Decorated Apparel Market

Market Overview

The global decorated apparel market size has valued at USD 26.6 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 70.4 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The projected increase in consumer interest in digitally printed garments is expected to propel the overall growth of the decorated apparel market over the forecast period. One major element propelling market expansion is the increasing use of screens and digital printing on clothing. The growing trend toward luxury clothing has an impact on the embellished apparel sector. 

Decorated apparel is a style of clothing or fabric in which decorative procedures such as screen printing, embroidery, dye sublimation, and degassing are used. Sportswear, casual wear, uniforms, and promotional goods are all part of the decorated apparel industry. Sportswear logos, corporate and promotional branding, team and group uniforms, and retail and fashion clothes are all examples of decorative garment uses in the global market. Decorated clothing is a popular technique to advertise products, events, and organizations, as well as to express personal style and individuality. Overall, the global decorated clothing market is a huge and rising business with diverse product offerings and chances for customization and overspecialization.

Market Dynamics

Global Decorated Apparel Market Drivers

Rising Demand for Digitally Printed Apparel

The sector has seen a considerable shift from screen to digital printing. Screen printing was the go-to technology for the fast-fashion movement owing to the shift in production capacities to countries offering cheap labor, like India and China. Moreover, numerous designers and companies were constrained by the high screens and screen storage costs. Several factors, including less environmental impact and increased personalization options, have increased demand for digitally printed garments from company owners and customers. Digital printing and print-on-demand enable retailers and brands to continuously offer new graphics and help manufacturers determine best-sellers, which is a good option for analog print inventory at an affordable cost.

Print-on-demand is rising significantly. This type of manufacturing helps eliminate overstock and risk, slashes lead time, and reduces inventory costs. Print-on-demand also leads to a low return rate for the products as they are personalized and created per an individual's requirements. In 2017, Amazon secured a patent for an on-demand manufacturing line for apparel that incorporates the use of digital textile printers. Thus, the rising demand for digitally printed apparel is anticipated to drive the overall decorated apparel market over the forecast period.

Advancement of Technology Encouraging Innovation in Apparel Decoration

In the decorated apparel market, innovations have mostly focused on technology in direct-to-garment digital printing, embroidery, embellishment attachment, laser decoration, and traditional stitching. The introduction of new decorating techniques has also expanded the range of cost-effective decoration alternatives for both clothing producers and designers worldwide. In the decorated apparel industry, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has emerged as a game-changing instrument.

Furthermore, technological progress is evident in the shopping business as well as the realm of decorated clothing. Retailers worldwide are increasingly using the Three-Dimensional Visual Merchandising System to assist customers in making product selections in a virtual 3D retail environment. Such technological improvements are projected to boost demand for adorned garments during the forecast period.

Global Decorated Apparel Market Restraint

Ethical Concerns

Consumers’ environmental concerns have grown manifold in the last decade, so there has been a steady demand for eco-fashion worldwide. Some in the fashion industry have been compelled to advocate for more eco-friendly manufacturing processes or designs. Ethical concerns threaten the decorated apparel market as brands offer leather- and fur-based products using animal skin and hair. This factor has been forcing apparel decorators to transition from the production of unsustainable decorated apparel to sustainable or environment-friendly production practices.

Regulations against using materials derived from animals in product manufacturing may result in lower profit margins for clothing designers. Moreover, the transition to sustainable production would also mean substantial investments in production equipment owing to the change in the decorated apparel manufacturing process.

Global Decorated Apparel Market Opportunities

Sustainable Products

The global decorated apparel market will likely benefit from lucrative opportunities in the sustainable space. Sustainable decorated apparel can aid market players in staying abreast of the competition, backed by a growing consumer base of responsible individuals concerned about animal rights and sustainable production methods. With ethical fashion starting to move away from a niche to a more mainstream segment, sustainable, ethically designed/decorated apparel brands are expected to capitalize on more significant business opportunities over the forecast period.

With rising global concerns regarding the employment of unsustainable or animal-derived materials in the decorated apparel market, numerous potential opportunities exist for apparel decorators focusing on sourcing animal-free fur and leather alternatives. In this regard, market participants will likely prefer faux fur and leather to design apparel over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global decorated apparel market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global decorated apparel market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 11.4% over the forecast period. Consumers in Asia-Pacific countries dress substantially differently from the rest of the globe. Indian kurtas and saris, Chinese qipao, and Japanese kimonos are examples of traditional embroidered clothing. These forms of clothing are becoming more popular worldwide, adding to the development of fusion wear. As a result, the decorated apparel business in Asia-Pacific is booming.

