Hosiery Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Socks, Stockings, Tights, Leggings), By Category (Men, Women), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 46.67 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.76%
Fastest Growing Segment	Online
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 61.68 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Hosiery Market will grow from USD 46.67 Billion in 2025 to USD 61.68 Billion by 2031 at a 4.76% CAGR. Hosiery comprises knitted garments worn directly on the feet and legs, encompassing products such as socks, stockings, pantyhose, and tights designed for protection, aesthetic appeal, or therapeutic functions. The market is primarily driven by the structural demand for formal attire resulting from the global resumption of corporate office activities and an increasing demographic necessity for compression wear to address circulatory health issues. Furthermore, the expansion of organized retail infrastructure and e-commerce platforms serves as a fundamental catalyst, ensuring consistent product accessibility and distribution efficiency across international regions.

However, a significant challenge hindering broader market expansion is the persistent volatility in global economic conditions, which suppresses consumer discretionary spending and creates inventory surpluses. This challenging business environment is substantiated by industry-wide sentiment regarding order volumes. According to the International Textile Manufacturers Federation, in 2024, 65% of surveyed global textile and garment manufacturers identified weak demand as the primary concern affecting their business operations. This lack of robust consumption forces hosiery manufacturers to operate at reduced capacities, thereby constraining revenue growth and delaying capital investment.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid expansion of the global athleisure and sportswear sector significantly propels the hosiery market, creating a sustained demand for performance-oriented products. Consumers now view socks and legwear not merely as basic essentials but as technical gear required for athletic performance and recovery. This shift compels manufacturers to utilize advanced moisture-wicking fabrics and zonal compression technologies to cater to high-impact activities, thereby increasing the unit value of hosiery products. According to Lululemon Athletica Inc., March 2024, in the 'Fiscal 2023 Year-End Earnings Release', net revenue increased by 19% to $9.6 billion, a growth trajectory that highlights the surging consumer investment in activewear and associated performance accessories which directly fuels the production of specialized sports hosiery.

Concurrently, the rising prevalence of venous disorders and diabetic foot conditions has established a critical, non-cyclical demand for therapeutic hosiery. As lifestyle-related health issues escalate globally, there is a growing medical necessity for graduated compression stockings and specialized diabetic socks to prevent ulceration and improve circulation. According to The Lancet, November 2024, in a global analysis, the number of adults living with diabetes worldwide has surpassed 800 million, underscoring the massive addressable market for preventative medical legwear. This functional demand helps stabilize the broader market against volatility. To illustrate this resilience in consumption, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, June 2024, retail sales of consumer goods climbed 4.1% year-on-year during the first five months of 2024, signaling a recovery in purchasing activity that supports the wider apparel and hosiery sectors.

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Key Market Challenges

Persistent volatility in global economic conditions stands as a substantial barrier to the growth of the global hosiery market. High inflation rates and economic uncertainty have eroded consumer purchasing power, leading to a marked reduction in discretionary spending on non-essential apparel items, including premium socks, stockings, and pantyhose. As consumers prioritize essential goods, retail inventory turnover slows significantly, creating a bottleneck in the supply chain. This stagnation compels retailers to cancel or defer new orders to manage existing stockpiles, directly impacting the production schedules and revenue streams of hosiery manufacturers.

This suppression of demand is quantitatively evident in recent trade statistics which highlight the severity of the market contraction. According to the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), in the first quarter of 2024, overall U.S. apparel imports declined by 7.14% compared to the same period in the previous year. Such a contraction in import volumes indicates that retailers are hesitant to stock new products amidst an uncertain economic climate. This environment forces hosiery manufacturers to scale back production capacities and postpone capital expenditures, thereby stalling the overall revenue growth of the market and creating a cycle of financial stagnation within the industry.

Key Market Trends

The Adoption of Bio-Based and Biodegradable Yarn Innovations is fundamentally altering the material composition of legwear as manufacturers seek to mitigate the environmental impact of fossil-fuel-derived synthetics. This trend involves the integration of cellulose-based fibers and biopolymers that offer compostability without compromising the elasticity required for hosiery, directly addressing consumer demand for circular fashion products. Major fiber producers are sustaining significant operations to support this transition; according to Lenzing AG, March 2024, in the 'Annual and Sustainability Report 2023', the company generated EUR 2.52 billion in revenue, a figure that underscores the substantial industrial scale and market resilience of wood-based, biodegradable specialty fibers utilized in the textile sector.

