1. Get more info on this report!
Men’s and Women’s Fashion Accessories in the U.S.: Bags, Belts,
Gloves, Hats, Scarves, Ties and Handkerchiefs
January 1, 2009
The right handbag, belt, necktie, or scarf can provide the visual accent that completes a
new outfit -- or that makes over an old one. Yes, the $16.3 billion fashion accessories
market is benefiting from the national economic downturn, as consumers satisfy their
craving to shop by picking up that cool new silk handkerchief or winter hat, instead of a
costlier dress or business suit. But accessories inspire impulse and add-on purchases
during better times, too. The virtually unstoppable market will thus climb to $20.2 billion
by 2012.
In this totally new Packaged Facts report, seven categories are examined: bags,
belts/small leather goods, gloves/mittens, handkerchiefs/pocket squares, hats,
scarves/shawls, and ties/other neckwear. Sales patterns, and the business and societal
trends that shape them, are analyzed in depth. Detailed demographic data from
Simmons Market Research Bureau are presented, too.
Plus, our analysis of competition in this market includes case studies on: Coach,
Hermes, HSN, Jones Apparel Group, and Randa Accessories. We also profile Three
Marketers to Watch: New Era Cap, Vera Wang Bridal House, Ltd., and World of Good.
Read an excerpt from this report below.
Report Methodology
Men’s and Women’s Fashion Accessories in the U.S.: Bags, Belts, Gloves, Hats,
Scarves, Ties and Handkerchiefs is based on information gathered from primary,
secondary, and syndicated sources. Primary research involves on-site study of how
accessories are sold through retail stores; Packaged Facts also consults with industry
executives. Secondary research involves the evaluation and comparison of data from
mountains of articles found in financial, marketing, and retail publications, as well as
corresponding websites. Company literature, government agencies, and other sources
also provided valuable secondary data.
Stats on market revenues and growth trends were derived from all publicly available
data on the fashion accessories marketplace, be they quantitative or qualitative,

2. factoring in a broad range of societal and economic trends to shape the most accurate
possible view of sales progress.
Analysis of consumers‟ purchase and use of accessories is based on semi-annual
surveys by Simmons Market Research Bureau, Inc., one of the leading compilers of
demographic data in the United States. Topical data on consumers‟ purchasing habits
are provided by BIGresearch LLC, which conducts monthly online surveys.
The Bottom Line: What Your Company Really Gets...
With Men’s and Women’s Fashion Accessories in the U.S., you and your marketing
team will gain a comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of the accessories
business. Most importantly, the report anchors accessories in the broader fashion world
and societal contexts, as well as in the rapidly transforming retail scene. Such valuable
qualitative perspective is supported with extensive hard data presented in well-
organized tables and charts.
How Your Company Will Benefit from This Report...
If your company is already an established player in fashion accessories, this report is
bound to freshen and strengthen your marketing plan. If your company is newly
targeting the accessories consumer, then this report is a great intro to the accessories
marketplace, and thus a launching pad for a successful venture.
Additional Information
Market Insights: A Selection From The Report
Bags Account for a Third of Accessories Sales
In 2008, the bags category accounts for over 36% of the fashion accessories market,
based on Packaged Facts‟ estimates of retail dollar sales. [Table 1-3] Bags have gained
six share-points since 2004. The belts/small leather goods category is second-ranked,
with over 21% of sales - down over three points. Belts/small leather goods barely edge
out the ties/other neckwear category and its 20%.
Men Account for Surprisingly Notable Shares of Accessories Retail Dollars…
In Table 1-3, Packaged Facts breaks out retail dollars and share according to the
genders that are purchasing various fashion accessories. (It is not possible to
accurately break out gender-spends on hats and handkerchiefs/pocket squares.) Some
readers may be surprised at the ratios of male-spends to female: When it comes to

