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Fast Fashion in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Kayla Wheeler Kayla Wheeler Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2024 ANZSIC OD4172

Revenue

$2.7bn

2024-25

$2.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

11,291

Businesses

10

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Fast Fashion in Australia industry analysis

Clothing, footwear and accessories retailed by the Fast Fashion industry are increasingly making their way into consumers' wardrobes. Fast fashion goods are low-cost and made for mass consumption, emulating styles of fashion from runways and celebrities. Fast fashion retailers generally have sophisticated, vertically integrated supply chains that can minimise production times and capitalise on current and emerging fashion trends. Still, most industry products are imported and produced offshore using inexpensive textiles like polyester and often by exploiting labour. As fast fashion products don't often last more than one season, they end up in landfill. Even as fast fashion attracts significant demand, rising environmental concerns are renewing consumer interest in thrift stores, hindering the industry's performance.

Trends and Insights

  • Fast fashion retailers’ product range is constantly changing. They take trends from runway shows and make them available for mass consumption as quickly as possible, often as part of mini-season capsules, which drives impulse buying and foot traffic.
  • Global retailers like Zara and H&M and local industry giant Cotton On sell a range of clothing, footwear and accessories for women, men, children and infants. Other fast fashion retailers cater to specific markets and age groups.
  • New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, Australia's three most populated states, account for most fast fashion retail stores. States and territories with small populations, like Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, house few establishments.
  • The fast fashion business model relies on getting the latest styles and fashion in stores as soon as possible and at affordable prices. Rising competition from inexpensive online-only retailers is challenging this model and crumbling retailers' pricing power.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Fluctuating consumer sentiment is a bright spot for fast fashion retailers

  • Growth in household disposable income over the past five years, including an anticipated improvement in 2024-25, has boosted consumers' purchasing power to spend on items like apparel. Volatile consumer sentiment is helping to insulate this spending at the lower end of the retail spectrum.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Fast Fashion in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

High inflation will limit consumer spending in the short term

  • Persistent consumer demand for the latest fashion-forward styles, aided by climbing disposable incomes, are set to drive sales in new and existing fast fashion stores in the coming years.

Biggest companies in the Fast Fashion in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
COGI
1,036.1
Uniqlo Australia
628.4
H&M
428.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Fast Fashion in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Men's clothing, Women's clothing and Children's and infants' clothing. Men's clothing is the largest segment of the Fast Fashion in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Growing competition is dampening demand for women's clothing

  • Womenswear includes dresses, pants, shorts, skirts, tops, coats, jumpers and foundation garments.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms provide the latest fashion styles at affordable prices. Fast fashion retailers typically take trends from runway shows and deliver them as new collections for mass consumption. Industry operators have short production and distribution lead times, which enables them to adapt their product range to current and emerging trends in as little as two weeks.

What's included in this industry?

Women's clothingMen's clothingChildren's and infants' clothingAccessories and footwear

Companies

COGIUniqlo AustraliaH&M

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BRICKS-AND-MORTARWHOLESALE BYPASS FASHION-FORWARD CLOTHING

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 4251 - Fast Fashion in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Fast fashion retailers’ product range is constantly changing. They take trends from runway shows and make them available for mass consumption as quickly as possible, often as...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Global retailers like Zara and H&M and local industry giant Cotton On sell a range of clothing, footwear and accessories for women, men, children and infants. Other fast fash...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, Australia's three most populated states, account for most fast fashion retail stores. States and territories with small populations,...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The fast fashion business model relies on getting the latest styles and fashion in stores as soon as possible and at affordable prices. Rising competition from inexpensive on...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Fast Fashion industry's heavyweights have a powerful grip on market share. The four largest retailers are expected to command over three-quarters of revenue in 2024-25.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of COGI's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Uniqlo Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of H&M's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for COGI, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Uniqlo Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for H&M, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Direct government assistance isn't available to the Fast Fashion industry. However, retailers can indirectly benefit from tariff reductions and free-trade agreements. Austral...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The Fast Fashion industry relies on high stock turnover. Although this ensures that shelves can be replenished with new items regularly, retailers generate a lower profit per...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Fast Fashion industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Fast Fashion industry in Australia is $2.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Fast Fashion in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 10 businesses in the Fast Fashion industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Fast Fashion industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Fast Fashion industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Fast Fashion industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Fast Fashion industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Fast Fashion market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Fast Fashion market in Australia are COGI, Uniqlo Australia and H&M

What does the Fast Fashion in Australia include?

Women's clothing and Men's clothing are part of the Fast Fashion industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Fast Fashion in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is COGI.

How competitive is the Fast Fashion industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Fast Fashion industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Clothing Retailing in Australia
  • Footwear Retailing in Australia
  • Watch and Jewellery Retailing in Australia
  • Personal Accessory Retailing in Australia

Complementors

  • Men's and Boys' Wear Manufacturing in Australia
  • Women's and Girls' Wear Manufacturing in Australia

International industries

  • Women's Clothing Stores in the US
  • Children's & Infants' Clothing Stores in Canada
  • Clothing Retailing in New Zealand
  • Clothing Retailing in the UK
  • Einzelhandel mit Bekleidung

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.