Editor’s Note
This article explores how costume jewelry is evolving beyond mere affordability. Today’s brands are increasingly incorporating sustainable materials and ethical practices, aligning with broader consumer values while keeping style accessible.
Costume jewelry, or fashion jewelry, is jewelry made from materials that are inexpensive, mimicking fine jewelry. Usually made of plastic, glass, and base metals, it enables wearers to follow fashion at a fraction of the cost of precious metals and gems. It covers a wide variety of products, ranging from bright fashion necklaces to whimsical earrings, available to suit different tastes and aesthetics.
Brands are meeting this need by launching items constructed from recycled materials, hypoallergenic metals, and eco-friendly packaging. This move is a perfect fit for the UK’s overall focus on sustainability and responsible consumerism. Providing budget-friendly but ethically compatible designs assists brands in establishing credibility and loyalty.
The UK costume jewelry market is set to grow from US$ 1.13 billion in 2024 to US$ 1.94 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 6.22% (2025-2033). Market expansion is driven by rising consumer spending on affordable luxury items, increased fashion consciousness, and the dominance of e-commerce. Social media and fashion influencers significantly influence trends. Challenges include market saturation, low product differentiation, and quality issues. Yet, opportunities for sustainability and customization are strong, especially in key regions like London and Scotland. Prominent players include Louis Vuitton, CARTIER, and STELLA & DOT.
The UK costume jewelry market is expected to expand from US$ 1.13 billion in 2024 to US$ 1.94 billion by 2033. This growth translates into a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.22% for the period 2025-2033.
Contributing to this growth are growing consumer expenditures on budget luxury accessories, heightened fashion consciousness, and widespread adoption of online shopping, rendering costume jewelry more accessible to more people.
In the UK, costume jewellery has become very popular over the years, especially with changing fashion trends. The popularity of social media sites and fashion bloggers has also contributed to the trend, encouraging people to express their individuality by sporting trend-setting accessories. Festivals and parties are ideal occasions for sporting bright, statement pieces that reflect individual personalities.
Also, the rising sustainability trend has made costume jewelry a popular option as a more sustainable alternative to conventional jewelry since it offers room for experimenting with fashion without incurring unnecessary costs. Therefore, costume jewelry continues to be a favorite aspect of British fashion today, admired for its ingenuity and affordability.
One of the most potent growth drivers for the UK costume jewelry market is affordability, which makes fashion accessible to a wide consumer base. Costume jewelry offers fashion-forward options to luxury jewelry at a much lower price, enabling consumers to follow changing fashion trends. Young consumers, such as millennials and Gen Z, are extremely fashion-forward and look for jewelry that can match changing clothes without any long-term commitment.
This phenomenon has been fueled by social media as well as celebrity endorsements, with influencers promoting affordable statement pieces that instantly become popular. Katchin, a brand-new marketplace specifically for jewellery and watches, opened in the UK on January 25, 2023. The international platform was developed in partnership with category leader and backing partner Fossil Group and enterprise marketplace technology leader Mirakl to provide customers with a new way of buying jewellery and watches.
The online environment is one of the principal growth drivers for the UK costume jewelry market. From international e-commerce behemoths to local high-street websites, online media offer customers extensive exposure to choice and variety of designs, as well as global trends. The increasing popularity of mobile shopping applications has further made buying jewelry more convenient than ever before.
Social media sites such as Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are instrumental, with micro-creators and influencers promoting jewelry fashions that appeal to younger consumers. This synergy of social media and e-commerce generates a feedback loop of being seen, wanting, and impulse buying. July 2025, AG & Sons, long-established and reputable manufacturer of bespoke jewellery since 2005, is delighted to announce the formal opening of its new trade portal, trade.agnsons.com. This cutting-edge platform is specifically intended for retailers and trade professionals only and offers a streamlined and effective means of processing custom jewellery orders online, viewing live pricing, and monitoring progress in real time.