The UK fashion and textile industry contributes £62 billion to UK GDP and supports 1.3 million jobs — making it one of the largest sectors in the economy. Most people outside the industry have no idea it is that large. (Source: UKFT / Oxford Economics, Industry Footprint Report, 2023)

This article compiles the most current verified statistics across market size, manufacturing employment, trade data, consumer spending, and sustainable fashion — all from primary or institutional sources. Every figure is cited. Where data has an important context or caveat, that context is included.

For the strategic picture of UK manufacturing and sourcing, see the Complete Guide to Clothing Manufacturers in UK.

Post Highlights

• The UK fashion and textile industry contributes £62 billion to GDP and supports 1.3 million jobs across creating, making, wholesale, and retail — UKFT / Oxford Economics, 2023
• UK clothing retail market size stands at £50 billion in 2026, according to IBISWorld
• UK apparel revenue (including footwear) is estimated at approximately £68.7 billion in 2025 — Statista / Spring Fair analysis
• UK clothing exports fell 11.74% to £3.32 billion in 2024; clothing imports fell 7.06% to £14.61 billion in 2024 — ONS via Fibre2Fashion
• UK fashion ecommerce reached £21.01 billion in 2025, growing 4.6% year-on-year — eMarketer
• Average clothing price per item in the UK: £16.70 in 2023 — WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024
• The sector employs approximately 88,000 people in garment manufacturing directly, and 500,000 across manufacturing, wholesale, and retail

UK Fashion Industry at a Glance — Key Figures

Important note on data vintages. The most comprehensive assessment of the UK fashion and textile industry’s full economic footprint — the UKFT / Oxford Economics Footprint Report — uses 2021 data as its base year, which was the latest available at the time of its 2023 publication. More recent figures for specific sub-sectors (retail market size, trade volumes, ecommerce) are available from commercial research providers and the ONS. This article uses the most recent available figure for each metric and notes its source year.

UK Clothing Manufacturing Employment Statistics

The sector employs approximately 500,000 people across manufacturing, wholesale, and retail — with 90% of retail businesses in the sector being micro-enterprises. (Source: ONS Fashion Industry adhoc 2023, cited by Spring Fair)

Breaking this down by function:

• Garment and apparel manufacturing (SIC 14): approximately 88,000 workers
• Wholesale (clothing and textiles): approximately 62,000 workers
• Retail (clothing): approximately 413,000 workers

The UKFT / Oxford Economics Footprint Report provides a broader definition of the sector that includes design, product development, education, logistics, and aftercare alongside manufacturing and retail — arriving at 1.3 million jobs supported across the full value chain in 2021.

The manufacturing figure of 88,000 covers direct garment and apparel manufacturing employment (SIC 14) and does not include the broader textiles manufacturing sector (SIC 13 — yarn, fabric, technical textiles) which employs a further estimated 50,000 workers.

Garment manufacturing in the UK saw a 13% increase in the number of active manufacturers over the decade to 2020 — reversing a decades-long contraction — driven by reshoring interest and demand for shorter, more transparent supply chains. (Source: Spring Fair / IBISWorld analysis, 2024)

UK Fashion Market Size and Value

Clothing retail market. IBISWorld puts the clothing retailing market in the UK at £50.0 billion in 2026, served by 10,231 businesses. The market declined at a CAGR of 2.0% between 2020 and 2025 in business count terms, reflecting consolidation — but grew in revenue terms at a CAGR of 5.2% over the same period. (Source: IBISWorld, Clothing Retailing UK, 2026)

Apparel revenue (broader definition). The UK apparel market — encompassing clothing and footwear across all retail channels — is estimated at approximately £68.7 billion in revenue for 2025, placing the UK as the third-largest apparel and footwear market globally, behind only the United States and China. (Source: Statista Apparel Market Outlook / Spring Fair analysis, 2025)

Per capita spend. Per capita clothing expenditure in the UK reached approximately £1,003 in 2025, with the average British consumer purchasing approximately 61.2 items of clothing per year. (Source: Statista / Spring Fair analysis, 2025)

Fast fashion sub-sector. The fast fashion market in the UK has a market size of £11.9 billion in 2026, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% between 2020 and 2025, with 1,269 active businesses in the segment. (Source: IBISWorld, Fast Fashion UK, 2026)

GDP contribution. The most authoritative single figure for the UK fashion and textile industry’s economic contribution remains the UKFT / Oxford Economics Footprint Report (2023): £62 billion in GDP contribution, £23 billion in tax revenues, and 1.3 million jobs — representing approximately 1 in every 34 pounds of UK GVA. (Source: UKFT / Oxford Economics, Industry Footprint Report, 2023)

UK Clothing Export Data

UK clothing exports have declined consistently since their 2021 peak as European demand slowed and post-Brexit rules of origin created additional complexity for exports to the EU.

