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Online Men's Clothing Retailers in the UK - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Heydon Thomas Heydon Thomas London, United Kingdom Last Updated: September 2025 SIC SP0.062

Revenue

£2.6bn

2025-26

£2.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

2,219

Businesses

173

Wages

£XX.Xm

Online Men's Clothing Retailers in the UK industry analysis

While being volatile, the industry’s performance has been propped up by rising social media engagement and the strategic use of influencers and brand communities. However, profitability has come under strain amid high return rates, escalating customer expectations and ongoing market consolidation. Major online retailers like ASOS and Boohoo (now Debenhams Group) have adapted their operating models in a bid to maintain relevance and capitalise on evolving digital commerce trends. Strategies across the industry have shifted to incorporate marketplace structures, improved omnichannel integration and content-led digital engagement, reflecting the dynamic nature of the online menswear retail landscape. Online men’s clothing retailers' revenue is forecast to mount at a compound annual rate of 2% over the five years through 2025-26, including a hike of 0.9% in 2025-26, to reach £2.6 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Sustainability and second-hand platforms threaten revenue and force strategic pivots. Consumer demand for eco-friendly fashion and resale channels like Vinted is accelerating, shifting spend from new to used clothing. Retailers are launching circular initiatives and sustainable collections to retain market share and comply with regulations.
  • Casual and activewear dominate online men’s clothing sales. Hybrid work and health trends drive demand for comfortable, basic styles while cost-of-living pressures push shoppers towards own-brand lines and multipacks. Repeat purchases keep these categories as the sector's biggest revenue drivers.
  • London has the highest number of online menswear retailers. This is because of its recognition as a hub for international business and is well placed logistically as a highly developed city.
  • Online men's clothing retailers compete on price and brand recognition. Price competition is exceptionally prevalent for retailers at the lower end of the market. For luxury retailers, there is a greater emphasis on quality and brand recognition.
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Competitors

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £2.6bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Influencer marketing and social media have boosted brand engagement and revenue when done well

  • A hike in social media use has been a key driver of men’s clothing sales online. Women aren’t the only ones falling prey to social media and the dramatic rise in photos and videos posted online. Social media channels like Instagram and TikTok encourage people to look their best, usually with the help of a new wardrobe, which has supported sales. In PwC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey, 41% of respondents noted a celebrity or influencer has influenced their decision to make a purchase and 67% use social media to discover new brands. Meanwhile, a 2024 survey from TikTok Business reports 54% of online shoppers find browsing for products on social and entertainment platforms more satisfying than shopping retail websites or physical stores.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Online Men's Clothing Retailers in the UK
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Sustainability and second-hand platforms will challenge retailers, which will spark a strategic shift

  • It’s no secret the fast-fashion industry is plagued by controversy, with headlines highlighting its environmental impact, greenwashing and working conditions. In a landmark FCA greenwashing investigation in March 2024, fast-fashion brands must avoid making misleading claims about the green credentials of their clothes, including using green imagery to make their clothing seem more sustainable. Heightened regulatory oversight is likely to hike compliance costs for online-only retailers, as they will be required to invest in verifiable sustainability initiatives and transparent supply chain disclosure to avoid penalisation.

Biggest companies in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue (£m)
2026
ASOS plc
350.3
Debenhams Group plc
212.3
Farfetch UK Ltd
95.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Online Men's Clothing Retailers in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Casual wear, Office and formal wear and Activewear. Casual wear is the largest segment of the Online Men's Clothing Retailers in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Casual wear dominates online men’s clothing, as hybrid work and cost-conscious shoppers favour comfy, basic styles

  • Casual wear includes shirts, sweatshirts, collared shirts, casual trousers and casual outerwear. Consumers of all ages invested heavily in comfortable clothing for lounging and work.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms sell men’s clothing via the internet. This includes online-only retailers and excludes bricks-and-mortar stores that have an online presence.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include Men's shirts, t-shirts and tops , Men's trousers and shorts , Men's suits and Men's underwear .

Companies

Companies covered in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include ASOS plc, Debenhams Group plc and Farfetch UK Ltd.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include online pure play, big data and bricks-and-mortar.

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 47.91 - Online Men's Clothing Retailers in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Sustainability and second-hand platforms threaten revenue and force strategic pivots. Consumer demand for eco-friendly fashion and resale channels like Vinted is accelerating...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Casual and activewear dominate online men’s clothing sales. Hybrid work and health trends drive demand for comfortable, basic styles while cost-of-living pressures push shopp...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London has the highest number of online menswear retailers. This is because of its recognition as a hub for international business and is well placed logistically as a highly...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Online men's clothing retailers compete on price and brand recognition. Price competition is exceptionally prevalent for retailers at the lower end of the market. For luxury ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

ASOS's online menswear business faces falling revenues and fierce competition. ASOS have experienced slumps in customers and orders, squeezed by rivals like Shein, Zalando an...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of ASOS plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Debenhams Group plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Farfetch UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for ASOS plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Debenhams Group plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Farfetch UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The percentage of households with internet access is increasing in 2025-26. As the internet has become more integrated into daily life, the percentage of households with inte...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Economies of scale play a significant role in defining profit. Larger companies, like ASOS, benefit from economies of scale and brand recognition as they can push back on pri...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2019-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
  • Assets (2019-2023)
  • Liabilities (2019-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is £2.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 173 businesses in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?

The Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?

The Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom are ASOS plc, Debenhams Group plc and Farfetch UK Ltd

What does the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include?

Men's shirts, t-shirts and tops and Men's trousers and shorts are part of the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is ASOS plc.

How competitive is the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Online Men's Clothing Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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