Supply Chain Insights – Consumer Insights in South Korea
October 15, 2025
Comfort FitQuality
Drivers of Consumer Prefrence
*Tencel is a trademark of Lenzing
SUSTAINABILITY
= significantly higher in 2025 = significantly lower in 2025
Top Retailers Shopped for Clothing
Top Ways Plan to Shop for Clothing in Next Year
Cotton Preference
Top Reasons Would Pay More for Clothes Made from
Natural Fibers
Preferred Shopping Method
Top Social Media Sources
% Say Is Safe for the Environment (Top 5 of 11)
AMERICA’S COTTON PRODUCERS AND IMPORTERS Service Marks/Trademarks of Cotton Incorporated ©2025 Cotton Incorporated
Source: Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated’s Global Lifestyle Monitor™ survey, conducted with n=1,000 consumers in South Korea
COTTONINC.COM
LIFESTYLEMONITOR.COTTONINC.COM
14 % 45%
Changing how shopping
for clothing to reduce
environmental impact
Rely on a sustainability
certification or seal to determine
if clothing is made in an
environmentally friendly manner
Sustainability
is nice to
have
63%
Only purchase
sustainable
clothing
12 %
78%
59%
39%
40%
39%
37%
Cotton Wool HempPolyester Rayon Tencel*
Cotton
blends
Denim
Cotton
Prefer Cotton, Cotton
blends, or Denim
71%
40%
Willing to pay more for natural
fibers such as cotton
36%
Feel very/somewhat
optimistic about their
financial situation
36%
81%
In-Store
Online
14%
62%
Browsing
Purchasing
I will buy some new
clothing, but less than usual
Top Way Plan to Shop
57%
77%
I will do more
research so I can
get the best value
72%
87%
I will buy
higher-quality,
longer-lasting items
I will buy more
comfortable
clothing
58%
Department
57%
Factory outlet
(In-Store)
81 %
Online only store
(In-Store)
GLOBAL LIFESTYLE MONITOR: INDIA
GLOBAL CONSUMER
INSIGHTS
IN SOUTH KOREA
SHOPPING TRENDS
= significantly higher in 2025 = significantly lower in 2025
Comfortable Soft Authentic
55%63% 44%
55% 55% 41% 28%
Better performance
Better quality
More comfortable
Hypoallergenic/less
irritating to skin
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Use social media
as a top source of
inspiration
(social media/blogs/vlogs)
51%
76%
75%
31%
NAVER
BLOG
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE