New Consumer Attitudes Drive US Plus-Size Apparel Demand

Executive Summary

A burgeoning apparel market for larger women is crystallizing and likely to expand for many years based on these factors:

• Inclusivity is the zeitgeist of the 21^st century, spanning ethnicities, sexuality and sizing, to name just a few. Empowered by technology, diverse consumers around the world desire products once unavailable and, at the same time, consumer shopping behavior towards plus-size clothing have changed.
• A 41.1% obesity rate among US women indicates the significant potential for brands and retailers to enter into or expand their plus-size apparel offering.
• Larger women, once marginalized, are now courted by designers, retailers and brands. A growing supply of inclusive apparel is addressing new consumer expectations.
• Coresight Research estimates the woman’s plus-size clothing market in the US is approximately $30.7 billion in 2019. Women who wear plus sizes spend less per capita on apparel and live in lower income households relative to the overall female population.