The formal outerwear share of the market grew by 50% in 2000.

Is it merely older customers who are fuelling the sector?

With the fundamental demographic and economic factors shaping the clothing market, outerwear remains fundamental.

With the traditional distinction between a supplier brand and a retailer own-label appear to be blurring somewhat, supplier and retailer routes to reach the run on an increasingly fickle consumer are changing fast. The Outerwear market was worth an estimated £12 billion in 2000. With a new sector based on strong consumer confidence to spend on higher -ticket garments, such as formal women's suits, dresses and coats, outerwear has seen recent success for designer clothing brands, as many consumers feel confident in trading up to premium garments 'on the top'. Yet should the market be reading too much into this?

The formal outerwear share of the market grew by 50% in 2000.

Is it merely older customers who are fuelling the sector?

With the fundamental demographic and economic factors shaping the clothing market, outerwear remains fundamental.

With the traditional distinction between a supplier brand and a retailer own-label appear to be blurring somewhat, supplier and retailer routes to reach the run on an increasingly fickle consumer are changing fast. The Outerwear market was worth an estimated £12 billion in 2000. With a new sector based on strong consumer confidence to spend on higher -ticket garments, such as formal women's suits, dresses and coats, outerwear has seen recent success for designer clothing brands, as many consumers feel confident in trading up to premium garments 'on the top'. Yet should the market be reading too much into this?

This report analyses the market for all women's outwear including suits, jackets, skirts and trousers, dresses, coats, blouses and knitwear. With more aggressive marketing and repositioning in favour of more 'fashionable' names and merchandise, is there a retail revolution for women's outerwear? What changes in marketing and supply routes do manufacturers need to pursue to reach the female consumer? Women's Outerwear suggests the way forward for the industry.

Other Mintel reports of relevance include:

- Underwear Retailing, Retail Intelligence, February 2000

- Stockings & Tights, Market Intelligence, January 2000

- Bras & Pants, Market Intelligence, November 1999

- Jeans, Market Intelligence, April 1999

- Womenswear Retailing, Retail Intelligence, August 2000.