Simultaneously, the Resurgence of Retro and Bold Patterned Statement Pieces is transforming hosiery from a functional necessity into a focal point of maximalist styling. This aesthetic shift capitalizes on nostalgia, with consumers increasingly favoring embellished, textured, and vibrantly designed socks and tights that serve as key accessories in vintage-inspired ensembles. This consumer behavior is quantitatively evidenced by social platform activity; according to Pinterest, January 2024, in the 'Pinterest Predicts 2024' report, search volume for "bow outfits"—a core component of this retro-embellishment aesthetic—surged by 190% year-on-year, signaling a robust market opportunity for brands to expand their portfolios with decorative and statement-oriented legwear collections.

Segmental Insights

The online distribution channel is identified as the fastest-growing segment within the global hosiery market, driven by the substantial shift towards e-commerce platforms. This growth is primarily attributed to increasing consumer demand for convenience and the ability to access a diverse range of products from international brands. Furthermore, manufacturers are actively adopting direct-to-consumer strategies to enhance customer engagement and streamline distribution logistics. The widespread proliferation of smart devices and internet connectivity continues to facilitate seamless digital transactions, allowing market players to penetrate new regions efficiently without the constraints of physical retail infrastructure.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific holds a leading position in the Global Hosiery Market, supported by its status as a primary manufacturing hub and a burgeoning consumer base. Industry data indicates that nations such as China and India drive this dominance through extensive textile production capabilities and accessible raw materials. Additionally, rising disposable incomes and rapid urbanization have fueled significant domestic demand for diverse legwear products. The widespread adoption of e-commerce has further streamlined distribution, making products more accessible to a growing population. These structural and demographic advantages collectively underscore the region's significance in the global landscape.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, Calzedonia launched the "Life Re-Tights" program, a circular economy initiative developed in consortium with other industry players to address textile waste in the hosiery sector. The project introduced a new recycling technology capable of separating polyamide from elastane in discarded tights, a process that had previously been a significant technical barrier. By recovering these materials, the company aimed to produce high-quality regenerated yarns that could be used to manufacture new hosiery products with the same performance characteristics as virgin fibers. This initiative represented a major step toward closing the loop in the production of synthetic legwear.
• In April 2025, Authentic Brands Group formed a new licensing partnership with Grey Matter Concepts to expand the Tapout brand into the hosiery sector. This collaboration granted Grey Matter Concepts the rights to design, manufacture, and distribute a new line of socks for men, women, and children in the United States and Canada. The agreement was part of a broader strategy to leverage the brand's heritage in combat sports and fitness by introducing performance-oriented legwear products. The launch aimed to capture a segment of the activewear market by combining the brand's athletic reputation with the manufacturing partner's expertise in hosiery.
• In December 2024, The LYCRA Company released its annual legwear trend forecast for the upcoming seasons, showcasing innovations designed to merge style with functional performance. The company introduced four key consumer personas to guide design and development, highlighting new technologies such as graduate compression for revitalization and adaptable fibers for improved fit. One notable concept included "Nova" knee-high socks, which utilized advanced fiber technology to offer both durability and ease of wear. This forecast aimed to inspire manufacturers and brands to create hosiery products that aligned with evolving consumer lifestyles and the demand for versatile, comfort-driven legwear.
• In August 2024, Sheertex announced a significant strategic expansion of its retail presence, moving beyond its direct-to-consumer model to enter the wholesale market. The Montreal-based hosiery manufacturer, known for its durable, rip-resistant tights, secured partnerships to sell its products in major brick-and-mortar retailers including Macy's and Nordstrom. Additionally, the company revealed it had established private-label collaborations to develop custom legwear collections for prominent global fashion brands such as H&M and COS. This shift to an omnichannel approach was designed to make their proprietary polymer technology more accessible to a wider consumer base.

Key Market Players

• Spanx, LLC
• Adidas AG
• 2XU Pty Ltd.
• LVMH Group
• Renfro Corporation
• CSP International Fashion Group S.p.A.
• Golden Lady Company SpA
• Gildan Activewear Inc.
• Hanesbrands Inc.
• Carolina Hosiery, Inc.

By Type	By Category	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Socks Stockings Tights Leggings	Men Women	Online Offline	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Hosiery Market, By Type:

• Socks
• Stockings
• Tights
• Leggings

• Hosiery Market, By Category:

• Men
• Women

• Hosiery Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Online
• Offline

• Hosiery Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE