According to a new report by Global Industry Analysts, seamless intimate apparel is to feature strongly in the growth of the World Market for Knit Underwear & Nightwear which it predicts will reach $78.5 billion by 2012.

The intimate apparel market is driven mainly by style, and fashion with equal importance accorded to comfort, and novelty. The industry is marked by new fabric developments, and innovations in prettier, and more comfortable garment designs.

The report says that the growing trend towards innerwear worn as outerwear has been richly beneficial to the lingerie market and the introduction of camisoles in trendy colors and T-shirts with built-in bras bears testimony to these trends. The market nevertheless is confronted with a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges and for instance, fierce competition has resulted in falling prices, continuous shift of production to low-cost countries, while the ageing population in developed markets is increasingly frustrating growth opportunities. Developing regions, on the other hand, hold immense opportunities for future growth, given their favourable demographics, rising standards of living, growing affluence, and widespread adoption of Western lifestyles. Manufacturers are therefore fast expanding their business operations into South America, Central Europe and Asia.

Products expected to score the maximum gains in the upcoming years include seamless intimates, such as, seamless bras and panties, given consumers’ desire for seamless and imperceptible undergarments. Demand for plus-size inner wear is rapidly expanding in Western markets. Obesity is touted to be the primary reason for the growing demand of large-size innerwear. Stores now offer suitable lingerie to customers who earlier depended on specialists for customized bras.

The global knit underwear and nightwear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 3.45% during the period 2011-2015. Europe dominates the global market for knit underwear & nightwear, while Asia-Pacific represents the fastest growing market. North America and Europe together collar over 65% of the global market estimated in 2008.

The European women's knit underwear and nightwear market is expected to reach US$18 billion by 2012. Men's intimate wear has witnessed sweeping changes with the entry of renowned fashion designers, and apparel majors. Growth in this market is largely encouraged by changing behavioural patterns of metropolitan men, who are becoming increasingly appearance conscious, and willing to spend additional bucks on personal grooming, and apparel. The men's knit underwear and nightwear market, in the United States is expected to cross US$5.7 billion by 2015. A key noteworthy trend in this market is the changing retailing dynamics. Online retailing is gradually rising in popularity with the Internet's e-catalogues becoming popular shopping destinations. Though, fashion underwear represents only a small portion of overall sales, the segment is witnessing tremendous growth in online sales.

Leading players in the global and regional marketplace include Benetton Group S.p.A, Bella Di Notte S.L, Berkshire Hathaway, Fruit of the Loom Inc., Cia Hering, Calvin Klein Inc., Delta Galil Industries Ltd, Donna Karan International Inc, Formfit, Gunze Ltd, Jockey International Inc., Joe Boxer, Maidenform Brands Inc, Perry Ellis International Inc, PT Great River International Tbk, Parisa AFR Apparel International Inc, Berlei, The Bali Company, Triumph International, Tefron Ltd, Warnaco Group Inc, Wacoal Holdings Corp, and Wacoal America Inc, among others.   

"Knit Underwear & Nightwear Market: A Global Strategic Business Report", published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, product profile, recent developments, mergers, acquisitions, profiles of major players and other strategic industry activities. Analysis is presented for major geographic markets such as US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Spain, Russia, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and rest of world. Analytics for the period 1991 through 2015 are provided in terms of product segments including women's knit underwear and nightwear, men's knit underwear and nightwear, and children's knit underwear and nightwear.

For more details about this research report, please visit http://www.strategyr.com/Knit_Underwear_And_Nightwear_Market_Report.asp