Apparel industry analysis is the science of how different variables affect the sale, prices, and availability of clothing and other accessories in a given market. Most players in the apparel and fashion industries engage in analysis to some degree. Analysts’ predictions and studies can influence everything from what sort of women’s shoe styles will be popular to how much raw material a manufacturer should purchase. The field of apparel industry analysis is broad, with different clients needing different information. No matter how it is applied, however, the practice of apparel industry analysis is designed to take different market trends and observations, project them over time, and translate them into data that can help businesses plan for the future.