India’s Kidswear Market Emerges as Fastest-Growing Segment in Apparel Industry

Rising consumer demand, premiumisation and expanding retail strategies drive growth across organised and regional kidswear brands.

India's kidswear market is witnessing steady growth as evolving parenting preferences and increasing aspirations reshape purchasing patterns in the apparel industry. The category is expanding beyond essential clothing into a broader lifestyle segment, supported by rising disposable incomes, premiumisation, greater fashion awareness among parents and the growing influence of children on buying decisions.

Industry participants note that demand is increasing across categories including casualwear, ethnicwear, activewear and licensed merchandise, creating opportunities for both established national brands and regional players.

According to the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), the Indian kidswear market was valued at approximately ₹2 trillion in 2024. The association projects the segment to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4% between 2024 and 2029, exceeding the projected growth rates of menswear (8.4%) and womenswear (8.9%).

Rahul Mehta, chief mentor, CMAI, said, “Kidswear is the fastest-growing segment within apparel.”

The association estimates that organised retailers account for around 30% of the kidswear market, while regional and MSME-led brands represent nearly 70%.

Retailers are expanding their offerings to strengthen their presence in the category. Shoppers Stop has identified young families as an important consumer segment and recently introduced Fratini Girl, a private-label girlswear brand targeted at children aged 4 to 14 years, complementing its existing boyswear private label, Stop.

Kavindra Mishra, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Shoppers Stop, said, “We have integrated dedicated kids’ play zones and gaming areas within stores to create a family-friendly shopping experience.”

Italian fashion brand United Colors of Benetton is also increasing its focus on kidswear. Under the brand, children's apparel contributes nearly 30% of sales at the company's family-focused stores in India.

A spokesperson for Benetton India said, “We have consistently maintained a leadership position in the category, with Benetton Kids remaining one of the most preferred brands across online marketplaces, as well as multi-brand and large-format retail environments.”

The company is also expanding its presence beyond major metropolitan cities by strengthening its footprint across Tier-I and Tier-II markets while assessing emerging consumption centres.

Homegrown brands are also increasing investments in the segment. Peppermint Kids, which operates through more than 1,200 outlets, reported annual growth of 12–15% over the past two to three years and projects annual growth of 20–25% over the next five years.

Ashish Katariya, CEO of Peppermint Kids, said, “Most of this growth will be driven by new category expansion and the launch of direct-to-consumer or omni-channel-led exclusive brand outlets across geographies.”

Romano Apparels, which owns the Little Kangaroos brand, has also reported double-digit growth in recent years.

Arun Lalwani, director, Romano Apparels, said the company operates seven exclusive brand outlets, has a presence in more than 650 multi-brand outlets, and sells through platforms such as FirstCry.

Despite the positive outlook, CMAI notes that kidswear remains a complex category due to the need to manage 10–12 size variations, compared with a much smaller size matrix in adult apparel.

The market also remains highly fragmented. According to CMAI, regional brands often outperform national labels by catering to local preferences, while organised retailers continue to account for approximately 30% of the market and regional and MSME-led brands retain a 70% share.