Stacked white bedsheets

Fiber Content


78% say it’s important
to
know fiber content of

home textile products
because it tells them
about:

Sheets & Bedding

48% – Softness
41% – Quality
43% – Comfort
34% – Safety of Fiber
32% – Sustainability

Towels

47% – Softness
37% – Quality
38% – Absorbency
40% – Safety of Fiber
45% – Comfort

4 stacked white towels

Market Opportunities

Chinese consumers look for something new when buying home textiles, whether style, brand, or a novel innovation. Many look to digital sources for inspiration (71%), especially as the COVID-19 pandemic limits in-person shopping.

Brands and retailers can showcase new offerings online with technologies such as live stream shopping events and virtual/augmented reality.

87% of consumers are willing to pay more for quality.

83% believe quality sheets and bedding can help them sleep better.

Top 5 Reasons to Purchase New Home Textiles

Replacement
33%

New Style
39%

New Innovation
19%

New Brand
20%

Move/Remodel
17%

Sources of Inspiration

Retailer Sources of Inspiration

51% – Displays/Window Shopping
38% – Friends/Family
36% – eCommerce Websites
35% – Social Media

Social Media Sources of Inspiration

63% – Douyin
44% – WeChat

tik-tok and messaaging icons

Where Purchases Were Made

Sheets & Bedding

17% – Mass Merchant
15% – Department Store
32% – Online Only
16% – Home Specialty

Towels

24% – Mass Merchant
25% – Department Store
38% – Online Only
  8% – Home Specialty

Method of Last Purchase

51% – Online
10% – Online for In-Store Pickup
40% – In-Store

For More Information Contact: Corporate Strategy & Insights at MarketInformation@cottoninc.com.
Source: All content sourced from Cotton Incorporated’s 2020 Home Textiles survey, a survey of 500 Chinese consumers conducted on March 12-30, 2020.
Additional Sources: 12020 Euromonitor International Economies and Consumers Annual Data