51 positive sustainable fashion statistics for 2026

✍︎ Ryan
December 30, 2025
Fashion

The global fashion industry is a major contributor to carbon emissions but there are nevertheless reasons to be cheerful.

These sustainable fashion statistics demonstrate that consumers are demanding greener, more ethical apparel options and that many brands and suppliers are working hard to cater to them.

5 key positive sustainable fashion statistics

The global market for sustainable fashion overall (including apparel, accessories, jewelry) is forecast to reach USD 58 billion by 2035.
Extending the life of a garment by nine months can reduce its carbon, water and waste footprint by 20-30%.
Two thirds (66%) of consumers are already making fashion purchase decisions with sustainability in mind.
71% of consumers want to make more sustainable clothing purchases.
27% more sustainable clothing lines were launched in 2025 compared to 2023.

Sustainable fashion market size statistics

The global market for sustainable clothing is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% over the next decade and will be worth USD 9.4 billion by 2034.
In 2026, sustainable apparel is expected to make up 6.14% of the total fashion market.
36% more ethical fashion certifications were issued in 2025 compared to 2023.

Positive sustainable fashion statistics by region

North America accounts for over 30% of the global sustainable fashion market.
The Asia-Pacific region is a leader in ethical fashion, accounting for 56% of the global ethical fashion market.
There are more than 14,000 certified ethical suppliers contributing to premium fashion in Europe.
Online sustainable apparel sales grew 38% between 2025 and 2025 in Africa and South America.
Online apparel resale in the US is expected to nearly double by 2029 with a CAGR of 13%

Positive sustainable fashion statistics by age group

One quarter of the UK’s Gen Z population say they bought fewer fashion items overall in 2025 compared to the previous year.
60% of the world’s Gen Z population say they prioritize sustainability when making purchases.
More than 3 in 5 (62%) Gen Z consumers prefer sustainable fashion brands
73% of Gen Z consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable fashion brands.
34% of clothing items owned by the average Gen Z consumer are second hand.

Positive fashion resale statistics

Repair, resale and rental business could make up more than 20% of the total global fashion market by 2030.
The global clothing resale market is expected to grow by USD 150 billion from 2023
48% of young consumers said secondhand stores are the first place they look when buying clothing (up from 41% in 2022).
More than half (54%) of retail executives believe the resale business offers more stable and predictable income in the face of potential economic uncertainty.
76% of retail executives who don’t already offer resale are thinking about adding it in the future.
More than 150 major fashion companies have now implemented resale initiatives.
Since 2021, the number of global fashion companies with their own resale programs has increased by 331%.

Positive secondhand clothing statistics

Secondhand clothing now fills 28% of the average consumer’s closet (up from 21% in 2020).
While cost and value for money is the largest motivation for buying secondhand clothing, 40% of buyers strongly agree that sustainability is a key driver.
A record 58% of consumers bought secondhand apparel in 2024.
68% of younger consumers bought secondhand apparel in 2024.
to 2028.
The global second hand apparel market is expected to reach USD 367 billion by 2029
The secondhand apparel market is expected to grow 2.7x faster than the overall global apparel market through 2029.

Positive textile recycling statistics

New technologies could enable 26% of textiles to be recycled into similar-grade materials (so-called fibre-to-fibre recycling) by 2030.
Improving the textile-to-textile recycling rate to 10% (currently 1%) would achieve carbon savings of 440,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent per year and conserve 8.8 billion cubic meters of water.
Recycled fabrics are expected to account for 21% of the total sustainable fashion market growth through to 2035.
Scaling textile recycling initiatives could create 15,000 skilled jobs in the EU by 2030.
Circular economy integration presents a USD 17 billion opportunity for fashion manufacturers over the next decade.

Sustainable fashion and society

Nearly three quarters of consumers (74%) say they want to use clothing and apparel they own in a more sustainable way going forward.
More than 7 in 10 (72%) of consumers believe they have a personal responsibility to make more sustainable fashion choices, with a clear majority also viewing it as a collective societal issue.
65% of consumers believe the government should better protect them from deceptive and misleading sustainability advertising.
A successful transition to a circular fashion economy could create 18 million additional jobs by 2030.
More than 230 sustainable clothing lines were launched worldwide over the last two years.

Positive ethical fashion statistics

Apparel made using organic fibres currently dominates sustainable fashion, accounting for 38% of the total market.
Hemp fabrics can be produced with 95% reduction in the amount of pesticides used.
Hemp-cotton based denim uses 83% less water to produce than traditional denim.
New sustainable dying technologies can reduce chemical usage by almost one third (32%).
Organic cotton is now used in more than 1.1 billion garments globally.

Sustainable fashion brands

Patagonia is the single most prominent sustainable fashion company with a 4.2% share of the overall market.
More than half (57%) of brands now say they experience pressure to expand their ethical fashion lines.
More than 800 fashion brands now include carbon footprint labelling on their products.
Over one-third (34%) of brands now participate in a resale or upcycling collaborations.
Levi Strauss & Co. (9%) and H&M Conscious (8%) are the top ethical fashion companies by market share.

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