As the new year unfolds, a fashionable fitness trend takes center stage in the UK, with an increasing number turning to shapewear to refine their silhouette. The shapewear category has surged to an estimated £42 million in annual value.
Recent research from Centric Market Intelligence reveals a remarkable 8% annual growth rate in the cost of women’s shapewear since 2020. The analysis, covering three years from 2020, indicates that the average price per item has now reached £45.68. Notably, costs experienced a 5% increase between January 2022 and November 2023.
In the realm of fashion economics, 2021 emerges as a shopper’s delight, with shapewear averaging a modest £39.26 per item. Fast forward to 2023, and there’s a shift towards opulence, marking the most expensive year at £46.16 per item—a noteworthy difference of £6.90.
Centric Market Intelligence expert Elizabeth Shobert sheds light on consumer behavior, stating, “Search data confirms the popularity of specific shapewear brands, with online searches for ‘Skims bras’ in the UK witnessing a staggering 300% year-on-year increase.”
Shobert emphasizes the transformative influence of shape- and loungewear brand Skims, redefining traditional shapewear with a focus on comfort, inclusive colorways, and innovative shapewear categories. The market’s overwhelmingly positive response indicates a shift towards a new era of shapewear, seamlessly blending style and functionality.