Apparel and Footwear in Japan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List Of Contents And Tables

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Inbound tourism, tech innovation, and experiential retail drive growth in apparel and footwear

KEY DATA FINDINGS

• CHART 1 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Tourism, functional products, and sports events fuel growth despite challenges
• Apparel dominates, but footwear and sportswear see greater dynamism
• CHART 2 Nike's New Collection Introduced for the World Athletics Championships
• Inbound tourism drives growth, with Onitsuka Tiger a standout brand
• CHART 3 Onitsuka Tiger Captures Global Attention with Flagship Store
• Tech innovation drives growth in functional fashion to address warmer summers
• CHART 4 Yellow Uniqlo Promotes UV Protection Through Transit Hubs

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Growth set to continue, with collaborations an important driving force
• Functionality, sustainable practices and changing culture likely to impact growth

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Fast Retailing and Shimamura lead through wide distribution and strong brand recognition
• CHART 5 Analyst Insight
• LVMH-backed investment firm acquires Kapital, signalling shift towards niche Japanese labels

CHANNELS

• Offline retail remains dominant as many consumers prefer to try before buying
• TikTok Shop set to accelerate growth in retail e-commerce

ECONOMIC CONTEXT

• CHART 6 Real GDP Growth and Inflation 2020-2030
• CHART 7 PEST Analysis in Japan 2025

CONSUMER CONTEXT

• CHART 8 Key Insights on Consumers in Japan 2025
• CHART 9 Consumer Landscape in Japan 2025

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

SOURCES

• Summary 1 Research Sources

WOMENSWEAR IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Functional textiles and rising number of working women contribute to growth
• CHART 45 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Growth seen for womenswear in 2025, with several key growth drivers
• Resale and rental services gain traction among professionals, impacting primary sales
• CHART 46 AnotherADdress.biz Offers A New Format for Workwear Access in Japan
• Technological advancements drive innovation in functional textiles
• CHART 47 UV Shields to Sweat Control: Technology Reshapes Womenswear
• Inbound tourism drives demand for localised and exclusive womenswear
• CHART 48 Zara's Japan-Exclusive Collaboration Reflects Inbound Demand for Cultural Immersion

WHAT'S NEXT?

• The rising working female population will drive demand for professional attire
• Technology expected to reshape womenswear
• K-fashion and personal expression set to drive growth
• CHART 49 Analyst Insight

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Fast Retailing and Shimamura lead with innovative strategies
• Strategic acquisition to enhance operational efficiency and innovation

CHANNELS

• Offline retail remains dominant as consumers still value tactile experiences
• E-commerce poses moderate competition to offline stores

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

MENSWEAR IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Comfort and functionality propel growth in menswear
• CHART 10 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Rising demand for products to better manage the heat
• CHART 11 Functional Innerwear for Japan's Hotter Seasons
• AOKI capitalises on inbound tourism with tailored experiences
• CHART 12 AOKI Targets Inbound Tourists with Tailored Menswear Experiences
• Shifting workplace norms drive menswear evolution
• CHART 13 Elevating Business Casual for the Modern Workplace

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Tourism will continue to impact sales of menswear
• Functionality to drive growth in men's nightwear, but men's outerwear will continue to lead
• Sustainability initiatives to shape menswear strategies

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Fast Retailing leads menswear with versatile basics
• Opportunities for growth through differentiation

CHANNELS

• Offline retail continues to dominate menswear for the personal experience
• Retail e-commerce gains ground in menswear, with social commerce emerging
• CHART 14 Analyst Insight
• Convenience stores disrupts sales channels in menswear

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

CHILDRENSWEAR IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Childrenswear defies headwinds with safety, innovation, and tourism-driven growth
• CHART 15 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Value growth continues, but declining birth rate limits volume growth opportunities
• CHART 16 Cooling Items Gain Traction in Childrenswear Amid Extreme Heat
• Volume sales also hampered by resale and rental
• CHART 17 ECOLIFE COCO Expands Across Japan with Accessible Locations
• Inbound tourism boosts sales of premium childrenswear and value sales
• CHART 18 Mikihouse Strengthens Inbound Strategy with Boutique Launch and Tourist Engagement

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Economic factors and tourism expected to drive demand for childrenswear
• Girls' apparel to remain the most significant, while baby and toddler wear will see challenges
• Functionality, online communities and AI-driven retail to shape childrenswear
• CHART 19 Analyst Insight

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Leading retailers maintain strong positions through strategic collaborations

CHANNELS

• Offline retail dominates childrenswear through extensive retail networks
• With the popularity of shopping both online and offline, omnichannel retail is significant

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

SPORTSWEAR IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Sportswear thrives on versatility, innovation, and sustainability
• CHART 20 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Functionality meets fashion to drive sales of sportswear
• Sports apparel drives sales, but sports footwear sees stronger growth
• Events contribute to growth in sportswear
• CHART 21 Sports Events Spark Growth in Sportswear in Japan
• Tech-savvy consumers drive demand for functional sportswear
• CHART 22 The North Face introduces Climate Adaptation Product Line

