Measuring for size: how big is the world's modest fashion industry?

Modest fashion is more visible than ever, whether on the street, in the media, online or on the catwalk. It is also proving to be trendy, with designs popular with Muslims and non-Muslims around the world who want to be fashionable yet modest.

The State of the Global Islamic Economy 2019/20 report estimates the expenditure by Muslims on apparel and footwear to be $283 billion in 2018, up from $260 billion in the previous year.

It is difficult to size the modest fashion industry per se and this global Muslim spend is an indication of the size of the opportunity. 

Over the past year, several modest fashion shows were held for the first time in cities across the globe, from Miami to Accra, Moscow and Milan. A contemporary Muslim fashion exhibition, which showcased 53 designers, labels and retailers, was held in San Francisco.

Overall, around $21.3 billion of clothing were exported to the 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2018. 

China, India and Turkey are the biggest exporters to the OIC countries.

For all data and analyses of the modest fashion sector and all other segments of the Islamic economy, download the State of the Global Islamic Economy 2019/20 here. 

The report has been published annually since 2013.

It is produced by growth strategy research and avisory firm DinarStandard, the parent company of Salaam Gateway.

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