3. belts/small leather goods, for example, men account for about $2.3 billion worth in 2008,
or almost two thirds of the category‟s retail value. And in the gloves/mittens category,
men account for $402.0 million, or 47%.
...Though Women Still Lead Accessories Spending Overall
Because reliable data on spending by gender for hats and handkerchiefs/pocket
squares is not available, gender-spends in Table 1-3 are not totaled. However, sub-
totals of the remaining five fashion accessories categories reveals men‟s spending
brushes the $5.6 billion mark in 2008. This level is more than 28% higher than the $4.3
billion that men spent in 2004. Women remain the champion spenders in this market,
paying out almost $10.8 billion in 2008, which coincidentally is 28% higher than the $8.4
billion female-spend of four years earlier.
Product Trend: Luxury Accessories Intros Continue...
Packaged Facts reiterates an observation made earlier in this report: there is no
reversing America‟s heightened taste for luxury goods. Traditional patterns of consumer
purchasing show upscale products either continue to sell decently well during periods of
economic recession, or their audience trades down in price-points - but only a notch to
upper-middle price-tiers.
In the News
Accessories Transform Consumer Fashion Sense into Billion Dollar Surge
New York, December 16, 2008 - Mixing old outfits with new accessories has become
an increasingly popular solution for American consumers eager to garner maximum
fashion style kudos for minimum dollars. The trend is expected to push the U.S. fashion
accessories market to over $16 billion by the end of the year, according to market
research publisher Packaged Facts in the all-new report, Men‟s and Women‟s Fashion
Accessories in the U.S.: Bags, Belts, Gloves, Hats, Scarves, Ties and Handkerchiefs.
Two of the six major accessories categories covered in the report are experiencing
bullish growth: bags and ties/other neckwear. Their strong progress is largely
responsible for the projected resiliency of the market through the foreseeable future.
Packaged Facts forecasts that the overall fashion accessories market will reach $20
billion by the end of 2012, expanding almost 24% between 2008 and 2012.
The bag category ascended over 10% in 2008 due to ladies‟ handbags becoming status
symbols. Between 2004 and 2008 bags experienced a total growth of 53%, with a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 11%.
American men‟s increasingly sophisticated fashion sense has been monumental to the
fortitude of the tie/other neckwear category. Anticipated to reach $3 billion by the end of

4. 2008, the category has gained nearly 31%—about $770 million—since 2004 with a
CAGR of 7%.
The positive effects of prudent fashion consumerism are obvious. But one factor is likely
to keep sales of some luxury goods afloat even during the worst of times: consumer
vanity. “Vanity is a balancing factor. For some low-income consumers a „must-have‟
handbag must be had. And people secure in their wealth will likely keep making luxury
purchases even during a downturn,” says Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged
Facts.
Men‟s and Women‟s Fashion Accessories in the U.S.: Bags, Belts, Gloves, Hats,
Scarves, Ties and Handkerchiefs provides a comprehensive overview of the ins and
outs of the accessories industry. Detailed demographic data, sales patterns, and the
business and societal trends that shape them are analyzed in depth. The report also
anchors accessories in the broader fashion world and societal contexts, as well as in
the rapidly transforming retail scene.
About Packaged Facts - Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research Group,
publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer industries, including
consumer goods and retailing, foods and beverages, demographics, pet, and financial
products. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Executive Summary
Highlights
Introduction
Market Parameters
Terms Used: A Glossary
Apparel versus Clothing
Better versus Bridge
Carbon Footprint
Couture Collections versus Diffusion Lines
Direct
Ethnic
Fair Trade
Green

5. Market versus Category versus Segment
Mass
SKU
Specialty
Supermarket, Chain Drugstore, Mass Merchandiser
Sustainable (also, Renewable)
Methodology
The Products
Seven Fashion Accessories Categories
Bags
Belts and Small Leather Goods
Gloves and Mittens
Handkerchiefs and Pocket Squares
Hats
Scarves and Shawls
Ties and Other Neckwear
Accessories a Component of the Wider Apparel Market
Specialty Niches and Specialty Outlets
Size Systems
Belts
Gloves
Hats
Intuitive
Table 1-1 Hat Sizes, According to Five Size-Systems
Summary of Report
Seven Fashion Accessories Categories
Fashion Accessories Market Surpasses $16.3 Billion in 2008

