Clothing, footwear and fashion

An overview of the clothing, footwear and fashion sector

The clothing, footwear and fashion sector covers a wide range of products and garments for men, women, children and babies. Garments include coats, anoraks, workwear and uniforms, knitwear and underwear. Accessories (eg scarves, gloves, luggage), fur garments and leather clothing are also included. Footwear includes both leather and plastic shoes and boots.

The sector also includes services. Fashion specialists, such as fabric and clothes designers, are perhaps the best-known exporters of services in this sector.

Key drivers in the clothing, footwear and fashion sector

Key drivers in the sector include:

• globalisation - this has led to increased sourcing from lower cost overseas countries
• the end, in 2005, of the Multi-Fibre Agreement, which imposed country quotas on textile exports, meaning that larger volumes of cheap clothing and footwear can be imported into the European Union (EU)
• acquisitions and dispatches within the EU being given preferential treatment - most of Britain's exports in this sector are dispatches within the EU, so current regulations are important to the industry's success
• reduced duty for trade with some developing countries, which has cut the costs of importing and exporting clothes and footwear

International trade in the clothing, footwear and fashion sector

Clothing, footwear and fashion is one of the UK's largest export sectors, although over the last five years, imports have risen, while exports have fallen. However, major export opportunities for traders exist.

Growing trends include supermarket clothing and discount fashion, plus-size clothing and a rise in men's wear sales.

The main opportunities for footwear exports are currently within the EU - in particular, France, Italy and Spain. Ireland, Japan and the USA also provide opportunities.

Find out how you can access trade data on the uktradeinfo website - Opens in a new window.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• An overview of the clothing, footwear and fashion sector
• Export regulations in the clothing, footwear and fashion sector
• Export licensing and certification in the clothing, footwear and fashion sector
• Researching your export destination in the clothing, fashion and footwear sector
• Tariffs and duties in the clothing, fashion and footwear industry
• Import regulations in the clothing, footwear and fashion sector
• Importing children's clothing into the UK
• UK domestic regulations affecting the clothing, footwear and fashion sector
• Sources of help and support in the clothing, footwear and fashion sector

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