Erotic lingerie is soon to be a billion dollar industry. The strong sales of corsets, garter belts, baby dolls, and teddies will drive the global erotic lingerie market past the billion dollar mark in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2014-2019.
Consumers are becoming more adventurous and more open to experimentation, fueling their appetite for lingerie that is both fashion-forward and provocative. The market is popular among couples who look for attractive, titillating lingerie to improve their sex lives. The evolution of BDSM (bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism) is also playing a significant role in the growing popularity of erotic lingerie.
North America makes up more than 33% of the global erotic lingerie market. The United States is the largest market for erotic lingerie and is the leading country in terms of lingerie imports. Canada is the second largest market for erotic lingerie and ranks 12th in overall lingerie imports.
Source: OEC
Despite the North American market getting saturated, there is a rise in the demand for products among individuals who are increasingly incorporating erotic lingerie into their sex lives. Niche market vendors are catering to the demands of consumers by customizing products in terms of size, fabric, and design. The presence of festivals and trade shows related to the sex industry create a complementary environment for vendors to display their products and increase consumers’ interest in purchasing their products. These reasons are driving the growth in the region’s market.
Lingerie sales increasing in the Middle East
EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) is the fastest region growing for erotic lingerie during the forecast period. The United Kingdom and Germany own the largest market share of the region but conservative countries in the Middle East will also contribute significantly to the market’s growth. New rules regarding the employment of women in lingerie shops have prompted a sharp rise in online sales of lingerie.
Lingerie retailer La Vien Rose has already opened stores in Kuwait, UAE, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, their biggest customer with 29 stores in the country alone. The company makes 10% of its revenue from the Middle East, proving the demand for lingerie was likely always there. Victoria Secret is soon expected to open 8-10 full service stores in the Middle East, look for many other retailers to follow this trend during the forecast period.