6. Steady Rise Foreseen, to $20.2 Billion in 2012
Table 1-2 U.S. Retail Dollar Sales of Fashion Accessories, 2004-2012 (In
Millions)
Bags Account for a Third of Accessories Sales
Men Account for Surprisingly Notable Shares of Accessories Retail Dollars…
Table 1-3 Share of U.S. Retail Dollar Sales of Fashion Accessories, by Seven
Product Categories, and by Gender That Is Purchasing, 2004-2008 (In Millions)
America‟s Taste Has Been Upscaled
Basic-Need Items, Splurge and Impulse Factors, and Lean Economic Times
Fashion Accessories versus Electronic Accessories
Weather Events and Conditions a Key Factor in Growth
Hard to Identify True Marketers in Maze of Licensing, Distribution Deals
Product Trend: Bags and More Bags
Product Trend: Luxury Accessories Intros Continue
Product Trend:
Product Trend: New Green-Minded/Eco-Friendly Products
The Consumer: Ladies‟ Handbags, Men‟s Belts Are Most Widely
Purchased Accessories
Table 1-4 Numbers of U.S. Adult Purchasers of Fashion Accessories, by Product
Type, 2008 (In Thousands)
Table 1-4 [continued] Numbers of U.S. Adult Purchasers of Fashion Accessories,
by Product Type, 2008 (In Thousands)
Chapter 2 Trends and Opportunities
Highlights
Trends and Opportunities
Choose to Emphasize Accessories
America‟s Tastes Have Upscaled -- Forever
Admit It: Hip-Hoppers Are a Huge Audience
Bag and Tie Categories Thriving

7. Evolve the Bag!
Consumers Need Accessories Education
Men Understand Accessories as Gifts
Tactic: Designer Accessories for Less
Some Potential in Green and Fair Trade Practices
Chapter 3 The Market
Highlights
Market Size and Growth
Fashion Accessories Market Surpasses $16.3 Billion in 2008
Bags Category Rides Status Wave to $5.9 Billion
Belts/Small Leather Items Approach $3.5 Billion
Gloves/Mittens, in Warming Climate, Slog On to $856 Million
Handkerchiefs/Pocket Squares Push to $71 Million
Hat Category Breaks $2.2 Billion Mark
Baseball Cap Craze Pumps Segment to $410 Million.
Scarves/Shawls Also Find Weather Warm, Slide to $521 Million
Ties Thrive in Hard Economic Times, Build to $3.3 Billion
Table 3-1 U.S. Retail Dollar Sales of Fashion Accessories, by Seven Product
Categories, 2004-2008 (In Millions)
Bags Account for a Third of Accessories Sales
Men Account for Surprising Shares of Accessories Retail Dollars…
Table 3-2 Share of U.S. Retail Dollar Sales of Fashion Accessories, by Seven
Product Categories, and by Gender That Is Purchasing, 2004-2008 (In Millions)
Department Stores Dominate Accessories Sales by Retail Channel
Table 3-3 Share of Retail Dollar Sales of Fashion Accessories, by Retail
Channel, 2008 (In Millions)
Imports and Exports
Accessories Imports Valued at Over $5.9 Billion in 2007

8. Exports Valued at $429.1 Million
Table 3-3a Value of U.S. Imports and Exports of Fashion Accessories, by Seven
Product Categories, 2006-2007 (In Thousands)
Context
U.S. Apparel and Accessories Market = $83.2 Billion
Sources Disagree on Market Definition, Thus Accessories Sales Estimates Vary
Luxury Apparel and Accessories World Market $58.0 Billion, Worldwide
Factors in Future Growth
America‟s Taste Has Been Upscaled
Shifting Demos Have Potential to Pump Accessories Sales, Too
Boomers Still a Force
Wow! Gen-Xers Are Grandparents!
Teens/Tweens, and Accessories versus Cellphone Bills
Table 3-4 Projected U.S. Population, by Age Bracket, 2008-2014* (In
Thousands)
Potential in Dressing Americans According to Season
The Fad Factor: Following the Followers of Fashion
Basic-Need Items, Splurge and Impulse Factors, and Lean Economic
Times
Fashion Accessories versus Electronic Accessories
Weather Events and Conditions
Projected Sales
Fashion Accessories Foreseen in Steady Rise to $20.2
Billion in 2012
Bullish Bags Category to Push to $8.2 Billion
Belts/Small Leather Goods to Struggle to $3.8 Billion
Gloves/Mittens Also Struggle, to $973 Million
Handkerchiefs/Pocket Squares in Slow Rise to $80 Million

