Explore the clothing universe of a tourist through numbers 

This section aims to help you understand the complex fashion ecosystem. First, we provide general data about the current reality of the industry. Then, more specific information regarding travel-related wardrobe will follow.

new garments are created globally each year. There is already enough attire on the planet to cloth the next 6 generations of humans. In 2023, the global fashion industry’s worth was an estimate of 

More than 300 million people from all over the world work on clothes somewhere along the value chain, around 80% of them are women. From 2000 to 2014, clothing production doubled, and the number of garments purchased per capita increased by about 60%. People are buying more clothes than ever: by 2030, global apparel consumption is projected to rise 63% , to 102 million tons. This reality creates space for terrifying numbers of waste to appear. Every second an equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothes is being discarded, summing up to 

of clothing waste being discarded every year globally. For every 5 garments produced, the equivalent of 3 end up in landfill or are incinerated each year. And total greenhouse gas emissions from the production of textiles clock in at

 a year—that’s more emissions than all international flights and maritime ships combined!

While fast fashion retailers speed up traditional product cycles, ultrafast fashion moves even faster. In the 1990s, the Spanish retailer Zara was one of the first fast fashion retailers to break the mold, offering hundreds of new items per week. As of 2023, the Chinese ultrafast fashion retailer Shein consistently churns out up to 10,000 new designs per day. And Shein’s products, on average, are considerably less expensive than their older fast fashion counterparts were. Shein’s average SKU price is $14, compared with $26 at fast fashion retailer H&M and $34 at Zara.

SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS 

Most fashion companies, fast and otherwise, are behind on their 2030 decarbonization goals. McKinsey’s State of Fashion 2025 report found that brands in general are deprioritizing sustainability—for example, by pushing back or dropping their net-zero targets: 

 remain behind on their sustainability commitments. In line with that trend, many fashion brands are scaling back their commitments.

Shoppers have proved less willing than hoped to pay extra for eco-friendly products. But sustainability must remain at the top of the agenda. The fashion organizations that choose to approach sustainability with a long-term mindset—even while battling short-term problems—will ultimately be rewarded with a competitive advantage.

Keeping pace with sustainability targets has proved challenging across the fashion industry. About

of brands, according to McKinsey analysis, are behind on their own decarbonization schedules. And 40% have seen their emission output increase since making their sustainability commitments. McKinsey research indicates that most fashion brands could reduce their emissions by more than 60% for less than 1 to 2 percent of their revenues. 

The true costs of fast fashion are coming into focus, especially for millennials and Gen Zers. Young people are becoming more mindful of sustainability with respect to how they consume. They’re also keenly aware that the fashion industry is a major contributor to global warming. Half of Gen Z shoppers in China, according to a survey about sustainable consumption, said they aimed to buy less fast fashion. But, according to The State of Fashion 2025 report, there’s a critical gap between action and intention. While 46 percent of UK shoppers say they avoid buying fast fashion, more than half made a purchase at a fast fashion retailer in the past year.

Having read this general overview of the current state of the fashion industry, here are some graphs aiming to further help you understand the global reality of fashion as well as more nuances about a traveler’s wardrobe.

MARKET SIZES 

CARBON FOOTPRINT 

SPENDINGS