Full year 2024: UK clothing exports fell 11.74% to £3,320 million — down from £3,772 million in 2023 and £3,931 million in 2022. (Source: ONS overseas trade statistics, reported by Fibre2Fashion, February 2025)

Context: Brexit impact on clothing exports to the EU. From January 2022, tariffs were applied to clothing and textile exports to the EU for products not meeting UK rules of origin. The sustained decline in EU-bound clothing exports from 2022 onwards reflects both the tariff burden and the additional administrative steps required to claim tariff preference. (Source: ONS UK Trade in Goods Year in Review 2023)

Textile fabric exports 2024: Remained broadly stable at £2,733 million (vs £2,727 million in 2023). (Source: ONS via Fibre2Fashion)

Fibre exports 2024: Increased to £707 million, up from £649 million in 2023. (Source: ONS via Fibre2Fashion)

Clothing imports 2024: UK clothing imports fell 7.06% to £14,612 million — down from £15,723 million in 2023. The sustained import contraction reflects cautious brand ordering, inventory drawdown, and some nearshoring of production. (Source: ONS via Fibre2Fashion, February 2025)

Source: ONS Overseas Trade Statistics via Fibre2Fashion, 2025

The structural trade gap — UK clothing imports substantially exceeding exports — has been a consistent feature of the sector for decades. The 2024 figures show the gap narrowing, driven primarily by import contraction rather than export growth.

Consumer Spending on Clothing UK

Average spend per adult. Per capita clothing spend in the UK reached approximately £1,003 in 2025 — a figure reflecting both volume (61.2 items per year) and modest price increases. (Source: Statista / Spring Fair analysis, 2025)

Average price per item. The average cost per item of clothing in the UK was £16.70 in 2023 — a 2% decrease compared to 2015, reflecting the sustained deflationary pressure from offshore production and fast fashion competition. (Source: WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024)

Online return rates. Approximately 30% of clothing purchased online in the UK is returned. This is a significant cost burden on clothing retailers and a growing pressure on margins. (Source: IBISWorld / Spring Fair analysis, 2024)

Mobile commerce. More than six in ten UK fashion shoppers browse and purchase via mobile devices. (Source: eMarketer / Spring Fair analysis, 2025)

Fashion ecommerce. UK fashion ecommerce sales reached £21.01 billion in 2025 — up 4.6% year-on-year — recovering from a contraction in 2024 driven by cautious consumer spending. (Source: eMarketer, State of UK Fashion Ecommerce, 2025)

UK Sustainable Fashion Market Data

Consumer attitudes. According to Made in Britain’s 2024 Buying British Survey — which polled 2,000 UK adults in March 2024 — 49% of UK consumers say they prefer to buy British-made clothing. The Made in Britain trademark is now recognised by 56% of UK consumers, up from 50% in 2023. (Source: Made in Britain Buying British Survey 2024)

Secondhand and resale. The UK resale market is estimated at over £3 billion, with platforms including Vinted, Depop, and eBay driving significant volume growth. Vinted UK grew from 1 million users in 2020 to over 2.5 million by 2023. (Source: Spring Fair analysis, 2025)

Clothing waste. Approximately 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles were generated in the UK in 2022. Of this, approximately 276,000 tonnes were sold to the public (resale), 650,000 tonnes diverted to reuse and recycling, and 421,600 tonnes exported. (Source: WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024)

Average price trend. The average clothing price per item fell 2% between 2015 and 2023, reaching £16.70 — indicating that real-terms price pressure has continued despite inflation in other consumer categories. (Source: WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024)

UK Textiles Pact. WRAP’s UK Textiles Pact (formerly Textiles 2030) has more than 130 member organisations committed to 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of new textile products and 30% reduction in water footprint by 2030. (Source: WRAP, UK Textiles Pact, 2024)

Manufacturing Output and Production Volume

The UK fashion manufacturing turnover — covering clothing manufacturing (SIC 14) and broader textile manufacturing (SIC 13 including yarn, fabric, technical textiles) — is estimated at approximately £9 billion in production output. (Source: UKFT CEO, cited in BFTT Ecosystem Report, 2021)

The UKFT / Oxford Economics Footprint Report identifies approximately 260,000 jobs supported through design, development, and manufacturing (“creating and making”) — contrasted with over 1 million jobs across distribution, retail, and aftercare. This reflects the industry’s current structure: heavily weighted toward retail and distribution, with a smaller but strategically important manufacturing base.

