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Data and analyses of consumer attitudes, preferences and shopping habits. |
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Data and analyses of the cotton textile retail sector,including fiber share by category. |
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Data and analyses of trends in the cotton textile supply chain, including commodity economics. |
If anyone doubts the staying power of cotton, consider that it was used 7,000 years ago for clothing in Ancient India, according to The History of Clothing. Its popularity has only continued, as modern performance technology has enhanced cotton’s natural properties so brands and designers can meet consumer demand for the fiber.
Somewhere between being called the Boomerang Generation (because a lack of finances meant they had to move back in with their parents) and Trophy Kids (because they were rewarded not for accomplishments, but for simply showing up), Millennials have managed to grow up, get jobs, and enter into parenthood. And the values and concerns they picked up along the way, such as climate change and sustainability, are shaping their choices when they shop for their kids’ clothes.
It used to be consumers all pretty much shopped the same way: if they needed something, they went to the store to get it. These days, there is still Point A, where the shopper needs an item, and Point B, where the item is procured. But like in a close relationship, consumers don’t want their favorite brand or store to treat them like “everyone else.” Today, consumers want to feel special by virtue of what they’re offered online, exclusive product launches, targeted sales and promotions, and rewards. Without that, a brand or retailer stands to lose.
Gen Z is nothing if not about authenticity. And perhaps no other piece of apparel has been linked more with the word “authentic” than denim jeans. But this young generation of shoppers also championed the rise of athleisure apparel. The question for denim brands becomes, how to stand out and appeal to this set of consumers whose purchasing power is increasing, while maintaining the genuineness that is the established hallmark of the denim category.
China is still an economic powerhouse, despite the fact that its growth is slowing. The country’s economy grew 6.2 percent in the second quarter, down from 6.4 percent the period before. It’s the slowest pace since 1992, and a dramatic decrease from a dozen years ago, when growth was 14.2 percent. However, a January research report from eMarketer projected China will overtake the U.S. as the world’s biggest retail market this year. That’s why it remains vital that brands connect with this country, especially at the digital level.
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