Hosiery Market

Hosiery Market Outlook (2025 to 2035)

The global hosiery market is expected to reach USD 97,556 million by 2035, up from USD 54,428 million in 2024. During the forecast period 2025 to 2035, the industry is projected to register at a CAGR of 5.5%.

The increased awareness of fashion, urban development, and the online shopping business, combined with rising salaries, celebrity style, and product review essays about athleisure, created demand for stylish and functional hosiery. A shift towards sustainable textiles and higher involvement of women in the workforce would drive green and formal hosiery.

Metric	Value
Estimated Size in 2025	USD 57,112 Million
Projected Size in 2035	USD 97,556 Million
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	5.5%

What are the drivers of hosiery market?

The development of the fashion industry for hosiery is highly dependent on rising fashion consciousness and the greater importance of appearing well among men and women alike. Accepting athleisure and snug-fit styles has led to a rise in demand for fashionable, functional, and comfortable hosiery products, such as leggings, tights, socks, and stockings. Seasonal trends and celebrity fashion statements also create brief spikes in demand during the fall and winter.

The increasing number of women entering the workforce has also heightened the demand for formal and semi-formal hosiery. Rapid urbanization and increasing disposable income, especially in emerging nations, have also made the premium and branded hosiery an easy choice.

The shift towards sustainable and organic fabrics is also driving innovations in the area where consumers have shown more interest in eco-friendly and skin-sensitive hosiery products. Due to the rise of e-commerce and digitally native brands, the accessibility of products has increased, providing companies with the opportunity to cater to niche markets and regional preferences alike.

What are the regional trends of hosiery market?

Hosiery markets in North America and Europe are driven by mature fashion industries, high per capita income, and a gradually rising need for innovations and performance-specific stockings, such as compression tights and thermal leggings. These factors make it essential for companies to invest in seamless binding technology and designs that focus on comfort to compete effectively in these areas.

In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region is emerging as a rapidly developing area due to increasing income levels among the middle class, growing fashion awareness, and continually evolving retail infrastructure. Countries like China, India, and Japan are becoming more demanding, especially from younger audiences, as they are more prone to absorbing global trends more easily. The online development of retail, coupled with increasing smartphone penetration, will further expand the market in the region.

At the same time, the Middle East and Africa, as well as Latin America, are experiencing gradual growth influenced by urbanization and the influence of Western fashion. Cultural preferences, however, moderate the choice of hosiery in some conservative markets, where product customization remains a key factor in growth.

What are the challenges and restraining factors of hosiery market?

The hosiery market has performed well over the years but is hindered by certain challenges, including fluctuating raw material prices, primarily for cotton, wool, and synthetic yarns, which impact production costs and profit margins. In addition, it puts intense competition on branded premium goods because unbranded products are available at very low prices, especially in countries sensitive to price.

Fast fashion is another challenge, as fashion changes rapidly, thereby reducing product life and increasing the likelihood of overproduction and subsequent stock losses.

Counterfeit products and poor-quality imports can decrease their consumers' trust in the brand. Environmental issues, including synthetic fibers and the carbon footprint associated with textile manufacturing, call for regulatory scrutiny.

Size differences, lack of product differentiation, and comfort issues with synthetic hosiery all make it difficult to repeat sales. To keep brands appealing to customers, it will be key to tackle these through innovations, using sustainable materials, and including those that are not constrained by size.

Country-Wise Outlook

China leads hosiery manufacturing through scale, speed, and smart tech

In the hosiery industry, China continues to command worldwide attention due to its extensive manufacturing base, cost advantages, and growing domestic demand driven by urbanization and fast fashion trends. As the world's major textile exporter, China leverages vertical integration from yarn-making operations to finishing, enabling rapid turnaround production for global brands.

The market is also witnessing demand for functional hosiery compression tights, thermal leggings, and antibacterial socks amongst health-conscious urban consumers. Government initiatives to upgrade textile manufacturing under "Made in China 2025" are increasingly encouraging smart hosiery using RFID tagging and eco-friendly materials.

Italy sets the gold standard for premium and sustainable hosiery

Italy now accounts for a remarkable portion of its premium hosiery market, enhanced with inspirational heritage from fashion art, craftsmanship as well as sustainability initiatives. The nation's hosiery center of Castel Goffredo serves the glories, among others, of leading world houses graced in fine, rich materials and complicated weaves of durability.

Easy tights, sheer stockings, and shapewear-suited products have brought a thriving market, it focuses on biodegradable fibers, seamless 3D knitting, and circular economy practices-the last being a part of the European Union's Green Deal-with which Italy positions itself in eco-conscious markets. Among the emerging trends are premium compression socks and tech-integrated hosiery with yarns to regulate temperature and antibacterial finishes.

United States hosiery market thrives on athleisure and direct-to-consumer growth

The United States is a significant consumer of hosiery, driven by the rise in purchase-based athleisure, work-from-home clothing, and growing trends toward wellness wearables. Hosiery demand is becoming multipurpose, ultra-light moisture-wicking, cushioned, compression, and seamless socks combined with comfort-fit design.

