If you’re considering starting a clothing business or already have one and would like to expand your customer base, you will need to be sure who your ideal customers are.
When it comes to fashion, there are no hard and fast rules. However, when starting a clothing business, it’s important to have a target market in mind.
Who will you design clothes for? Teenagers? Young professionals? Moms? Dads? Knowing your target market is key to success, as it will help you better understand your customers’ needs and wants.
In this article, we will discuss 13 target market examples for clothing businesses. You can decide which of these target markets are relevant and interesting for your business and then can build products and design marketing strategies that appeal to your ideal customers.
Target Market Examples for Clothing Businesses
To best way to review target market examples for clothing businesses, is to understand the different types of clothes that exist.
Once we have in-depth knowledge of the different types of clothes, we can begin to understand the people who buy them and the reasons they buy them for.
With that said, here are 13 target market examples for clothing that you can consider for your business:
- Formal clothes
- Casual clothes
- Sportswear
- Beach clothes
- Winter clothes
- Clothes for pregnant women
- Plus size clothes
- Children’s clothes
- Ethnic wear
- Clothes for a specific occasion or event (wedding, Halloween)
- Clothes for a specific job or profession (uniforms)
- Clothes for a hobby or interest (cosplay, gardening)
- Clothes for an acting role
Let’s look closely into each of these target market examples for clothing businesses.
1. Formal clothes
Formal clothes are often more expensive than other types of clothing, as they are designed to be worn on special occasions. People who buy formal clothes are usually adults who attend events such as weddings, funerals, or job interviews.
In many professions and in certain parts of the world, formal clothes are still the norm. For example, in the financial sector in UK and Europe, it is not uncommon for men to wear suits and ties every day.
2. Casual clothes
People who like casual clothes are people who want comfort above all else. This includes teenagers and young adults, as well as some older adults who are looking for more relaxed clothing options.
As attitudes towards dress in the workplace have relaxed in recent years, the demand for casual clothes has increased. In many companies, employees now wear jeans and t-shirts to work.
And sometimes all that’s needed is a small upgrade to “smart casual” – khakis and button-down shirts and maybe a blazer or scarf.
3. Sportswear
The target market for sportswear is people who want clothes that they can exercise in. Sportswear includes items such as shorts, tracksuits, t-shirts, swimsuits, yoga pants and more.
Sportswear is usually made from breathable materials such as cotton or polyester, which helps to keep the body cool while exercising.
People who buy sportswear often do so because they want clothes that are comfortable and will not get in the way while they are working out.
4. Beach clothes
As the name suggests, beach clothes are designed to be worn at the beach. This target market is usually people who live in coastal areas or who like to go on vacation to places with beaches.
Beach clothes are usually made from light and airy materials such as cotton or linen, which helps to keep the body cool in warm weather.
People who buy beach clothes often do so because they want to feel comfortable and stylish while they are at the beach.
5. Winter clothes
The market for winter clothes includes those who live in colder climates or who like to go on vacation to places with snow. Winter clothes are designed to keep the body warm in cold weather.
Winter clothes include coats, jackets, hats, scarves, heavy socks and boots. They are usually made from heavier materials such as wool or down, and often have special features such as hoods, pockets, and zippers.
6. Clothes for pregnant women
Clothes for pregnant women are designed to be comfortable and stylish at the same time.
Pregnant women often want clothes that are comfortable and will not make them feel self-conscious about their bodies.
These clothes are designed with stretchable materials and often have special features such as adjustable straps.
They are often made from soft materials that can breathe in warm weather.
7. Plus size clothes
The market for plus-size clothes is growing not just because the average size of people is increasing, but also because there is a greater acceptance of all body types.
And so the fashion world has acknowledged that plus-size people are an important market segment and so has started designing clothes for them too that are stylish and comfortable.
8. Children’s clothes
The market for children’s clothes is fairly broad, as it includes all clothes for children from newborns to teenagers.
Children’s clothes are often designed to be comfortable and durable, as kids are known for being tough on their clothes.
They are also often designed to be stylish and trendy, as many parents want their children to look good.
9. Ethnic wear
Ethnic wear refers to clothes that are worn by people from specific cultures or religions.
Ethnic wear includes items such as saris, sherwanis, hijabs, or even leiderhosen.
People who buy ethnic wear often do so because they want to feel connected to their culture or religion.
10. Clothes for a specific occasion or event (Wedding, Halloween)
Different cultures will have different clothes for special occasions or events.
For example, in Western cultures, people often wear suits or dresses to weddings. In Scotland, however, men might wear kilts.
Halloween is another example of an occasion where people might wear special clothes. In the United States, people often dress up in costumes for Halloween.
Clothes for specific occasions or events are usually designed to be stylish and appropriate for the event.
11. Clothes for a specific job or profession (uniforms)
Certain jobs and professions often require people to wear a uniform. Common examples include police officers, firefighters, and nurses.
Uniforms are usually designed to be comfortable and practical for the job.
12. Clothes for a hobby or interest (cosplay, gardening)
Sometimes it’s best to wear specific clothes while practicing a hobby. For example, people who cosplay often wear costumes of their favorite characters.
Gardeners might wear overalls or hats to protect themselves from the sun.
Sometimes people like to wear clothes from a certain era. For instance, people will sometimes wear vintage clothes from the 20s or 50s to make a statement or look unique.
13. Clothes for an acting role
And finally, another target market for a clothing business is actors, because actors have to wear specific clothes for their roles. For larger productions, this would be the costume designer.
The clothes an actor wears often depend on the era or culture of the character they are playing. For example, an actor playing a medieval knight would wear different clothes than an actor playing a modern-day CEO.
Conclusion
In this article, we reviewed 13 of the most common target market examples for clothing businesses.
Target markets are essential for any business, especially a clothing business. With so many different types of clothes out there, it’s important to target a specific group of people.
Once you’ve selected your target markets, you can then start designing and manufacturing clothes that will appeal to them. And you can put in place marketing strategies that will draw them to your clothes or your store.