UK garment manufacturing (SIC 14) saw a 13% increase in active manufacturers over the decade to 2020. This reversal of long-term decline has been driven by demand for Made in Britain credentials, shorter supply chain requirements from domestic buyers, and the Brexit-driven reshoring of some production previously placed in EU countries. (Source: Spring Fair / IBISWorld analysis, 2024)

Where to Find Primary UK Fashion Industry Data

UKFT (UK Fashion and Textile Association) — publishes the annual Facts and Figures report (member access) and the publicly available Oxford Economics Footprint Report. Primary source for comprehensive sector-wide employment, turnover, and trade data. https://ukft.org/industry-reports-and-stats/

ONS (Office for National Statistics) — publishes ad hoc data releases on the fashion and textile industry, including Business Register and Employment Survey data by SIC code. The Fashion Industry 2023 adhoc release is the most recent publicly available ONS release covering fashion-specific employment and turnover. https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/adhocs/1855fashionindustry2023

HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics — monthly and quarterly trade data for clothing and textile exports and imports by commodity and country. Accessible via the GOV.UK trade statistics collection and the uktradeinfo.com interactive tool. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-overseas-trade-statistics-and-regional-trade-statistics

WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report — the most authoritative report on UK textile consumption, import and export volumes, pricing, and waste. Most recent edition: 2024. https://www.wrap.ngo/resources/report/textiles-market-situation-report-2024

British Fashion Council — publishes annual reports and industry data with a focus on the high-end and designer sector. https://www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk/About/Reports

IBISWorld — commercial market research covering clothing retailing, fast fashion, and clothing manufacturing in the UK. Industry snapshots are available without subscription; full reports are paid. https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/

FAQ

How much does the UK fashion industry contribute to GDP?

The most authoritative figure is £62 billion in GDP contribution, from the UKFT / Oxford Economics Industry Footprint Report published in 2023, using 2021 as the base year. This figure encompasses the full value chain — design, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and aftercare — not just garment production. The report also found that the sector raises £23 billion in tax revenues and supports 1.3 million jobs.

How many people work in UK fashion manufacturing?

Approximately 88,000 people are employed in garment and apparel manufacturing (SIC 14) in the UK, based on ONS Business Register data cited by Spring Fair and others. A further estimated 50,000 work in the broader textile manufacturing sector (SIC 13 — yarns, fabrics, technical textiles). The full fashion and textile sector, including wholesale and retail, employs approximately 500,000 people in direct employment.

What is the UK clothing retail market worth in 2026?

IBISWorld estimates the UK clothing retailing market at £50.0 billion in 2026. The broader apparel and footwear market — including all retail channels — is estimated at approximately £68.7 billion by Statista and Spring Fair analysis for 2025.

How much does the UK export in clothing?

UK clothing exports totalled £3,320 million in 2024 — an 11.74% decline on 2023. The contraction is primarily driven by sluggish demand in Europe, the UK’s largest export market for clothing. Post-Brexit rules of origin requirements have added friction to EU-bound clothing exports for products not meeting UK origin criteria.

What is the average price of clothing in the UK?

The average cost per item of clothing in the UK was £16.70 in 2023, according to the WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024. This represents a 2% decrease compared to 2015, reflecting sustained deflationary pressure from offshore production. The average UK consumer now spends approximately £1,003 per year on clothing and purchases approximately 61 items annually.

Where can I find free, publicly available UK fashion industry statistics?

The primary free sources are: the UKFT / Oxford Economics Footprint Report (available on request from UKFT); the ONS fashion industry adhoc data releases; the HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics collection; and the WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024. The BFC annual reports and UKFT Facts and Figures report require membership or purchase. Full details and links are in the data sources section above.

A Note on Data Accuracy

UK fashion industry statistics are published across multiple sources with different definitions, methodologies, and base years. The £62 billion GDP figure (UKFT / Oxford Economics) covers the full industry including retail and aftercare; the £9 billion manufacturing turnover figure covers production only. Both are correct — they are measuring different things.

When citing UK fashion industry statistics, always note: the source, the base year, and what the figure includes. A figure that covers all fashion employment including retail and logistics will be substantially larger than one covering manufacturing alone. This distinction is frequently lost in secondary reporting.

For context on how UK clothing manufacturing fits into your sourcing and brand strategy, the Complete Guide to Clothing Manufacturers in UK covers the full picture. For more on what UK manufacturing costs and how Silk Routes structures production, find out more about Silk Routes.

Citations and Sources

[1]. UKFT / Oxford Economics — The Fashion & Textile Industry’s Footprint in the UK. https://ukft.org/industry-footprint-report/

[2]. ONS — Fashion Industry 2023 adhoc: employment, enterprises and turnover by SIC sub-class. https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/adhocs/1855fashionindustry2023

[3]. HMRC / ONS Overseas Trade Statistics — UK clothing exports and imports 2024, via Fibre2Fashion. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-overseas-trade-statistics-and-regional-trade-statistics

[4]. WRAP — Textiles Market Situation Report 2024 (average clothing price, waste volumes, consumption data). https://www.wrap.ngo/resources/report/textiles-market-situation-report-2024

[5]. IBISWorld — Clothing Retailing UK Industry Analysis 2026 (market size £50bn forecast; fast fashion £11.9bn). https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/industry/clothing-retailing/3060/

[6]. Made in Britain — Buying British Survey 2024 (consumer attitudes, trademark recognition). https://www.madeinbritain.org/about/data-and-insights/buying-british-survey-2024

[7]. eMarketer / Spring Fair — UK Fashion Ecommerce 2025 (£21.01bn, +4.6% YoY). https://www.springfair.com/news/uk-fashion-industry-2025-trends-stats-s-next