Guangzhou Muxin Sporting Goods.Ltd. , https://www.muxinsports.com
This year, the textile and apparel industry has experienced a significant price surge due to a combination of factors, including natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating demand. As a result, key materials such as cotton, polyester, fur, and other fabric accessories have seen widespread price increases. Generally, rising costs at the upstream level tend to push prices higher downstream, which explains why rumors about autumn and winter clothing price hikes have been circulating in the industry.
However, based on my recent survey, the actual situation is more complex than it appears. Since the start of the year, the prices of various fabrics and accessories have been influenced by multiple factors, including adverse weather conditions and reduced crop yields. Cotton, which makes up roughly 40% of the cost of most garments, has seen a steady increase. According to information from the Dalian Textile Association, cotton prices have risen by as much as 30% this year. This has led to an overall price increase of 25% to 30% for cotton-based products, with some items like cotton jersey fabric now costing nearly 600 yuan per ton.
But the rise isn’t limited to cotton. I spoke with several well-known garment manufacturers in our city, including Fumai Ni, Hyundai, Junming, and Huaying, and learned that polyester, chemical fiber, polyester fiber, artificial cotton, and wool have also experienced price hikes. While most of these materials saw increases of no more than 8%, some specialty items have surged far beyond that. For example, Rex rabbit hair has gone up by as much as 100% to 120%, placing enormous pressure on textile and garment companies.
In addition, even smaller components used in the production process—such as zippers and reflective strips—have seen slight price increases. Despite all these rising costs, the question remains: will clothing prices truly "soar" this autumn?
Upon visiting several shopping malls in the city recently, I found that many well-known clothing brands have not raised their prices yet. Even for those that have increased prices, the percentage is relatively small, and in many cases, the increases are offset by changes in material composition or design. Overall, while the industry faces mounting challenges, the consumer market seems to be holding steady for now.
August 30, 2025