Decorated Apparel Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Embroidery, Screen Printing, Dye Sublimation, Digital Printing, Others), By End Use (Men, Women, Kids), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline) By Region, By Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Decorated Apparel Market, valued at USD 27.46 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 13.03% to reach USD 57.25 Billion by 2030. Decorated apparel encompasses clothing items enhanced with various embellishment techniques such as embroidery, screen printing, direct-to-garment printing, and heat transfers, serving to add visual appeal, personalization, or branding to garments. The market's growth is fundamentally driven by robust consumer demand for personalized and expressive clothing, the increasing use of branded apparel for corporate identity and promotional purposes, and continuous technological advancements in decoration methods, which enhance efficiency and product quality.

According to PRINTING United Alliance, sales in the decorated apparel industry increased by 2.5% in the full year of 2023. This expansion is also supported by rising disposable incomes, leading to increased consumer spending on customized goods. A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the substantial initial capital investment required for specialized equipment, coupled with the volatility in raw material costs, particularly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises.

Key Market Drivers

A primary catalyst for the Global Decorated Apparel Market is the growing consumer demand for personalized and custom apparel. Modern consumers increasingly seek unique clothing items that enable self-expression and align with individual lifestyles, moving away from mass-produced garments. This desire drives a market where bespoke designs, custom graphics, and individualized touches are highly valued for personal use, gifting, and event-specific wear. This shift translates into tangible business activity; according to Kornit Digital, in February 2024, the company's Q4 2023 earnings report indicated double-digit growth in consumables sales, directly supporting the increased production of on-demand and personalized textile items. This sustained growth in consumable usage underscores the industry’s response to escalating preference for unique apparel.

The expansion of e-commerce and online customization platforms concurrently serves as a critical enabler for this growing demand. These digital avenues provide consumers with accessible tools and seamless processes to design and order personalized apparel, circumventing traditional retail limitations. Apparel decorators are actively responding to this trend through strategic investments. According to PRINTING United Alliance, in its State of Decorated Apparel (SODA) Survey Fall 2023/Winter 2024, 44.4% of surveyed apparel decorators identified e-commerce solutions as their most favored investment interest. The broader market is also undergoing a notable transformation towards digital methods, with companies expecting digital technologies to account for 47.1% of their apparel decoration by 2026, according to PRINTING United Alliance, in 2024. This reflects significant industry-wide adaptation to both consumer preferences and operational efficiencies.

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Key Market Challenges

A significant challenge hampering the growth of the global decorated apparel market stems from the substantial initial capital investment necessary for specialized equipment. This requirement creates a considerable barrier to entry for new businesses and limits expansion opportunities for existing small and medium-sized enterprises. Investing in advanced machinery for techniques such as direct-to-garment printing or high-volume embroidery demands significant upfront capital, impacting liquidity and hindering the ability of smaller players to compete or innovate effectively.

Further impeding market expansion is the volatility in raw material costs. Fluctuating prices for textiles, inks, and other consumables directly elevate operational expenses and compress profit margins for decorators. According to PRINTING United Alliance, operating cost inflation was 6.5% in the first quarter of 2024. This sustained inflationary pressure, often combined with an inability to fully pass increased costs onto consumers, directly reduces profitability and discourages investment in new technologies or capacity expansion.

Key Market Trends

The Global Decorated Apparel Market is significantly influenced by the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence in design workflows. This trend is streamlining creative processes and enabling new levels of customization and efficiency. AI-powered tools assist designers in rapid concept generation, pattern creation, and precise trend forecasting by analyzing vast amounts of data. According to PRINTING United Alliance, in its September 2025 report "AI Adoption in the Printing Industry: From Curiosity to Competitive Advantage", 85% of surveyed respondents across various print segments, including apparel decoration, believed artificial intelligence to be critical for maintaining competitiveness. This adoption facilitates quicker turnaround times and reduces design-related costs for decorators. For example, Adobe unveiled AI-powered tools for Illustrator in July 2024, introducing features such as Generative Shape Fill and Text to Pattern, which are driven by the Firefly Vector Model, to empower designers with enhanced creative control and speed in vector graphics creation.