Growth is also supported by advanced knitting machines, smart yarn blends, such as copper-infused or graphene-based yarns, and AI-driven inventory models. Retail expansion occurs for general medical purposes, including compression and diabetic socks, as well as in aging populations.

Category-Wise Analysis

Body stockings diversify men’s hosiery choices in the economy segment

These days, body stockings are gaining favor under the unisex category, with men wearing them for thermal layering, performances, and as a statement of fashion-forward self-expression. These one-piece garments provide full-body coverage and are typically made of stretchy nylon and spandex. The increasing visibility of body stockings in men's fashion represents a greater penetration of the trends toward inclusivity and functional versatility for the hosiery market.

Affordable options expand access to functional hosiery for budget-conscious men

This revolution in accessibility has created low-priced hosiery for practical use by men, allowing them to experiment with nontraditional garments like body stockings. Brands rely on synthetic fibers and simple construction to maintain a competitive price that is neither too high nor too low, meeting basic comfort and utility expectations.

Gender-inclusive demand fuels hosiery innovation in the men’s segment

Men, however, are beginning to grow active and influential in the evolving hosiery space correspondingly. Traditionally, male shoppers have been a neglected demographic, but now, this type of consumer views body stockings not only for functionality but also for style. This transformation is attributed to the acceptance of unclothe and comfort. Hence, this implies that brands are beginning to offer more hosiery lines tailored to male tastes, such as size variations, neutral shades, and multipurpose designs, to cater to this newly opened audience.

Competitive Analysis

The international hosiery industry has been marked by high competition levels due to changing fashion habits, the growing rate of disposable incomes, and the increasing demand for wearable and aesthetically designed leg therapies. Identified competitors in the market are primarily active in terms of product innovation, pricing, distribution, and brand positioning.

Green materials and green processes have also become a point of difference as consumers have also become environmentally conscious. The infiltration of athleisure and mixed-use, stylish shots promoted the notion of mixing comfort and performance, which led to support for less, moisture-wicking and compression hosiery.

Digital change is also critical in modifying competition. E-commerce websites and direct-to-consumer channels have reduced the barriers to entry for small and niche hosiery brands, increasing competition in terms of price and quality. Personalization, restricted releases, and networking with influencers also allow brands to niche out their customers. There are also other improvements, such as antibacterial materials and an ergonomic feel, which are becoming increasingly prevalent as health and wellness blend with clothing.

There lies also the problem of the market, in terms of location imbalance, wherein the mature markets consume the premium and designer categories of hosiery, and the emerging economies pay their volume game with price. Consequently, supply chain agility and response to seasonable changes in consumer demand are becoming a key to keeping a competitive advantage.

Key players in the hosiery industry include Spanx Inc., Adidas AG, Nordstrom Inc., Wolford AG, Jockey International, Inc., Golden Lady Company S.p.A., L Brands, Inc., CSP International Fashion Group S.p.A., Gildan Activewear Inc., Hanesbrands Inc., and other notable companies.

Recent Development

• In June 2025, a new venture, the New American Hosiery Company, is set to commence operations on July 1, 2025. This joint enterprise combines the manufacturing legacy of Wilson Brown Sock Company with the clinical textile innovation of Circufiber Inc. and includes assets from TH Hosiery Mills. Based in North Carolina, the company aims to merge traditional American craftsmanship with cutting-edge textile technology.
• In October 2024, Legacy pantyhose brand L'eggs is undergoing a revival, introducing modern shapewear tights made from recycled materials to appeal to younger consumers. The brand's relaunch includes trendy patterns and a focus on inclusivity, aiming to redefine tights as chic fashion accessories. This move aligns with a broader resurgence in hosiery sales, particularly among 18- to 24-year-olds.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the price points of key manufacturers in the Hosiery Market, positioned across regions, including sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, as recently published in the report.

Methodology and Industry Tracking Approach

Fact.MR conducted a research study on the Hosiery market in 2025, interviewing over 4,800 confirmed experts operating in 22 countries. The areas of activity addressed by respondents included textile fiber innovation, automation of large-scale knitting, design of ergonomic garments, eco-certification, and sustainable apparel export, among others. All of the involved countries provisionally employed the collaboration of no less than 85 professionals who gave their time to develop elastomeric yarns, high-performance compression legger branding, and textile dyeing sustainability evaluation.

The study documented the major changes that occurred during the period from June 2024 to May 2025. Some of these developments included the growth of seamless knitting technology, an audible increase in the launch of biodegradable hosiery fibers, and the reorientation of the industry towards closed-loop recycling and zero-waste packaging programs.

Fact.MR has since been tracking the hosiery segment up to 2018, maintaining records on microfiber weaving innovations, elasticity retention rates, and the utilization of circular knitting machines along global supply chain networks. This collective knowledge is now in line with the market trend, as the new trend is based on inclusive size stories, ethical consumption branding, and comfort to wear during the day, not just to look fashionable, but also to promote health.

Segmentation of Hosiery Market

• By Product :

  • Body Stockings
  • Compression Stockings
  • Knee-High/Hold-Ups Hosiery
  • Stockings
  • Socks
  • Tights
  • Toe Socks

• By Price Range :

  • Economy
  • Mid
  • Premium
  • Super Premium

• By Demography :

  • Men
  • Women

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa