AMERICAN FASHION IS BOOMING AND RELYING ON IMPORTS TO KEEP UP

by ELLA FEATHERS

The American fashion industry has seen significant growth in volume over the past quarter of a century.

In 2023, the average American spent over a third more on clothes and shoes than they did just 10 years earlier.

Total spending on clothing and shoes has risen in tandem with rising per capita spending. Over half a trillion dollars were spent on fashion-related items in 2013, and there aren't any signs of slowing down.

To keep up with demand, the United States has shifted to importing clothing. A lot of clothing. About 98% of all apparel sold and consumed in the US is imported, according to the United States Fashion Industry Association.

What's more, the United States is a dominant buyer of fashion; the United States imported nearly a fifth of total global fashion, valued in USD. Germany, the second-largest importer, imported about 9%. This makes the United States a unique consumer base, spending more and more on an apparel market with hardly any domestic production.

Here's how the United States compares to the top 10 global fashion importers.

Country	Imported apparel volume, USD

Explore how much fashion every country imports:

Country	Imported apparel volume, USD