Global Hosiery Market Overview
Hosiery also referred to as legwear, describes the garments, worn directly on the feet and legs. The term hosiery is also being used for the type of knitted fabric, its weight and thickness. It is manufactured in a wide range of fabric weights, knits and colors. In general, heavier weight fabrics are stronger and more durable, but are thicker and show less of the natural skin tone. On the other hand, lighter garments look and feel more luxurious but are not strong as compared to the heavier ones. The hosiery includes categories such as sheers, support hosiery, control tops, opaques, tights, stay-ups, stockings, maternity pantyhose and run-resistant garments.
Sheers are made with lightweight fabric composed of very fine yarn, usually nylon. Further, support hosiery comes in a range of fabrics usually in a combination of nylon and Spandex. They have gentle, graduated compression to provide a massage-like fit that can reduce fatigue in the legs. Furthermore, control tops provide a slimmer silhouette and add strength to a high-stress area of the garment. Moreover, opaques are heavier and more durable than the sheers, however, the tights are even heavier than opaques, more durable and are worn for exercise and provide added warmth during the cold weather.
The stay-ups are individual stockings with an elasticised top that has a special lining to grip and stay up. Maternity pantyhose are specially designed to provide extra room and comfort in the top and as well as helps to maintain the blood circulation in the fatigue legs of the pregnant women. On the other hand, run-resistant garments usually made of thicker yarns and sturdier knits than sheerer pantyhose.
Market Size and Forecast
The global hosiery market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.5% during forecast period i.e. 2017-2024. Rising personal disposable income along with changing lifestyle is anticipated to expand the growth of global hosiery market during the forecast period. Apart from this, propagation of modern retail formats such as supermarkets, discount stores, and pharmacy stores is resulting in increasing product visibility.
This enables easier accessibility to clothing products such as hosiery to consumers. The increasing sales from online commerce sector is further fuelling the growth of global hosiery market as it saves the time of buyers and offer various discounts on the products. Moreover, the growth of the market is also driven by factors such as style and comfort offered by the hosiery products. This is due to the changing fashion trends that keeps consumer interested in purchasing goods that are more comfortable and keep them up to date with the latest fashion and style.
Market Segmentation
In-depth analysis of the global hosiery market includes the following segments:
By Product Type
By Gender
By Price Range
By Distribution Channel
Global Hosiery Market is further classified on the basis of region as follows:
By Region
Growth Drivers and Challenges
The growth of the global hosiery market is driven by the robust demand for comfortable and stylish hosiery among the consumers. Changing lifestyles and demographic factors are bringing changes in demand patterns for hosiery. Although the expenditure on hosiery is largely determined by factors such as income, family size and education, the rapidly expanding affluent base of middle class population in developing countries is expected to expand the market over the forecast period.
The growth of the market will be driven by innovation in aesthetic as well as functional product features. The increasing demand for the products with features such as stronger elastics to create appropriate compression to increase blood circulation, anti-cellulite hosiery that help impart sculpted body shape, hosiery with weather-adaptive and supportive features such as silver-based microbial finishes for greater hygiene and comfort is expected to increase the demand for the hosiery products across the globe. Moreover, the hosiery market is also moving beyond traditional black color and sober patterns. The emergence of python print tights, colored tights, striped tights, patterned styles of over-the-knee socks is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.
Apart from this, tirrups tights, dotted prints, lace and mesh, geographical netting, floral v/s fence, bold hued, deep blue sea, as well as geo grid are the popular trends in the market that is expected to boost the growth of the market over the few years. Further, the shift in retail format to hypermarket and supermarket is allowing consumers to select and compare products according to their preferences which in turn is fueling the sales of hosiery products.
Besides this, e-commerce sector is also expected to boost the growth of the segment as it provides customers an easy access to compare products online. Growing consumer awareness towards the quality and prices of various products due to growth in access to various retail formats and online platforms is providing consumers with choice of alternatives. Furthermore, growing obesity and rising per capita disposable income among developed as well as developing markets has increased the demand for plus size clothing globally. The market for plus size consumer is benefited by designer collaborations and greater availability of premium quality goods.
Consumers who wear plus size clothing tend to look for more comfortable and proper fitting clothes that will enhance their shape. The hosiery market provides appropriate clothing to these people, which in turn is another factor that is driving the growth of the market. However, the increasing raw material prices act as a restraint to the market growth as with the increase in the prices of raw materials, the profit margins of the hosiery product manufacturers is shrinking. Further, intense competition among global and regional players is restricting hosiery manufacturers to increase prices for their products which in turn is restricting new investment for expansion of production capacity of the hosiery products. Moreover, the increasing trend for trousers worn as casual wear by women is the another challenge faced by the global players in the hosiery market.
Europe is expected to dominate the global hosiery market over the forecast period, followed by North America and Asia-Pacific. The major factors contributing to the growth of this region is the rising demand for socks from the working population. The surge in the sales from the e-commerce sector is expected to expand the hosiery market in North America region. Moreover, the hosiery market in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a highest CAGR during the forecast period. Large population base, rapid urbanization and westernization of lifestyles, rising disposable income levels, aggressive retail marketing represents the key growth drivers in the region.
Key Players
Scope and Context
Overview of the Parent Market
Analyst View
Segmentation
The Global Hosiery Market is segmented as follows:
Market Dynamics
Supply & Demand Risk
Competitive Landscape
Porter’s Five Force Model
Geographical Economic Activity
Key Players (respective SWOT Analysis) and their Strategies and Product Portfolio
Recent Trends and Developments
Industry Growth Drivers and Challenges
Key Information for Players to establish themselves in current dynamic environment
Key Answers Captured in Report?
Hosiery also referred to as legwear, describes the garments, worn directly on the feet and legs. The term hosiery is also being used for the type of knitted fabric, its weight and thickness. It is manufactured in a wide range of fabric weights, knits and colors. In general, heavier weight fabrics are stronger and more durable, but are thicker and show less of the natural skin tone. On the other hand, lighter garments look and feel more luxurious but are not strong as compared to the heavier ones. The hosiery includes categories such as sheers, support hosiery, control tops, opaques, tights, stay-ups, stockings, maternity pantyhose and run-resistant garments.
Sheers are made with lightweight fabric composed of very fine yarn, usually nylon. Further, support hosiery comes in a range of fabrics usually in a combination of nylon and Spandex. They have gentle, graduated compression to provide a massage-like fit that can reduce fatigue in the legs. Furthermore, control tops provide a slimmer silhouette and add strength to a high-stress area of the garment. Moreover, opaques are heavier and more durable than the sheers, however, the tights are even heavier than opaques, more durable and are worn for exercise and provide added warmth during the cold weather.
The stay-ups are individual stockings with an elasticised top that has a special lining to grip and stay up. Maternity pantyhose are specially designed to provide extra room and comfort in the top and as well as helps to maintain the blood circulation in the fatigue legs of the pregnant women. On the other hand, run-resistant garments usually made of thicker yarns and sturdier knits than sheerer pantyhose.
Market Size and Forecast
The global hosiery market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.5% during forecast period i.e. 2017-2024. Rising personal disposable income along with changing lifestyle is anticipated to expand the growth of global hosiery market during the forecast period. Apart from this, propagation of modern retail formats such as supermarkets, discount stores, and pharmacy stores is resulting in increasing product visibility.
This enables easier accessibility to clothing products such as hosiery to consumers. The increasing sales from online commerce sector is further fuelling the growth of global hosiery market as it saves the time of buyers and offer various discounts on the products. Moreover, the growth of the market is also driven by factors such as style and comfort offered by the hosiery products. This is due to the changing fashion trends that keeps consumer interested in purchasing goods that are more comfortable and keep them up to date with the latest fashion and style.
Market Segmentation
In-depth analysis of the global hosiery market includes the following segments:
By Product Type
- Tights
- Stay-ups
- Leggings
- Knee highs
- Socks
- Foot Protectors
- Opaques
- Pyjamas
- Stockings
- Pantyhose
- Over knees
- Stocking Belts
By Gender
- Men
- Women
By Price Range
- Premium
- Mid
- Low
By Distribution Channel
- Departmental stores
- Online Stores
- Mass Retailers
- Wholesalers
- Multi- brand stores
Global Hosiery Market is further classified on the basis of region as follows:
By Region
- North America (U.S. & Canada) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
- Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of Latin America) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
- Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, Rest of Europe) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
- Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
- Middle East and Africa (GCC, North Africa, South Africa and Rest of Middle East and Africa ) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
Growth Drivers and Challenges
The growth of the global hosiery market is driven by the robust demand for comfortable and stylish hosiery among the consumers. Changing lifestyles and demographic factors are bringing changes in demand patterns for hosiery. Although the expenditure on hosiery is largely determined by factors such as income, family size and education, the rapidly expanding affluent base of middle class population in developing countries is expected to expand the market over the forecast period.
The growth of the market will be driven by innovation in aesthetic as well as functional product features. The increasing demand for the products with features such as stronger elastics to create appropriate compression to increase blood circulation, anti-cellulite hosiery that help impart sculpted body shape, hosiery with weather-adaptive and supportive features such as silver-based microbial finishes for greater hygiene and comfort is expected to increase the demand for the hosiery products across the globe. Moreover, the hosiery market is also moving beyond traditional black color and sober patterns. The emergence of python print tights, colored tights, striped tights, patterned styles of over-the-knee socks is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.
Apart from this, tirrups tights, dotted prints, lace and mesh, geographical netting, floral v/s fence, bold hued, deep blue sea, as well as geo grid are the popular trends in the market that is expected to boost the growth of the market over the few years. Further, the shift in retail format to hypermarket and supermarket is allowing consumers to select and compare products according to their preferences which in turn is fueling the sales of hosiery products.
Besides this, e-commerce sector is also expected to boost the growth of the segment as it provides customers an easy access to compare products online. Growing consumer awareness towards the quality and prices of various products due to growth in access to various retail formats and online platforms is providing consumers with choice of alternatives. Furthermore, growing obesity and rising per capita disposable income among developed as well as developing markets has increased the demand for plus size clothing globally. The market for plus size consumer is benefited by designer collaborations and greater availability of premium quality goods.
Consumers who wear plus size clothing tend to look for more comfortable and proper fitting clothes that will enhance their shape. The hosiery market provides appropriate clothing to these people, which in turn is another factor that is driving the growth of the market. However, the increasing raw material prices act as a restraint to the market growth as with the increase in the prices of raw materials, the profit margins of the hosiery product manufacturers is shrinking. Further, intense competition among global and regional players is restricting hosiery manufacturers to increase prices for their products which in turn is restricting new investment for expansion of production capacity of the hosiery products. Moreover, the increasing trend for trousers worn as casual wear by women is the another challenge faced by the global players in the hosiery market.
Europe is expected to dominate the global hosiery market over the forecast period, followed by North America and Asia-Pacific. The major factors contributing to the growth of this region is the rising demand for socks from the working population. The surge in the sales from the e-commerce sector is expected to expand the hosiery market in North America region. Moreover, the hosiery market in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a highest CAGR during the forecast period. Large population base, rapid urbanization and westernization of lifestyles, rising disposable income levels, aggressive retail marketing represents the key growth drivers in the region.
Key Players
- CSP International SpA
- - Company Overview
- - Key Product Offerings
- - Business Strategy
- - SWOT Analysis
- - Financials
- Golden Lady Company S.p.A.
- Gildan Activewear Inc.
- HanesBrands, Inc.
- Donna Karan New York
- Trerè Innovation s.r.l.
- Wolford AG
- Carolina Hosiery Mills
- Fox River Mills
- Parker Hosiery
Scope and Context
Overview of the Parent Market
Analyst View
Segmentation
The Global Hosiery Market is segmented as follows:
- By Product Type Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth Analysis
- By Gender Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth Analysis
- By Price Range Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth Analysis
- By Distribution Channel Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth Analysis
- By Region Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth Analysis
Market Dynamics
Supply & Demand Risk
Competitive Landscape
Porter’s Five Force Model
Geographical Economic Activity
Key Players (respective SWOT Analysis) and their Strategies and Product Portfolio
Recent Trends and Developments
Industry Growth Drivers and Challenges
Key Information for Players to establish themselves in current dynamic environment
Key Answers Captured in Report?
- Which geography would have better demand for product/services?
- What are the strategies adopted by big players in the regional market?
- Which country would see the steep rise in CAGR & year-on-year (Y-O-Y) growth?
- What is the current & expected market size in next five years?
- What is the market feasibility for long term investment?
- What opportunity the country would offer for existing and new players in the market?
- What is risk involved for suppliers in the geography?
- What factors would drive the demand for the product/service in near future?
- What is the impact analysis of various factors in the market growth?
- What are the recent trends in the regional market and how successful they are?
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary2. Research Methodology4. Global Hosiery Market Size (USD Million) and Forecast, 2016-2024
3. Top Countries with Highest demand for Hosiery Market- By Region
5. Market Dynamics & Its Impact Analysis
6. Global Market Segmentation Analysis
7. Competitive Landscape
Companies Mentioned
- CSP International Fashion Group S.p.A.
- Gildan Activewear Inc.
- Hanesbrands Inc.
- Golden Lady Company S.p.A.
- Wolford AG
- Donna Karan New York
- Trerè Innovation Srl
- Carolina Hosiery, Inc.
- Fox River Mills, Inc.
- Parker Legwear, Inc.
