UK Apparel Consumer Insights: 2026

Description

The report includes data and analysis from GlobalData's How Britain Shops 2026 survey.

Apparel purchasing rose 0.9ppts in 2026, led by under-35s and over-65s, while shoppers in their late 30s to 60s pulled back slightly.

More under 35s and over 65s purchased apparel in 2026, indicating improved economic conditions for all demographics
The demographics and locations of UK apparel shoppers remained similar due to consistent economic conditions and an apparel market reaching maturity
Younger generations were more likely to purchase accessories as an affordable way to access trends

Identify how economic uncertainty is influencing how and where UK consumers shop for apparel
Understand where the demand lies within the UK apparel market across various price positionings, categories, and retailers, to allow you to maximise customer acquisition
Understand consumer sentiment surrounding the UK apparel market and what this means for apparel brands' next steps

Product Code: GDAP260000BCI

Product Code: GDAP260000BCI

Consumers who purchased clothing, footwear and accessories, by demographic
Womenswear items purchased
Menswear items purchased
Girlswear items purchased
Boyswear items purchased
Women's footwear items purchased
Men's footwear items purchased
Children's footwear items purchased
Accessories items purchased
Channels used to purchase apparel, by demographic
Fulfilment methods used when purchasing apparel online, by demographic
Top clothing retailers visited and purchased from, 2024 and 2025
Top footwear retailers visited and purchased from, 2024 and 2025
Top accessories retailers visited and purchased from, 2024 and 2024
What was important to shoppers when purchasing apparel in 2025, by demographic
What inspires consumers' apparel purchases in 2025, by demographic
Consumers who purchased secondhand apparel in the last 12 months, by demographic
Consumers who would consider purchasing secondhand apparel in the future, by total and demographic
Top instore retailers secondhand apparel shoppers have purchased from
Top online retailers secondhand apparel shoppers have purchased from

Consumers who shopped for apparel in the last 12 months, totally and by gender, age, social grade, and region
Demographic profile of apparel shoppers, by gender, age, social grade and region
Consumers who shopped for clothing, footwear and accessories
Categories purchased by clothing and footwear shoppers
Clothing styles purchased by apparel shoppers
How frequently shoppers purchase apparel
Channels used to purchase apparel
Instore locations shopped at for apparel
Fulfilment methods used when purchasing apparel online
What is important to shoppers when purchasing apparel
What inspires shoppers' apparel purchases
Agreement and disagreement with statements about fashion preferences
Agreement and disagreement with statements about experiences when shopping for apparel
Agreement and disagreement with statements about sustainability and ethics
Consumers who purchased secondhand apparel in the last 12 months
Consumers who would consider purchasing secondhand apparel in the future
Categories purchased by secondhand apparel shoppers
What is important to shoppers when purchasing secondhand apparel
Channels used for secondhand apparel purchases
Agreement and disagreement with statements about purchasing items secondhand