The apparel market in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is growing at nine per cent a year.

Brands have a growing opportunity in resale. The resale market is growing in popularity among APAC consumers with 27 per cent of shoppers intending to purchase clothing via resale in the next 12 months.While consumer-to-consumer resale platforms pose an increasing threat to apparel brands, they should leverage this interest and consider integrating secondhand products in their ranges or launch partnerships with platforms, which could be particularly lucrative for luxury players considering the strength of the sector in APAC.

APAC fared better than most regions during the pandemic as it was cushioned by governments offering support packages and China’s continued economic growth. Online sales rose by 11 per cent during the period. The APAC apparel market is driven by urbanisation and growing regional wealth. The region’s growth is something brands can look to capitalise on. Of the top ten APAC apparel markets, China dominates and is followed by Japan, India and South Korea.

Sportswear continues to present a significant opportunity with 54 per cent of APAC shoppers purchasing sportswear for everyday use, and an equal proportion also purchasing it for exercise, training and/or sports.