Consulting Report
24 Jun 2025

The Relevance of Branded Clothing in the EU27

Commissioned by the European Branded Clothing Association

In this report, we study the economic and societal impact of the branded clothing retail industry, including its value chain in the EU27.

The branded clothing retail industry is a powerhouse for the European Union’s economy. In 2023, the industry contributed €331.8 billion to the EU’s GDP and supported 4.5 million jobs.

The industry’s direct GDP contribution was €55.4 billion, accounting for 8.5% of the entire EU retail and trade sector. Supported by the industry’s procurement, it stimulated another €190.1 billion of GDP contribution along the supply chain. Additionally, the industry’s induced impact supported another €86.2 billion.

The branded clothing retail industry also supported many jobs in the EU27. The industry directly employed 1.3 million people in 2023, making up 9.4% of the retail and trade sector. The retail industry particularly provides jobs for women, comprising 62.8% of all direct employment. Beyond this, its indirect and induced impacts supported another 3.2 million jobs. For every person employed directly, 2.5 more jobs are supported in other sectors.

As a highly trade-intensive sector, the branded clothing industry has established the EU as a global leader—one of the largest importers and the second-largest exporter of apparel, footwear, and bags worldwide.

The study was commissioned by the European Branded Clothing Association (EBCA).

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Oxford Economics specialises in forecasting, economic impact analysis, and evidence-based thought leadership. Our economists and analysts draw from a rich database of figures and analysis on 200 countries, 100 sectors, and 7,000 cities and regions.
The experts behind the research
  • Stefan Gorgels

    Stefan Gorgels

    Associate Director of Economic Consulting, Continental Europe
    Stefan Gorgels

    Associate Director of Economic Consulting, Continental Europe

    Stefan Gorgels is Associate Director for economic consulting services in Continental Europe, focusing on economic impact analysis and econometric analysis. He has a strong academic background in economics and extensive experience in managing consulting and research projects for national and international clients.

    Prior to joining Oxford Economics, Stefan was a manager at DIW Econ - the consulting arm of the German Institute for Economic Research - where he managed economic consulting and research projects for a wide range of clients, including companies, industry associations, German government ministries and the European Commission.

    Stefan Gorgels holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Maastricht University, an M.Sc. in Economics from the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics and a Ph.D. in Economics from New York University.

  • Johanna Schulze Düding

    Johanna Schulze Düding

    Senior Economist, Economic Impact
    Johanna Schulze Düding

    Senior Economist, Economic Impact

    Johanna is a Senior Economist in the Economic Impact Consulting Team in Continental Europe, based in Berlin, Germany. She has extensive experience in conducting economic impact studies for companies in various industries and institutions (e.g., pharmaceutical industry, creative industry, construction sector, and tourism sector). She has worked on numerous projects for private and public clients, including companies, industry associations, federal ministries, and the European Commission.

    Before joining Oxford Economics in 2025, Johanna worked at DIW Econ, the consultancy firm of the German Institute for Economic Research. During her time there, Johanna led several high-profile projects assessing the economic impact of different industries and institutions, as well as projects addressing socioeconomic and environmental issues. Johanna holds an M.Sc. in Economics and Management from Leibniz University Hannover.

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