Plus Size, Petite and Maternity Wear - US - March 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction and Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Other relevant reports
• Definition
• Abbreviations and terms
• AbbreviationsTermsExecutive Summary
• Market grows 38% between 2000 and 2005
• Demographic changes favor plus-size clothing market
• Plus-size dominates market share in the market for special sizing
• Petite segment under-represented--23% of respondents purchase, but43% are petite
• Specialty retailers top sales in plus-size, petite and maternitywear
• Mass merchandisers and national retailers increase plus-size andmaternity choices
• Maternity will see largest growth rate while petite-size struggles
• Market Drivers
• Rising population of expectant moms
  • Figure 1: Population of new born babies,2002, 2005 and 2010
• Paradigm shift in maternity segment, from bland fashions toaffordable chic
• Delayed motherhood, a growth vehicle for high-end maternity apparel
  • Figure 2: Labor force participation ratesfor mothers aged 15-44, and with a birth in the last year by age ofmother, 2004
• Increased incidence of obesity among women
  • Figure 3: Prevalence of overweight andobesity among American women, 1988-2002
• Increased recognition of plus-size market by retailers
  • Figure 4: Attitudes to shopping forplus-size clothing, December 2005
• Echo boomers are driving dollar sales in the plus-size market...
  • Figure 5: Prevalence of obesity amongchildren aged 6-19 1971-2002
  • Figure 6: Population of teens and womenaged 12-28 years, 2002-10
• ...While women aged 35 and older drive volume sales
  • Figure 7: Plus-size clothing purchased inthe past 12 months, by age, December 2005
  • Figure 8: Female population projections,by age, 2000, 2005 and 2010
• Plus-size, an evolving segment of apparel business
• Plus-size clothing, pricier and less susceptible to promotion
• Ethnic differences create need for plus and petite size clothing
  • Figure 9: Prevalence of overweight andobesity among American women, by race/ethnicity, 1988-2002
  • Figure 10: Average body measurements ofU.S. women, by age and race/ethnicity, 2004
  • Figure 11: U.S. female population by raceand Hispanic origin, 2000-10
• Petite-size segment, retailers overlook unmet demand
  • Figure 12: Attitudes to shopping forpetite-size clothing, December 2005
• Market Size and Trends
  • Figure 13: Total U.S. retail sales ofplus-size, petite and maternity clothing, at current and constantprices, 2000-05
  • Figure 14: Graph: Total U.S. retail salesof plus-size, petite and maternity clothing, at current and constantprices, 2000-05
• Trends
• Plus-size
• Petite-size trends
• Maternity
• Market Segmentation
  • Figure 15: Retail maternity, plus-size andpetite clothing sales, by segment, 2003 and 2005
  • Figure 16: Graph: retail maternity,plus-size and petite clothing sales, by segment, 2005
  • Figure 17: Sales of plus-size clothing, atcurrent and constant prices, 2000-05
• Petite clothing
  • Figure 18: Sales of petite-size clothing,at current and constant prices, 2000-05
• Maternity
  • Figure 19: Sales of maternity clothing, atcurrent and constant prices, 2000-05
• Supply Structure
• Foreign trade
  • Figure 20: Total U.S. imports of women'sand girls' apparel, customs value, 2003, 2004 and 2005
  • Figure 21: Apparel sourcing by TarrantApparel Group, 2002, 2003 and 2004
• Company profiles
• Abby Z
• Liz Claiborne Inc.
• Liz Lange Maternity
• Tarrant Apparel Group
• Soho Compagnie
• Advertising and Promotion
  • Figure 22: Prime-time spending onapparel*, 2000-04
• Company Activity
• Charming Shoppe Inc.
• Hot Topic Inc
• Wal-Mart
• Coldwater Creek Inc.
• Retail Distribution
• Introduction
  • Figure 23: Purchase channels for plus-sizeclothing, by age, December 2005
  • Figure 24: U.S. retail sales by channels,2000-05
  • Figure 25: U.S. retail sales of plus-size,petite and maternity wear, by channel, 2003 and 2005
• Mass Merchandisers
  • Figure 26: Major mass merchandisers, salesfor 2003 and 2005
• Wal-Mart
• Target
• National chains
  • Figure 27: Major national chains, salesfor 2003 and 2005
• Kohl's
• Department stores
  • Figure 28: Major high-end departmentstores, sales for 2003 and 2005
• Federated Department Stores
• Plus-size, petite and maternity specialty stores
  • Figure 29: Major specialty stores, salesfor 2003 and 2005
• Mothers Work Inc.
• Charming Shoppes Inc.
• Hot Topic Inc.
• Talbots, Inc.
• Urban Brands
• United Retail Group, Inc.
• Gap Inc.
• Direct retailers
• Coldwater Creek Inc.
• Igigi.com
• The Consumer
• Introduction
• Women's plus-size clothing purchase
  • Figure 30: Plus-size clothing purchased inthe past 12 months, by age, December 2005
  • Figure 31: Plus-size clothing purchased inthe past 12 months, by household income, December 2005
• Sources of plus-size clothing
  • Figure 32: Sources of plus-size clothing,by age, December 2005
  • Figure 33: Sources of plus-size clothing,by household income, December 2005
  • Figure 34: Sources of plus-size clothing,by marital status and presence of children in the household, December2005
  • Figure 35: Sources of plus-size clothing,by region, December 2005
• Attitudes towards shopping for plus-size clothing
  • Figure 36: Attitudes towards shopping forplus-size clothing, by age, December 2005
  • Figure 37: Attitudes towards shopping forplus-size clothing, by household Income, December 2005
• Women's petite-size clothing purchase
  • Figure 38: Petite-size clothing purchasedin the past 12 months, by age, December 2005
• Sources of petite-size clothing
  • Figure 39: Sources of petite clothing, byage, December 2005
• Attitudes towards shopping for petite-size clothing
  • Figure 40: Attitudes towards shopping forpetite clothing, by age, December 2005
• Future and Forecast
• Future trends
• Demographic increases predicted for all segments
• Increasing numbers of branded plus-size and petite clothing
• Differentiation will be the key to survival
• Direct channels will remain strong in plus-size apparel sales
• Improvement in sizing methods and technologies
• Increasing number of maternity players
• Market forecast
• Plus-size, petite, and maternity clothing
  • Figure 41: Forecast of total U.S. sales ofplus-size, petite, and maternity clothing, at current and constantprices, 2005-10
  • Figure 42: Graph: Total U.S. sales ofplus-size, petite, and maternity clothing, at current prices, 2000-10
• Plus-size clothing
  • Figure 43: Forecast of U.S. sales ofplus-size clothing, at current and constant prices, 2005-10
• Petite-size clothing
  • Figure 44: Forecast of U.S. sales ofpetite-size clothing, at current and constant prices, 2005-10
• Maternity clothing
  • Figure 45: Forecast of U.S. sales ofmaternity clothing, at current and constant prices, 2005-10
• Forecast Factors
• Appendix: Trade Associations
• Appendix: Research Methodology
• Consumer Research
• Datascension, Inc. and Harris Interactive Service Bureau
• Greenfield Online
• ICR Surveys EXCEL
• Simmons National Consumer Surveys
• Technometrica TechnoExpresssm
• Trade Research
• Informal trade research
• Formal trade research
• Desk & Internet Research
• Sources
• Definitions
• Forecasts
• Appendix: What is Mintel?
• Mintel Group
• Mintel Reports
• Mintel Premier
• Mintel GNPD
• Mintel Menu Insights
• Mintel Comperemedia
• Mintel Custom Solutions