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Sportswear for everyday fashion set to drive growth
• Technology, niche sports, and sustainability to shape the landscape
• CHART 23 Analyst Insight

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• adidas, Asics, and Nike lead despite emerging competition

CHANNELS

• Offline retail dominates, with the opening of new outlets to meet tourist demand
• CHART 24 Columbia Increases its Retail Presence in Tourist-Heavy Districts
• TikTok Shop emerges as new e-commerce channel

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

JEANS IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Inbound travel, craftsmanship, and casualisation drive sustained growth for jeans
• CHART 25 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Market polarisation impacts the growth of jeans in 2025
• CHART 26 Levi's Opens Flagship Store in Nagoya Featuring Tailor Shop
• Japanese denim blends heritage with experiential tourism
• CHART 27 Okayama Prefecture: Japan's Denim Capital Embraces Tourism in 2025
• Denim takes its place in professional wardrobes
• CHART 28 AOKI Expands into Office-Ready Denim with its MeWORK Women's Line in 2025

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Made-in-Japan denim set to contribute to growth
• Premium jeans will maintain its dominance, but market polarisation will remain evident
• Sustainability and customisation to shape the future of denim
• CHART 29 Analyst Insight

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Itochu and Fast Retailing lead jeans with legacy brands
• LVMH and Daidoh expand their presence in jeans through strategic acquisitions

CHANNELS

• Offline retail dominates jeans due to the importance of fit, and the in-store experience
• Social commerce platform TikTok Shop set to drive continued growth for retail e-commerce

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

HOSIERY IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Slow growth due to maturity, but opportunities remain
• CHART 30 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Tabio's character collaborations contribute to growth
• CHART 31 Tabio's Character Collaborations Drive Growth for Hosiery
• Non-sheer hosiery dominates
• Inclusive innovations impact product design and functionality
• CHART 32 Inclusive Hosiery for Diabetic Foot Care
• Advanced technology is reshaping hosiery in Japan
• CHART 33 Sleep Tech Hosiery for Cold Feet

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Functional innovations set to drive growth despite saturation
• Health and self-expression to impact sales
• CHART 34 Analyst Insight

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Gunze, Tabio Corp, and Shimamura lead through innovation
• Opportunities arise from innovation and niche targeting

CHANNELS

• Offline retail remains dominant, with convenience stores having an impact
• Retail e-commerce emerges as strategic growth engine

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

APPAREL ACCESSORIES IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Apparel accessories sees polarisation and demand for functional accessories
• CHART 35 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Continued growth, especially for hats/caps, although ties and belts lose some relevance
• Functional needs drive demand for specific accessories
• CHART 36 3COINS Offers Affordable Accessories Targeting Consumers with Limited Budgets
• Climate extremes drive functional innovation in apparel accessories
• CHART 37 Uniqlo UV Cut Face Cover Provides a Practical Response to Rising Summer Temperatures

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Consumers prioritise practicality and affordability in apparel accessories
• Hats/caps to lead growth due to practicality and safety
• CHART 38 Analyst Insight
• Innovative products and services to shape apparel accessories

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Fast Retailing maintains its lead through functional product development
• Convenience stores see growth in apparel accessories with affordable private label lines
• CHART 39 FamilyMart's Convenience Wear: Disrupting Japan's Fashion Landscape
• Opportunities for companies to grow by leveraging the latest trends

CHANNELS

• Offline retail dominates, with convenience stores rising thanks to affordable accessories
• Retail e-commerce sees the rise of social commerce

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

FOOTWEAR IN JAPAN

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2025 DEVELOPMENTS

• Footwear thrives on comfort and functionality, with continued growth projected
• CHART 40 Key Trends 2025

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

• Consumers prioritise comfort and functionality in footwear
• Wellness trend drives demand for functional footwear in Japan
• CHART 41 OOFOS Drives Japan's Recovery Footwear Movement
• Inbound tourism fuels sales, with unique designs and cultural authenticity driving sales
• CHART 42 Liberato's Tatami Footwear Captures Interest of Tourists in Asakusa

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Ageing population set to drive demand for functional footwear
• Sustainability and technology integration to shape future trends
• On's flagship launch signals Japan's growing role in global sneaker fashion
• CHART 43 Analyst Insight

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Asics, adidas and Nike maintain their leading positions, with Asics taking the top spot
• New entrants and product launches drive opportunities
• CHART 44 Kizik's Hands-Free Footwear Enters Japan Following Growing Popularity for Slip-Ins

CHANNELS

• Offline retail remains dominant with enhanced in-store experiences
• TikTok Shop social commerce impacts retail e-commerce

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER