During the pandemic years, growth in other apparel accessories in India was largely driven by face masks, which are included within other apparel accessories. With the end of the pandemic, this category saw significant retail current value declines in 2022 and 2023, and this trend continued in 2024, also contributing to a slight decline for overall apparel accessories. As the pandemic’s impact has faded and brands have stopped manufacturing masks, the category has lost its core growth driver. Mo

Consumers have been reducing purchases of non-essential items, resulting in stagnant demand for apparel accessories in South Africa compared to the previous year. Many accessories are considered less important fashion items. As such, consumers have been trading down to less expensive brands, private label options such as Pick 'n Pay or imports, including Shein and Temu, with these alternatives gaining share from bigger players. There are significant pricing differences when shopping for apparel

Apparel accessories in Brazil is set to maintain its declining trend in retail volume terms in 2024, and see only low growth in retail current value terms. However, this poor performance is solely due to the declining trend for other apparel accessories, as growth in this category was boosted significantly in 2020 by demand for fabric face masks during the pandemic, and sales are still normalising in the post-pandemic period. All other categories are expected to see low growth rates.

In 2024, apparel accessories in Sweden recorded retail value growth of 3%, benefiting from higher unit prices, while retail volume growth recorded a positive uplift of 1%. Between 2021 and 2023, apparel accessories saw fewer purchases, as they were easier to postpone during times of financial constraint. However, demand remained steady in 2024, driven by Sweden's harsh and unpredictable climate, along with the strong preference for outdoor activities regardless of weather conditions. There was a

The growth rate of apparel accessories in Vietnam is expected to be adversely affected by inflation and the gloomy economy in 2024, with a notable decline in retail volume terms, and little movement in current value terms. In this year, more consumers have been cutting back on buying non-essential items, including some apparel accessories. Others have been waiting for companies to offer significant discounts in order to get lower prices. Alternatively, they may have opted to purchase counterfeit

Retail volume sales of apparel accessories in Germany are marginally improving in 2024, after years of decline since the pandemic, while value sales also remain below 2019 levels. As social opportunities continue to rise, whether in private gatherings with friends and family, travelling, or spending greater time in the workplace, local consumers are searching for apparel accessories to personalise their outfits. The need for accessories to suit more formal or work attire, such as ties and belts,

In 2024, the market for apparel accessories in Austria saw continued growth in value sales, while retail volume sales declined. This fall in retail volume can be attributed to the ongoing inflation and high production costs, which drove up the prices of accessories. As a result, while the volume of accessories sold decreased, the increased retail prices helped sustain value growth in the sector.

Despite Israeli consumers buying more caps, hats and headscarves, most were price-conscious and preferred to spend less on apparel accessories in 2024 to save money. There were fewer discounts in accessories than other categories, such as womenswear, and this also hindered sales of accessories as people ideally prefer to get a bargain. As elsewhere in the industry, independent retailers are starting to feel the pinch with many stores starting to close, largely to the benefit of retail chains. Hi

Apparel accessories saw current value growth in Ukraine in 2024. The category witnessed a strong decline in 2022 as the outbreak of war deterred consumers from making replacement purchases, while the overall consumer base shrank significantly as people fled the country. Millions of people left the country, which considerably reduced demand for apparel accessories, which are normally much liked by Ukrainians, especially women. In normal economic conditions, women are very interested in possessing

Sales of apparel accessories in Mexico are expected to see little movement in retail current value terms in 2024, after three years of decline, primarily as sales of other apparel accessories, which includes fabric face masks, stabilise after the pandemic disruption. In addition, a greater variety of products are available in apparel accessories at more attractive prices. In an uncertain economic environment, consumers have been seeking more affordable options. This has led to an increase in the

Apparel accessories in Australia received a small boost, in part due to an unlikely source, when American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift visited the country with her Eras tour in February 2024. This time of the year is traditionally a quiet time for apparel sales. In a boost to the domestic economy dubbed the “Taylor Swift effect”, retailers showcased dedicated capsule collections for the tour, resplendent in sequins, sparkles, and scarves inspired by the pop star’s various “eras”. This was part

Despite the previous year’s growth, retail volume sales of apparel accessories are declining in 2024 due to broader economic uncertainty in the region. As a category, apparel accessories is viewed by many as a non-discretionary expense. The luxury segment has been hit especially hard due to the overall reduction of international tourist consumption due to an unfavourable exchange rate. With the Hong Kong dollar pegged to the strong US dollar, purchases of various apparel items have become more e

Apparel accessories was the only category to post volume growth in 2024, even as the economic crisis in Turkey put further pressure on household budgets and led to more frugal purchasing behaviour. Turkish consumers generally prefer to make frequent small purchases of clothing accessories to stylise their look and upgrade existing outfits. The relatively low cost of apparel accessories enticed consumers as they could justify a small purchase to complement their clothes or shows. Scarves and glov

Apparel accessories manages sub-decimal positive volume sales in Hungary in 2024, while value is better supported by unit prices. Overall, different products in apparel accessories see different drivers for sales, in addition to facing different challenges. For example, weather and seasonal factors influence sales, with mild winters slowing down sales of winter hats, scarves, and gloves, for example, while hot summers support sales of sunhats. We also note the rise of UV protective and thermo-co

Retail volume sales of apparel accessories in Chile declined in 2022 and 2023, largely due to the prioritisation of purchases by Chilean consumers in response to inflationary pressures in the country. However, in 2024, the category is showing renewed signs of dynamism with double-digit volume growth, primarily driven by a surge in sports accessories that align with the broader trends observed in the industry. This shift is also influenced by the increasing demand for winter items, spurred by the

Apparel accessories in Norway faced further decline in volume sales over 2024, although there was a mild improvement in consumption year on year. Apparel accessories are purchased with less frequency compared to most apparel categories. With inflation rising in recent years, there has been a lower propensity to buy apparel in 2024. Norwegians love for the outdoors activities and exercise continue to be a main driver of the category, especially due to the country’s diverse and relatively harsh cl

Apparel accessories in Taiwan is set to record a slight decline in total volume sales over 2024. The dramatic contraction in sales of other apparel accessories in 2022-3 was caused by plummeting sales of cloth face masks. At the height of the pandemic, mask apparel was commonplace in Taiwan driving triple digit volume growth in 2020. Demand for apparel accessories is gradually returning to normal with demand for cloth face masks stabilising in the country.

Apparel accessories in Romania reported steady growth in 2024 with demand driven by the trend towards practical fashion, as many people look for items that serve a purpose beyond aesthetics. With cold weather and seasonal shifts, woollen scarves and beanies are very popular in Romania. The difficult economic context has sustained sales of apparel accessories since they are an affordable way to upgrade one’s look. Given the generally low price of these products, impulse consumption also remained

Apparel accessories, including scarves, ties, and hats, experienced healthy growth in Poland in 2024. Consumers facing high inflation turned to accessories as an inexpensive way to update their wardrobe and personalise their outfit without breaking the bank. Unit price growth in this category has been relatively low, making it an attractive option for consumers looking to accessorise on a budget. Additionally, online shopping provides a convenient and often much cheaper source of products with b

With consumers limiting their expenditure on all apparel and footwear in Portugal, apparel accessories naturally came under pressure as they are often deemed non-essentials. Consumption declined across all types of products. The milder winter in 2023-4 further weakened consumer demand as gloves and scarves simply did not need to be replaced. Other apparel accessories reported the best performance, although sales declining still declined in value terms. Lower cost brands have performed well but t

The return to physical office settings and formal events like weddings and christenings in Greece has positively impacted apparel accessories such as belts and ties in 2024, albeit to a lesser extent than the previous year. Ongoing economic challenges, including inflationary pressures and reduced disposable incomes, have made Greek consumers more price-sensitive, pushing them to prioritise essential goods over non-essentials like apparel accessories.

Demand for apparel accessories in Saudi Arabia is expected to continue its decline in 2024, albeit at a slower rate compared to the previous three years. This decrease can largely be attributed to a normalisation effect, following the surge in demand during the pandemic, particularly for items like face masks, which are no longer required in public spaces.

Apparel accessories remains in a small negative slump in South Korea in 2024, albeit faring much better than seen in 2023 when the declines were much steeper. However, it should be noted that there was a reason for this previous crash in volume sales, as early 2023 saw the complete lifting of South Korea’s pandemic-related mask mandate for both indoor and outdoor environments, thus meaning reusable masks (under other apparel accessories) disappeared from store shelves. Similarly, the start of th

The apparel accessories market in Thailand is projected to face a subdued performance in 2024, with various factors influencing demand. Of particular note is the rise of hybrid working arrangements, which has driven the adoption of more casual attire. This shift has negatively impacted demand for traditional formal accessories like ties, volume sales of which remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels.