Rising Awareness among Consumers about animal cruelty in Fashion, and Initiatives by animal welfare organizations to the pave way for Vegan Clothing Market; FMI Analysis
Newly-released Vegan Clothing Market analysis report by Future Market Insights reveals that global sales of Vegan Clothing in 2022 were held at US$ 628.7 Million. With 12% projected growth from 2023 to 2033, the market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 2.2 Billion by the end of the forecast period. Vegan apparel is expected to be the highest revenue-generating type of vegan clothing, projected to grow at a CAGR of over 12.1% from 2023 to 2033.
As per the research of the Vegan Clothing Market by Future Market Insights – a market research and competitive intelligence provider, historically, from 2018 to 2022, the market value increased at around 9.4% CAGR. With an absolute dollar opportunity of US$ 1.5 Billion, the market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 2.2 Billion by 2033.
What are the Key Drivers Influencing the Market’s Expansion?
Vegan clothing is apparel, footwear, or accessories made without the use of any animal products, such as leather, fur, wool, silk, down, or any other material derived from animals. This type of clothing is often made from natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic materials, and its demand is driven by increasing awareness about animal cruelty and sustainability.
The US-based organization PETA is known for speaking out against animal abuse in a variety of sectors, including the apparel and textile business. To raise awareness about animal cruelty in the fashion business, PETA conducts investigations to uncover animal abuse and organizes campaigns like naked devils, “fur crawls,” and protests like Fur-Free Friday, which have devoted activities all over the world.
By urging companies to purchase vegan fabrics, PETA also supports the use of cruelty-free and vegan materials for clothes. For instance, in November 2022, PETA introduced the Vegan Wool Challenge, a US$ 1 million reward competition that aims to inspire designers and researchers to create bio-based vegan substitutes for sheep wool with little environmental impact.
Natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic fibers are used to make vegan apparel. Out of them, natural fibers are regarded as the most environmentally friendly choice. Vegan clothing companies frequently employ organic cotton to market their ethical and sustainable principles to a wider consumer base. Because organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, fewer hazardous chemicals are released into the environment during production.
According to the Textile Exchange Organization, on 621K hectares of certified organic land, 3.4 million tons of organic cotton were produced from 2020 to 2021 marking a growth of 37% from the previous year. This may have an impact on the decline in the price of organic cotton fabrics and open the door to affordable clothes.
Veganism is a lifestyle choice that forgoes the use of animal products for moral, environmental, and health grounds and is not just limited to food preferences. Globally, there has been a rising trend toward veganism in recent years. For instance, The Vegan Society’s “Veganuary” campaign, in which participants pledge to consume only vegan cuisine during the month of January 2022, attracted 629K sign-ups from more than 228 different nations.
According to the latest data, In 2023, more than 706,000 People Worldwide Signed Up for a Veganuary, which Increased to 1.8 Million in January 2024. Google searches for “vegan food near me” increased by 5000% in 2021. As a result, demand for vegan clothing is anticipated to increase over the forecast period due to consumer desire for cruelty-free lifestyle options.
Region-Wise Analysis
Which Region is Projected to Offer the Largest Growth in the Market?
North America is a prominent shareholder in the market with a market size of US$ 330.7 Million in 2022 and US$ 365.9 Million in 2023. It is projected that North America will have a market worth US$ 966.6 Million in 2033.
North America has several small ethical brands as well as major retailers such as ZARA, H&M, and Tentree which offer vegan clothing lines to cater to the demand for vegan clothing. Brands in North American countries are also using celebrity influence to promote vegan fashion in the industry. For instance, Canadian music legend Bryan Adams collaborated with ‘Wuxly’ for the launch of their BAD collection of vegan outerwear.
In another instance, singer Miley Cyrus collaborated with the American shoe brand Converse for a vegan holiday fashion line. These significant trends in the region are likely to boost the demand for vegan clothing.
Country-Wise Analysis
United States Vegan Clothing Market Analysis
The market in the United States is expected to grow to be worth US$ 797.3 Million with an absolute dollar growth of US$ 499.6 Million till 2033. The market in the country has grown at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2018 to 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% from the year 2023 to 2033.
The US has the world’s largest apparel market, valued at US$ 412 billion, making it a desirable location for fashion trends. In the country with the greatest number of PETA-Approved vegan fashion brands, vegan fashion has been gaining ground.
Recent years have seen a rise in the popularity of vegan fashion runways, thanks to occasions like Vegan Fashion Week in Los Angeles, which showcases brands and designers committed to producing cruelty-free clothing. To promote vegan fashion, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times, and several other magazines cover these runway shows. They give designers a stage on which to display their abilities while fostering awareness of the demand for more responsible fashion practices. These significant initiatives are expected to fuel the growth of the market in the US.
China Vegan Clothing Market Analysis
In China, the market is expected to grow to be worth US$ 162.3 Million with an absolute dollar growth of US$ 132.6 Million till 2033. The market in China has grown at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2018 to 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% from the year 2023 to 2033.
