Market Overview

The uniform rental market size for FY2019 rose by 2.4% from the previous fiscal year to attain 96,800 million yen.

The entire uniform rental market showed stable growth until FY2019 due to increasing demand related with the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games which were to be held in 2020 and with growing number of tourists from overseas, although the level of demand differs by uniform category. In particular, uniforms for food and medicine factories have been in good demand aiming to strengthen hygiene management at such factories which led to a slight increase. On the other hand, however, services to lend and clean uniforms indifferent to hygiene management are not in demand. Therefore, not a few categories of rental uniforms are facing slower growth.

Noteworthy Topics

Trends of Working Clothing and Uniforms

As COVID-19 infections spreading, Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were postponed. This has slowed down the development of accommodations and social infrastructure in the Kanto area, affecting the category of working clothing and uniforms. However, demand for such working uniform rental is expected to show stable growth, because the projects of urban redevelopment and constructions continue regardless of the Olympic Games.

Future Outlook

The uniform rental market is expected to face predicament as the demand for overall uniform rentals to decline due to COVID-19 pandemics.

In particular, the demand for the uniforms for food services and accommodations has been declining, as consumers are asked to refrain from eating and drinking at restaurants and diners and as the number of tourists from overseas is decreasing and therefore small number of tourists stays at hotels. In addition, the demand for office uniforms rental is also decreasing, as more workers have started wearing casual clothing at offices, and more workers are requested to work at home to avoid COVID-19 infections. Therefore, the future of uniform rental market has been uncertain for the time being.

Research Outline