Walmart Strengthens Position in Apparel Industry with Newest Acquisition

BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Walmart continues its growth in the apparel market with its latest addition. The company unveiled plans to acquire plus-size clothing brand Eloquii in a press release on Oct. 2, according to Reuters.

The company says the move aims to cater to the $21 billion plus-sized market, which it contends is “one of the fastest growing segments in women’s apparel.” Before Eloquii, Walmart added multiple apparel brands to its arsenal through acquisitions including Moosejaw, ModCloth, and Bonobos. In addition to expanding its reach in women’s apparel, outdoor, menswear, and e-commerce categories, a report by Forbes points out that the company’s strategies strengthen its position as number one “in the clothing and footwear market by sales and by number of shoppers.”

The announcement also comes as Amazon dives deeper into the apparel design and manufacturing world, posing continued competition. A recent statement on the e-commerce marketplace’s website encouraged companies, including apparel and accessories manufacturers, to join its private brand enclave, also known as Our Brands for its “global network of customers both directly (B2C) and commercially (B2B).”