Though China has not proposed any ban on fur farming its production is still facing a downward trend with the decline in demand and increasing social responsibility among consumers.
Around 4,000 fur firms in China deregistered business licenses between 2017 and 2019, with an estimated 52% leaving the industry by January 2022. This decrease in fur manufacturing is projected to inspire the Chinese fashion sector to choose vegan imitation fur for clothes and accessories.
Germany Vegan Clothing Market Analysis
The market in Germany is expected to grow to be worth US$ 84.6 Million with an absolute dollar growth of US$ 56.4 Million till 2033. The market in Japan has grown at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2018 to 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from the year 2023 to 2033.
Veganism is a growing trend in Germany, with an estimated 2.6 million vegans, accounting for 3.2% of the total population, having doubled between 2016 and 2020. This substantial tendency in Germany has also influenced the animal-free fashion trend within the country, with the country having the second highest number of PETA-Approved 100% vegan apparel brands, trailing only the United States. This number of brands is expected to expand during the projected period due to rising demand for cruelty-free apparel that aligns with their values.
United Kingdom Vegan Clothing Market Analysis
The market in the United Kingdom is expected to grow to be worth US$ 117.1 Million with an absolute dollar growth of US$ 65.1 Million. The market in the United Kingdom has grown at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2018 to 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2023 to 2033.
The word ‘vegan’ in google trends has seen steady growth with the increasing popularity of plant-based lifestyles. The UK had the most significant searches for ‘vegan’ in the years 2021 and 2022 with an estimated 1.5% of the population following veganism in the country.
According to a 2021 survey in the UK around 47.4% of consumers wanted vegan clothing items certified by third-party certifications. To keep up with this consumer demand, “The Vegan Trademark” issued by The Vegan Society has over 65,000 registered vegan products. This growing trend in the country has also influenced high fashion brands to come up with vegan clothing lines. For instance, New Look, a UK-based high-street brand registered a collection of 431 products for the Vegan Trademark in 2019. Other brands are likely to follow this trend and influence sales of vegan clothing in the UK.
Category-Wise Insights
Which Type of Vegan Clothing Market Is Projected to Witness the Fastest Growth?
The apparel market is projected to witness the fastest growth as it has grown at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2018 to 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% from 2023 to 2033.
Vegan apparel can be made using a variety of materials such as natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic materials. Natural materials such as cotton, hemp, and bamboo are widely used in the apparel industry even if the product is not labeled as vegan.
Semi-synthetic materials are used to replace fur and leather in clothing to create cost-effective apparel as these materials are cheaper than actual animal products. This cost-effective nature of vegan apparel is likely to create growth opportunities during the forecast period.
Which Material Type of Vegan Clothing Is Projected to Witness the Fastest Growth in the Market?
Vegan Clothing made from natural materials is projected to witness the fastest growth as it has grown at a CAGR of 10% from 2018 to 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.8% from 2023 to 2033.
Natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic fibers are used to make vegan apparel. Out of them, natural fibers are regarded as the most environmentally friendly choice. Textiles that are eco-friendly and vegan can be made from a range of plants, including bamboo, cotton, hemp, and cork. These crops are cultivated and processed to produce textiles with as little negative environmental impact as possible without using any cruel methods on animals. With growing consumer knowledge of sustainability, this environmental benefit is expected to increase demand for natural fibers.
Competitive Analysis
Key players in the market are New Look, ZARA, Tentree, Stella McCartney, Nudie Jeans Co., Pact, Toad & Co., Harper Coats, Boody, I Love Tyler Madison, KOMODO, TALA, Boyish Jeans, Unspun, and People Tree.
The brands manufacturing vegan clothing are promoting their ethical practices and gaining consumer trust through third-party certifications and providing transparency in the manufacturing process.
Some of the recent developments in the market are:
In November 2022, Certified B denim company Unspun brand opened a permanent store in Hong Kong to provide customers with custom-fit jeans using 3D scan technology. The brand aims to reduce the waste in jeans manufacturing with the help of technology and prioritize sustainability by using 100% vegan materials.
In February 2022, UK sustainable activewear brand TALA founded by Grace Beverley raised US$ 5.7 million to expand the brand globally by increasing production capacity and hiring more manpower.
In September 2019, US high-street fashion brand New Look launched 500 vegan clothing items. The brand also registered the accessories and clothing with the Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark to ensure that none of the materials used in production are derived from animals.
In September 2021, Pact an organic clothing brand received funding of US$ 7.5 million from Gerber Finance to support the organic cotton apparel’s inventory growth, investments into channels of distribution, and marketing strategies.
In June 2018, high fashion designer Stella McCartney launched a vegan and nature-inspired range of kids’ clothing. The clothing line is aimed at the age group 0 to 14 years old with a variety of garments made with vegan and environmentally friendly materials.