Another prominent trend shaping the market is the increasing focus on sustainability in decoration practices. This reflects growing consumer awareness and regulatory pressures for environmentally responsible production methods. Apparel decorators are adopting eco-friendly inks, utilizing energy-efficient equipment, and developing processes that minimize waste and resource consumption. The importance of this shift is acknowledged by industrial bodies, with the PRINTING United Alliance's State of the Industry Report 2024 drawing insights from over 300 companies across the printing industry, including apparel decorators, to explore critical issues like sustainability plans. Innovation in this area is evident with Mimaki introducing its TRAPIS pigment transfer printing system in January 2025, a nearly waterless solution designed to cut water consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional textile printing methods, while its inks are bluesign approved. This trend fosters responsible production and offers a competitive advantage to brands aligning with ecological values.

Segmental Insights

A key segmental insight for the Global Decorated Apparel Market reveals Screen Printing as the fastest growing segment, demonstrating substantial expansion. This rapid growth is primarily driven by its inherent cost-effectiveness for large-volume orders, making it ideal for corporate uniforms, promotional apparel, and sportswear. Furthermore, screen printing consistently delivers durable, vibrant designs that maintain quality through repeated washing, enhancing appeal for both commercial and personal applications. Advances in automation, transitioning from manual to automatic screen-printing presses, have also significantly accelerated its rise by improving efficiency and output consistency. This combination of economic viability, superior output quality, and technological refinement underpins screen printing's leading growth trajectory.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific leads the global decorated apparel market due to its extensive manufacturing capabilities and cost-effective production, establishing the region as a primary hub for global apparel production. This dominance is significantly driven by a vast consumer base, rising disposable incomes, and an expanding middle-class population across key economies like China, India, and Japan. Furthermore, robust demand for textile products, coupled with a strong manufacturing infrastructure, a substantial workforce, and favorable trade conditions, solidify the region's prominent market position. The widespread adoption of e-commerce and continuous technological advancements in printing technologies further enhance the accessibility and production efficiency of decorated apparel within the region.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, French shirtmaker Figaret collaborated with The Socialite Family, a renowned furniture brand, to unveil a new collection named "La Notte Prima." This unique collaboration extended beyond home décor to include decorated apparel items such as shirts and jackets. The collection showcased flannel, chambray, and poplin fabrics, adorned with distinctive gold buttons and embroidered crests, demonstrating a fusion of fashion and lifestyle elements within the broader decorated apparel and textile industries.

• In May 2025, Gildan introduced an innovative Plasma Printing technology, representing a significant advancement in apparel decoration. This new technology integrates specialized softeners directly into the garment's fabric during the manufacturing process. The primary benefit is the minimization or elimination of the need for pre-treatment in Direct-to-Garment (DTG) apparel printing, which traditionally added complexity for decorators. This development aims to streamline production for companies operating within the decorated apparel sector.

• In December 2024, Roland DGA Corporation expanded its product line by launching the VersaSTUDIO Desktop BY-20 Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printer. This new water-based printer was specifically designed to enhance the design and efficiency of apparel production. It enables users to quickly produce customized apparel and accessories without the need for weeding, allowing for the transfer of complex designs onto various light and dark fabrics, including cotton, polyester, denim, and nylon.

• In September 2024, S&S Activewear partnered with Ninja Transfers to integrate advanced Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing services directly into S&S Activewear's platform. This collaboration aimed to provide apparel decorators with streamlined access to high-quality heat transfers, thereby simplifying the customization and fulfillment processes. The initiative was designed to enhance efficiency for businesses involved in creating personalized apparel, reflecting a growing trend towards user-friendly and accessible decorating solutions within the global decorated apparel market.

Key Market Players

• Gildan Activewear S.R.L.
• Fruit of The Loom, Inc.
• KPR Mill Limited
• Hanesbrands Inc.
• Eclat Textile Co., Ltd.
• Delta Apparel, Inc.
• Target Decorated Apparel
• Advance Printwear Ltd
• Lynka Sp. z o.o.
• Esquel Enterprises Limited

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Decorated Apparel Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Decorated Apparel Market, By Product:

o   Embroidery

o   Screen Printing

o   Dye Sublimation

o   Digital Printing

o   Others

• Decorated Apparel Market, By End Use:

o   Men

o   Women

o   Kids

• Decorated Apparel Market, By Distribution Channel:

o   Online

o   Offline

• Decorated Apparel Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Decorated Apparel Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Decorated Apparel Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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