In order to track the development of the French textile, home linen, and footwear market, ReFashion, a French eco-platform that links businesses in the recycling industries, polled over 10,000 merchants and importers. According to the report, sales to consumers began to increase once more in 2024. Pureplayers and inventory clearance sites on the retail side, as well as the high demand for shoes on the product category side, were the main drivers of the expansion, and the resale market also kept expanding.
French shoppers purchased 3.5 billion new items of clothing, shoes, and home linens last year—just over 10 million items every day. The amount of apparel purchased increased by 2.4% to 2.8 billion. There were 259 million pairs of shoes (up 9.3%), while there were 362 million home linens (up 0.6%). Over the past five years, the sector’s overall sales have grown by an average of 400 million products annually.
For the sector, sales revenue bounced back with 2.9% growth, after in 2023 having its first decline, helped along by both favorable consumer sentiment and greater traction for online pureplayers and clearance sites, where sales increased by nearly 30%. Traditional mass retailers signaled decreasing consumer interest and reported a drop of 5.1% in sales.
Overall, each consumer purchased an average of 42 items (i.e. 26 garments and three pairs of shoes). Women purchased a total of 32 clothing items; men purchased a total of 19 clothing items. Growth came generally from adult fashion, while clothing for children and babies reported an overall decline.
ReFashion also highlighted that not only is 7.1% of the market now comprising secondhand sales, consumers are also buying an average of 7.3 secondhand items a year. Platforms like Vinted are dominating, along with flea markets and social economy actors. The average price of a secondhand product is US $ 10.26 and resale is maturing into a reasonable, and sustainable, option.
The findings present a fashion market evolving—remembering sustainability, changing retail preferences, and youth-led movements which are changing how consumers shop in France.
