Fitness Apparel Market

Fitness apparel is a clothing worn for various physical activities such as jogging, running, swimming, dancing, water aerobics, yoga, and bicycle riding. Activity specific clothing is worn for most activities due to comfort, practical and safety reasons. Apparel fabrics are the lightweight technical materials which comfort the wearer during exercise. The apparel worn by fitness runners has exceptional moisture wicking properties in order to provide needed comfort and to allow the transfer of sweat to move from the inside apparel to outside. Furthermore, breathable fabrics with very good insulating properties are utilized in apparels worn while performing fitness activities in snow or the winter season. Typical fitness wear includes tracksuits, shorts, tennis shirts, polo shirts, and T-shirts, while specialized garments includes ski suits, wet suits, swimsuits, protective gears, and leotards.

Increasing disposable income, significant rise in the number of women participants in fitness activities, and the integration of innovative technologies to enhance apparel performance are some of the key factors which are expected to drive the global fitness apparel market during the forecast period. Rising preference of customers to buy comfortable, trendy and quality fitness wear, due to increase in disposable income, is boosting the fitness apparel market. Premium fitness products are expected to witness strong rise in sales due to the high spending capabilities of consumers. According to data provided by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, India, the country’s total disposable personal income has grown from INR 60 trillion in 2010 to INR 160 trillion in 2016. Health consciousness among working professionals is increasing due to changing lifestyle and work related stress. Working individuals opt for fitness regimes such as gym, running, and swimming to remain active and healthy in their daily routines, which is further driving the market. There has been a significant rise in number of women participating in fitness activities such as yoga and zumba in the last few years. Furthermore, market players are also launching products with enhanced comfort and vibrant colors due to the preference given by women toward trendy fitness clothes in their daily routine.

Moreover, various technological innovations aimed towards raising apparel performance and comfort level are estimated to boost the market. Some technology advancements in fitness apparel include smart nanotechnology fabrics, which suppress the moisture and keep the wearer dry. In August 2017, DuPont Advanced Materials unveiled two garments based on DuPont Intexar, a smart athletic clothing technology at Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. Both garments possess capabilities to collect real-time body data such as real-time ECG based upon the wearer’s activities. Nonetheless, availability of low quality apparel or counterfeits in the market is limiting the sale of authentic, branded fitness apparels. Significant rise of e-commerce in developing countries including China and India is expected to present considerable opportunity for the market in the near future. E-commerce presents consumers with various options in terms of brands, fabrics materials, designs, and price range.

The global fitness apparel market can be segmented based on mode of sale, end-user, and region. Based on mode of sale, the market can be classified into retail stores and online stores. The online stores segment is likely to expand at a significant growth rate during the forecast period due the considerable rise of ecommerce. In terms of end-user, the market can be classified into men, women, and kids. Based on region, the global fitness apparel market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, and South America., Asia Pacific is expected to hold a major share of the global market during the forecast period due to emergence of Asia Pacific as a major manufacturing hub and the rise of e-commerce in the region.

Key players operating in the global fitness apparel market are Tommy Hilfiger Inc., Nike, Inc., UMBRO INTERNATIONAL, Fila, Inc., Ralph Lauren Corporation, New Balance Athletics, Inc.