9. Hats to Post Fair Growth to $2.6 Billion
Scarves/Shawls Expected to Stagnate Their Way to $554 Million
Ties/Other Neckwear to Shoot Past $4.0 Billion Mark
Table 3-5 Projected U.S. Retail Dollar Sales of Fashion Accessories, by Seven
Product Categories, 2008-2012 (In Millions)
Chapter 4 The Marketers
Highlights
The Marketers
Hard to Identify True Marketers in Maze of Licensing, Distribution Deals
Marketer-Retailers and Retailer-Marketers
Specialists versus Generalists/Types of Firms Involved
Foreign Participation and Fair Trade
Table of Marketers and Brands
Table 4-1 Selected Fashion Accessories Marketers and Their Brands, by
Audience Served, 2008
Marketer Rankings
For Fashion Accessories Biz, Few Reliable Share Data Are Available
Jones and Liz Claiborne Have Biggest Stables of Recognized Brands
Limited Brands, Inc., Liberty Interactive Group, L.L. Bean Among Rulers of Direct
In Luxe Bags, Coach and LVMH Are U.S. and Euro Giants
Buxton the Leader in Value-Tier Wallets
Randa -- Necktie King
Key Marketers Are Profiled…
The Competitive Situation
Overview: Economy Pressures Competition,
Yet Opportunities Exist
Examples of Key Deals
Eight Marketers Profiled

10. Competitive Profile: Coach, Inc
Phenomenal Growth to $3.2 Billion in FY2008
Coach as American as the Baseball Glove
Coach Consults Consumers
Coach the Retailer
Competitive Profile: Hermès International SA
Total Revenues of Sales Estimated at €1.6 Billion
Hermès‟ Limited-Distribution, High-Profile Strategy
Hermès Ups Stake in Gaultier to 45%
Competitive Profile: HSN, Inc. (Home Shopping Network)
Net Sales of About $3.0 Billion
A Long History, a New Beginning
Other HSN Brands
Competitive Profile: Jones Apparel Group
Net Sales of $3.8 Billion in 2007
Outlook for 2008 Is Mixed, Dependent on Holiday Season
One of World‟s Largest Apparel Firms Positions Itself Broadly
JAG a Key U.S. Apparel and Accessories Retailer
Other JAG Apparel Brands
Competitive Profile: Randa Accessories
Private Randa Discloses Sales of More Than $400 Million
At Once a Marketer and All-Services Contract Manufacturer
Randa an Avid Acquirer and Globalist
Three Marketers to Watch
A Hat-Maker, a Bridal Outfitter, and a Fair-Trader
Vera Wang Bridal House, Ltd
World of Good, Inc

11. Marketing and Product Trends
Bags and More Bags
Luxury Accessories Intros Continue
New Green-Minded/Eco-Friendly Products
Table 4-2 Selected New Introductions of Fashion Accessories, 2007-2008
Consumer Advertising Positioning
The Simple Beauty Shot Dominates
But Lower-End Approaches Survive
Accessories Touted Within Ads for Clothing
Celebrities, Hired or Spotted
Use of Product Placement in Entertainment and Print Media
Sources of Ads
Consumer Promotions
Discounts and Free Shipping
From Batman to Some High-Profile Tie-Ins
Free Merchandise
Key Accessories Trade Shows
MAGIC Marketplace
Accessories the Show
Material World and Technology Solutions
Chapter 5 Distribution and Retail
Highlights
Distribution
Orders Taken Months Ahead
Product Paths Mostly DSD and Direct Sales
Vertical Integration Characterizes Apparel/Accessories Majors
E-Tail Inventories Can Be Bigger Than Brick and Mortars

12. At the Retail Level
Department Stores, Mass, Chain Specialty Stores Dominate
Table 5-1 Share of Retail Dollar Sales of Fashion Accessories, by Retail
Channel, 2008 (In Millions)
Handbag Rentals
Retail Focus: Hip-Hop Accessories Retailers
Neighborhood Storefronts, e-Tail -- and Wal-Mart
Retail Focus: Macy‟s, Inc./Bloomingdale‟s
Sales of $26.3 Billion in 2007
Women‟s Accessories a Prime Component of Sales
Outlook for 2008
Top U.S. Department Store Operator Owns Macy‟s,
Bloomingdale‟s
Macy‟s Private-Label Stable
Bloomingdale‟s Goes International
Chapter 6 The Consumer
Highlights
About Simmons Data
What They Are…
…And How to Use Them
The Survey‟s Overall Gauge
Marketing Regions Defined
Northeast
East Central
West Central
Southeast
Southwest
Pacific

13. Table 6-1 Projections of Numbers of U.S. Adults, by Demographic Factor, 2008
(In Thousands)
Consumer Attitudes Relevant to Fashion Accessories Purchase
Conservatism, Value Are Leading Fashion Orientations
Table 6-2 Numbers of U.S. Adults Strongly Agreeing With 11 Statements of
Attitude
Concerning Fashion and Appearance, 2008 (Thousands of Adults, in Recent 12
Months)
The Purchaser of Women‟s Fashion Accessories
Almost 18.0 Million Buy Women‟s Belts
Women‟s Belts Data Indicate Some Affluence in Purchaser-Base
Nearly 17.9 Million Buy Women‟s Gloves
Women‟s Glove Purchasers Tend More to Middle Age
Table 6-3 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Women's
Belts and Gloves, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Handbags Have Largest Accessories Purchaser-Base: 54.1 Million1
Women‟s Handbag Purchasers Skew Affluent
One in 20 Women Owns 100-Plus Handbags
15.6 Million Purchase Women‟s Wallets
Purchase of Women‟s Wallets Encouraged by Affluence, Relative Youth
Table 6-4 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Women's
Handbags and Wallets, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Table 6-4 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Women's
Handbags and Wallets, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Over 11.3 Million Buy Women‟s Scarves
For Women, Scarves Signal Youth and Freedom
Table 6-5 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Women's
Scarves, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
The Purchaser of Men‟s Fashion Accessories
39.5 Million Adults Buy Men‟s Belts

14. Straightforward Belt-Purchaser Data Indicates Affluence
About 16.0 Million Buy Men‟s Gloves
Men‟s Glove Purchasers Display Wider Age, Income Spans
Table 6-6 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Men's Belts
and Gloves, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Over 24.6 Million Are Necktie Purchasers
Necktie Data Skew to Greater Financial Security
Almost 4.2 million -- Mostly Women -- Purchase Men‟s Scarves
For Men‟s Scarf Purchasers, Details of Affluence Differ Slightly
Table 6-7 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Men's
Neckties and Scarves, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Men‟s Wallet Purchaser-Base at 24.4 Million
Men‟s Wallet Profile Skews Affluent -- in Most Ways
Table 6-8 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Men's
Wallets, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
The Purchaser of Hats/Baseball Caps Bearing Licensed Sports Team Logos
Almost 21.6 Million Buy Hats/Baseball Caps with Licensed Sports Logos
Purchase of Hats/Caps with Sports Logos: Skews to Men, Affluence, Presence of
Kids
Table 6-9 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Hats and
Baseball Caps with Licensed College or Professional Sports Team Logos, 2008
(Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Table 6-9 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Hats and
Baseball Caps with Licensed College or Professional Sports Team Logos, 2008
(Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Table 6-9 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Hats and
Baseball Caps with Licensed College or Professional Sports Team Logos, 2008
(Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12 Months)
Background: College Teams, NFL Lead Popular Sports Licenses for Clothing
Table 6-10 Numbers of Purchasers of Clothing Bearing Licensed College or
Professional Sports Team Logos, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12
Months)

15. The Purchaser of Fashion Accessories from Mail-Order Catalogs
Almost 10.7 Million Buy Accessories from Mail-Order Catalogs
Accessories Mail-Order Has Distinct Profile That Skews Affluent
Table 6-11 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Fashion
Accessories from Mail-Order Catalogs, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12
Months)
Table 6-11 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Fashion
Accessories from Mail-Order Catalogs, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12
Months)
Table 6-11 Demographic Characteristics Most Favoring Purchase of Fashion
Accessories from Mail-Order Catalogs, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 12
Months)
Numbers of Clothing/Accessories Purchasers at Department and Discount
Stores
Almost 174.3 Million Clothing/Accessories Purchasers at Department/Discount
Stores
Wal-Mart, Target, JC Penney Are Leaders
Table 6-12 Numbers of Purchasers of Clothing and Accessories at Selected
Department Stores and Discount Stores, 2008 (Adults in Thousands, in Recent 3
Months)
Appendix: Addresses of Selected Marketers
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