In addition, the rising disposable earnings of the region's middle-class population have increased the number of first-time customers of high-end embellished garments. Consumers are more drawn toward embellished garments because of a penchant for high-quality items and the growing impact of social media in terms of design trends. Moreover, the development of multinational companies in the area is a significant driver of market growth.

Europe has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions in the global market. Europe is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 12.4% over the forecast period. The region's flourishing apparel and textile industry is expected to drive market growth. As per the National Council of Textile Organizations, industry shipments in the United States textile and apparel market in 2018 were USD 70 million. Moreover, R&D investment in the United States is high for textile and clothing materials such as conductive fabric with antistatic qualities, antimicrobial fibers, and electronic textiles, which are employed in the production of novel decorative garments. These variables are projected to have a beneficial influence on the region's embellished apparel industry.

Consumers' growing health consciousness, a better understanding of proper fitness and health, and an increase in the use of digital healthcare are some of the key growth drivers for the industry. Moreover, the growing acceptance of personalized nutrition solutions will enable the regional market to grow the fastest during the forecast period. Despite the COVID-19 epidemic, the business has expanded as more people choose nutritional items to strengthen their immune systems. The market is expected to maintain growth during the post-pandemic phase.

In Central and South America, the rising middle-class population in emerging economies, including Brazil and Mexico, coupled with the growing popularity of local and multinational manufacturers in the region, is expected to drive the decorated apparel market in the region. In addition, the growing prevalence of outdoor social gatherings, music events, and festivals, such as Lollapalooza in Chile, which attracts more than 1.5 million people annually in the region, is likely to drive the demand for decorated apparel. Several people prefer to flaunt printed and customized apparel during the event to show their support and enthusiasm.

In the Middle East and Africa, the influence of Western cultures and trends has gradually penetrated big cities in the region, such as South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, which has been transforming the apparel market. Manufacturers in the region have shown interest in designing decorated apparel that captures modest fashion and homegrown designs and reflects their culture. Moreover, events like Fashion Forward Dubai have provided a massive platform for numerous fashion designers and regional apparel companies to showcase their latest collections.

Segmental Analysis

The global decorated apparel market is bifurcated into product and end-user.

Based on the product, the global decorated apparel market is bifurcated into embroidery, screen printing, dye sublimation, digital printing, and others.

The embroidery segment dominates the global market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 10.51% over the forecast period. The expanding popularity of embroidery done in a variety of shapes without regard for gender is offering considerable development potential for embroidered-based adorned garments. The use of threads that vary in thickness, color, and finish, as well as the addition of trimmings ranging from little beads to large patches, offers a diverse functionality that appeals to customers.

Clothes with embroidery decorations are becoming increasingly popular since they offer superior quality, value addition, and a striking finish. Custom-decorated apparel has been a prime reason for the rising demand for embroidery-decorated apparel. For instance, men's and women's polo and embroidered t-shirts offered at Printful Inc. have gained popularity for custom embroidery among shoppers. Embroidery is widely applied to woven shirts, jackets, hats, and sweaters. Moreover, advancing techniques such as puff and sequin embroidery contribute to the growing demand for embroidery-decorated apparel products.

Based on end-users, the global decorated apparel market is divided into men, women, and children.

The women's segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 11.1% over the forecast period. The rising number of working women is generating higher demand for different varieties of clothing, thereby increasing traction for decorated apparel such as trousers, shirts, and kurtas, among others. Rising social gatherings among the younger population, as well as the impact of social media, have given the masses access to knowledge on numerous sorts of clothes for various situations based on season, utility, and fashion trends. This scenario is expected to fuel demand for women's decorative clothes, like printed t-shirts for everyday use, embroidered shorts and dresses for vacations, and dye sublimation for formal wear.

Furthermore, new advancements in the women's clothing sector are boosting demand for items such as graphic t-shirts, which have acquired appeal as semi-formal and casual clothes. Apparel like free-flowing, light dresses and fuss-free clothing are in high demand. Moreover, graphic-printed leisurewear and patterns that are more daring, louder, and brasher are much sought after, particularly in the year 2021. These factors will drive women's demand for decorated apparel over the forecast period.

Recent Developments

• July 2023: TR McTaggart, a Scottish maker of adorned garments, was bought by Lynka, a prominent seller of decorated apparel for children.
• January 2023: Nike announced the debut of a new range of decorated sportswear made from sustainable materials. "Nike Earthrise" is the name of the collection, which includes clothing manufactured from recycled polyester and organic cotton.