Vegan fashion market worldwide - statistics and facts

Any item of clothing which is made without using any animal products is technically suitable for vegans, and therefore could be classed as vegan fashion. This encompasses a huge market, leading to valuations of the vegan clothing market totaling hundreds of billions of dollars. However, most of these products are not made with the vegan market in mind, they just happen to be made from synthetics or cotton. A more specific definition of vegan fashion is apparel that would usually be made of animal products, such as leather, wool, and fur but is instead made from an alternative material that resembles the appearance and texture of the animal product, without actually harming any animals. Leather is most commonly replaced by plastics, such as PU or PVC, whilst faux fur is generally made of a mixture of acrylics. Many companies are also working on new materials which simulate animal products using biological materials, which are a lot more environmentally friendly than the synthetic alternatives currently used.

Non-animal leather

The estimated revenue of the non-animal leather clothing and accessories market worldwide in 2022 was approximately 41 billion U.S. dollars, with the United States by far the largest non-animal leather market. One significant segment using non-animal leather is the footwear industry. Leather is often seen as a mark of quality footwear, for sneakers and formal shoes alike. However, as people look for animal-friendly alternatives, the vegan footwear market is forecast to grow significantly. In 2021, Adidas announced a concept shoe in its famous Stan Smith product line which is made of a mushroom-based leather alternative. Adidas has also partnered with Stella McCartney, one of the leading vegan fashion brands, to create vegan shoes in the past.

Faux fur

The revenue of the faux fur apparel and footwear market worldwide was estimated to total roughly 25 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, with an estimated per-capita purchase of 0.06 items per year. Fur farming has been banned in many countries, such as the United Kingdom, Austria, and the Netherlands. Major fashion houses, such as Prada, Chanel, and Versace, among many others, have also stopped using real fur due to ethical considerations. However, for consumers, it is not just ethics that may influence their purchasing decision, but also the monumental price difference between faux fur and real fur.

Consumer attitudes

Despite many consumers around the world being aware of cruelty to animals in the fashion industry, this rarely translates into consumers deciding to buy exclusively non-animal-based apparel. In the United States, the concern over animal welfare was considerably lower than in other countries, according to a 2021 survey, with fewer consumers aware of animal cruelty or choosing brands that prioritize animal welfare. In fact, consumers in the U.S. seem reluctant to even use the word vegan. In both a survey on footwear and on next-generation materials, when asked for the preferred names of products not made from animals, “vegan” scored very lowly; much lower than synonymous phrases such as “animal-free materials” or “no animals were harmed”.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by P. Smith, Dec 18, 2023

Key insights

Projected value of the women's vegan fashion market in 2028
1.1tr USD
Estimated value of the ethical fashion market worldwide
7.5bn USD
Estimated market value of the vegan footwear market worldwide
16.9bn USD
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Estimated value of the women's vegan fashion market worldwide from 2020 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Forecast market value of the vegan footwear market worldwide from 2020 to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Global vegan footwear market value 2020-2027

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