Plus-size market to grow 10% in next five years, Mintel reports
23 Mar '06
2 min read
American women have gotten better, and plus-size clothing producers have stepped up marketing efforts in the last five years.
According to a recent Mintel report, the plus-size clothing market reached close to $32 billion last year. In five years, the segment has posted close to 50 percent revenue growth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited that over 62 percent of women were like to be overweight or obese between 1999 and 2002, and this trend is being reflected in the sharp sales increase in this clothing category.
Mintel's exclusive consumer research reveals that more than half of female respondents over 18 years old purchase plus-size clothing. With clothing chains like Torrid (sister company of Hot Topic) and Charming Shoppes (owners of Lane Bryant, Catherine's, and Fashion Bug) continuing to expand their plus-size focused empires, department stores have also decided to raise the bar on their clothing offerings for this category. Kohl's has extended two of its private label lines, apt. 9 and Daisy Fuentes, to include extended sizes.
"The increased availability of fashion options has really impacted the plus-size category," said Kat Fay, analyst for Mintel. "For years, plus-size women had to shop from limited selections. They were also forced to shop from catalogs or online because many plus-sizes were not stocked in the stores. Easier access to purchasing clothing, coupled with more flattering styles and wider distribution, specifically through mass-merchandisers, plays a strong part in driving increased sales."
marketing@alchempro.com
