The children's clothing market in France

The children's apparel market covers all clothing and fashion accessories for children aged 2 to 14.

The global market for children's apparel is booming, and outperforming the adult market in both the men's and women's segments. The Asia-Pacific and North American markets dominate the global market, followed by the European market.

In France, the children's clothing market is one of the most buoyant segments in a clothing market that is tending to shrink. The market is mainly structured around specialized players, adult fashion companies that sell a children's range, and food superstores with a clothing section. The market has suffered since the covid crisis, and many well-established brands, such as Sergent Major, have gone into receivership.

The children's clothing market is benefiting from the popularity of online sales, and is investing in ever more efficient in-store delivery and collection services. The sector's specialist brands are also present on the various online distribution platforms. However, the share of online sales in the children's apparel market is lower than in the overall apparel market. More generally, it is innovation and mastery of digital technology that enable players to differentiate themselves in a highly competitive market, where parents need to be convinced.

Partly due to pressures on purchasing power and the fashion industry's sensitivity to environmental impacts, the second-hand market is showing growing results. In fact, some brands in the children's clothing market are taking advantage of the trend to launch their own resale platforms.

In 2023, in the July-September quarter, i.e. the back-to-school period, sales of children's clothing in France amounted to 857 million, for 10.3 million children between the ages of 2 and 14 in France.

This market study does not include children's footwear, but focuses on children's ready-to-wear.