Baby Apparel Market Assessment, By Product Type [Clothing, Accessories], By Age Group [Preemie, Newborn, 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-9M, 9-12M, 12-18M, 18-24M], By Material [Cotton, Wool, Nylon, Others], By End-user [Girls, Boys], By Price Range [Mass Segment, Premium

Baby Apparel Market Assessment, By Product Type [Clothing, Accessories], By Age Group [Preemie, Newborn, 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-9M, 9-12M, 12-18M, 18-24M], By Material [Cotton, Wool, Nylon, Others], By End-user [Girls, Boys], By Price Range [Mass Segment, Premium Segment, Luxury Segment], By Distribution Channel [Online, Offline], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global baby apparel market is projected to witness a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 135.3 billion in 2023 to USD 211.46 billion in 2031. The factors that have been driving the growth of the market are consumers’ rising preference for sustainable and hypoallergenic baby apparels to ensure comfortable and chemical free clothing for infants, technological advancement such as moisture-wicking fabrics, UV-protective clothing and smart textiles offering, added functionality to the baby apparel appealing to the consumers, consumers’ preference for trendy and fashionable apparels such as co-ord sets, surging demand for functional and breathable baby apparels such as adjustable sizing for growing infants.

The baby apparel market is dominated by cotton apparel as they are soft, breathable, hypoallergenic. Additionally, parents are increasingly seeking chemical-free and eco-friendly options for their babies, making cotton a popular choice among the consumers, driving the market growth.

Modern parents greatly emphasize functional and versatile infant apparel in terms of design and style in accordance with current fashion trends. In the forecast period, it is anticipated that these consumer trends would account for expanding the market for various variations and product development in baby apparel. Parents are starting to give more thought to clothing items that provide comfort to their infants and increase their adaptability in their environment. The shift in the preference of the consumers and their ability to spend on baby apparel is supporting the market growth.

For instance, in February 2023, Carter’s, Inc. debuted its latest collection in collaboration with Hilary Duff. The collection is designed with lightweight fabrics, offering comfort to babies as the weather gets warmer. It is launched in gender-neutral tones yet a versatile color palette, with price-accessible designs ranging from USD 10 to USD 22.

One-Piece Apparel to Dominate the Market

One-piece apparel such as rompers, onesies, dresses, and bodysuits are holding a greater market share in comparison to the separates, such as tops and bottoms, due to several reasons. The one-piece apparel is practical as it provides convenience to the parents while dressing and undressing their infants, particularly during diaper changing sessions. The ease in usage and minimum hassle in handling the baby makes one-piece apparel a preferred choice among the consumers.

Additionally, one-piece apparel often features snap buttons or zipper closures which offer secured fastening and prevent the garment from becoming untucked or riding up, ensuring comfortable mobility for baby without the problem of undressing.

In April 2024, Cuddloom launched an innovative unique baby romper which has been designed with convertible and grow-with-baby feature from size 0 to 2T. It is a thoughtfully crafted romper, designed with unique grow-on sleeves and legs that are foldable, ensuring the right fit as the baby grows. The multipurpose romper includes a convenient snap opening for the easy diaper checks, detachable hoodie, convertible footies or mittens, zipper guard at chin, and a two-way zipper front.

Sustainable Baby Apparel Fostering the Growth

Consumers are increasingly shifting towards sustainable clothing for their babies due to consumers’ increasing awareness of environmentally friendly and ethical products. With the growing environmental concerns and social responsibility, parents are increasingly choosing materials such as bamboo, organic cotton, linen, and other sustainably produced materials which are free from harmful chemicals, for their infants.

The current market trend of sustainability is facilitating the manufacturers to produce baby apparel by using sustainable fabrics and incorporate ethical production processes and prioritizing fair labor practices. It caters to the consumers’ growing appeal for sustainable baby apparels for their infants.

In September 2022, Gerber Childrenswear LLC announced the launch of their latest edition of baby apparel range which has been developed in collaboration with Livaeco, by Birla Cellulose. Livaeco fibers are completely sourced with ethical forestry practices and each garment can be fully traced back to its original form. The butterfly soft rompers, dresses, pajamas, and headbands are made with a sustainably produced viscose fiber which has been predominantly derived from natural eucalyptus.

Online Retail Expansion Supporting the Market Growth

The global availability of baby apparel through online retail distribution channels is fostering the market's expansion. Online shopping offers a greater range of products and is more convenient for the consumers than offline shopping as the parents have to go to the stores physically, carrying the baby and sparing the time from their busy schedule. Through online shopping parents can browse and purchase baby apparel at any time and from the comfort of their homes. Thus, parents with hectic schedules who might not have time to visit actual stores find this channel to be a convenient option.

Additionally, e-commerce helps the manufacturers of baby apparel become more globally recognized. Consequently, small businesses don't need to have a physical presence in many places to reach a worldwide audience.

E-commerce makes it possible for customers to compare costs of several products listed online, resulting in better decision-making. In addition, they have access to product reviews, which allow them to evaluate their decisions on other parents' advice and experiences. These sites provide a variety of deals, such as discounts, free gifts, and cashbacks.

In February 2023, Walmart added the baby brand Monica + Andy to their stores and online. The debut collection M+A by brand Monica + Andy features baby clothing ranging from preemie to 18 months in stores and offers up to size 5T online. The retailer introduced the collection in more than 1,100 Walmart locations.

Hypoallergenic Baby Apparel Fueling the Growth

The baby apparel market is witnessing a surging demand for hypoallergenic baby apparel, since consumers are becoming more conscious and aware about the importance of the usage of organic materials and safely made baby clothes.

Moreover, parents are choosing clothing options which offer their infants more comfort and keep them away from allergies. Furthermore, consumers are starting to learn about the possible dangers of traditional textiles and materials used in baby clothes, such as allergies, skin irritations, and the presence of dangerous chemicals in baby apparels such as flame retardants and pesticides.

The market is also expanding due to growing consumer preferences for baby apparel made from natural and organic materials, including hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton. These materials are thought to be hypoallergenic, safer, and devoid of dangerous pollutants, which makes them the best options for delicate newborn skin.

In August 2023, Kyte Baby collaborated with Warner Bros to launch their Harry Potter inspired collection. This collection was developed using 97% bamboo fabric which is hypoallergenic and buttery soft as it has been sourced from the highest-quality bamboo. The fabric is 3 degrees cooler than the regular cotton and keeps the baby comfortable.

Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)

Baby apparel market is expected to witness a rise in the demand for smart baby clothes due to their ability to quickly identify infants' varied activities. As the sensors are attached to baby clothes, the wearable smart apparels for babies, detect the information from the sensors attached to it. The insights thus derived are transferred to the parents’ smartphones, so that parents can keep a track of their baby’s activities.

Sustainable baby apparels are anticipated to hold a greater share in the market, creating an opportunity for the companies which produce clothing with environmentally friendly material and incorporate sustainable production processes. For instance, in February 2023, PatPat launched a latest sustainable range of baby apparels with environmentally-friendly fiber Naia cellulosic fiber which is Oeko-Tex standard 100 certified.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

Key players are helping in the growth by focusing on continuous product innovation, retail expansions, and strategic marketing. The manufacturers are actively expanding their product portfolio, increasing the base of the customers, and catering to their evolving needs.

The key players are innovating in designs and materials and adding soft, comfortable, and allergic free apparels for babies. The manufacturers are collaborating with influencers and other brands to develop premium products for the consumers.

For instance, in October 2023, H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB launched the latest newborn collection in collaboration with Sophie la giraffe. The collection focuses on newborns’ need from cozy layering pieces, hooded details, and warmer materials. These offerings include soft and comfortable bodysuits, matching bottoms, pyjamas, velour dungarees, a warm pile jacket, hats, and tops.