UK Apparel Consumer Insights

UK Apparel Consumer Insights

Summary

The UK Apparel Consumer Insights Report provides consumer data and analysis from GlobalData's How Britain Shops Survey conducted in 2024. The report also includes some comparisons to consumer data from 2023.

The apparel market continues to be hit by the fragile economic climate, with the percentage of UK shoppers purchasing apparel in the 12 months to June 2024 down 0.5ppts versus the prior year. Spend remained mainly driven by females and young shoppers, due to their strong appetite for fashion and the latest trends.

Scope

• Amid the fragile economic climate, consumers have begun shopping less regularly, with the proportion of shoppers buying every 4-6 months down 1.0ppts, whilst those shopping every 1-2 years is up 1.4ppts.
• Value for money, fit and quality remain the top three biggest purchase drivers among apparel shoppers over price. All factors apart from following fashion trends rose in importance this year, as shoppers overall become more cautious over what they are buying and prefer classic styles.
• M&S overtook Primark in 2024 to become the top retailer for clothing purchases, thanks to its classic styles and value-for-money appeal. New Look and H&M witnessed some of the biggest stepbacks, as their ranges fail to entice consumers.

Reasons to Buy

• Identify how economic uncertainty is influencing how and where UK consumers shop for apparel
• Understand where the demand lies within the UK apparel market across various price positionings, categories, and retailers, to allow you to maximise customer acquisition
• Understand consumer sentiment surrounding the UK apparel market and what this means for apparel brands' next steps