UK’s apparel sector is witnessing a cautious but definitive structural recovery, with the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data revealing a month-on-month rise in clothing imports for October 2025. While year-on-year figures showed a marginal dip of 3.1 per cent, the monthly rebound suggests that the aggressive inventory ‘de-stocking’ of 2023–24 has finally concluded. Brands are once again placing orders to meet a stabilizing consumer demand, as total apparel imports for the quarter ending October reached £5.4 billion - an 11.2 per cent increase over the previous year.
After nearly two years of lean inventory strategies triggered by the cost-of-living crisis, British retailers are recalibrating for a hybrid shopping era. Data from Mintel suggests, the UK clothing market will reach £67.8 billion by the end of 2025, supported by a "just-in-time" sourcing model that has seen lead times drop by 31 per cent. Retailers like Next and M&S have reportedly benefited from better-than-expected ‘sell-through’ rates during the summer and back-to-school periods, prompting a wave of re-ordering that boosted October's import volumes.
Structural shifts in the sourcing landscape
The recovery remains ‘uneven,’ however, as upstream segments like raw fibers and fabrics continue to fluctuate. While finished garment imports rose, fabric imports remained 4.2 per cent lower than 2024 levels, reflecting a shift toward importing completed goods rather than domestic manufacturing. Furthermore, the industry faces a ‘K-shaped’ labor challenge; while sales are recovering, retail employment has hit a record low of 2.76 million jobs. Analysts warn that while the ‘worst is over’ for trade volumes, the sector must now navigate a high-cost environment where operational efficiency is the only remaining lever for margin protection.
The ONS serves as the UK’s executive office and largest independent producer of official statistics, providing the critical data infrastructure that informs British retail strategy. It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population, and society at national, regional, and local levels.
