The distinction between traditional gym clothing and casual wear is becoming less noticeable, especially given the context of the current pandemic. The athletic apparel industry offers more options to allow wearers to transition easily between leisure and exercise. Some in the industry have dubbed this trend “Athleisure,” which now includes yoga pants, joggers, gym leggings, tank tops, sports bras, jackets and hoodies. Customers are interested in trimming down their wardrobes and buying key pieces of apparel that can be worn in different contexts.

1. Nike is the most popular brand among Chinese activewear consumers
According to Euromonitor’s research, 26% of Chinese activewear consumers report purchasing Nike clothing, closely by Adidas (20%). This stat shows that the Chinese consumer base is receptive to Western brands for athletic apparel. Like the U.S., the athleisure trend has taken off in China with the help of celebrity endorsements. It is especially popular among the younger generation in China.

2. The U.S. athletic apparel market is the largest in the world
The U.S. market for athleticwear is expected to grow to 69.2 billion in 2023, up from 54.3 billion in 2015. This will account for 36% of athletic apparel sales worldwide as more brands operating in the U.S. push to offer athletic clothing. About 9 out of 10 American consumers say they were athletic apparel in contexts other than exercise. Particularly, comfortable cotton activewear and 4 ways strechy activewear are popular, with about 60% of consumers preferring the material.

3. There are 85% more yoga products in stock year-to-year at active retailers in the U.S.
The healthy lifestyle industry has gone beyond food and into sportswear retail. Mainstream athletic apparel suppliers such as Nike, Under Armor, and Adidas have significantly grown their yoga apparel investments. One potential growth area within yoga apparel is in the men’s market. The stock of men’s items grew 26% year-over-year and is expected to keep growing in 2023.

4. In the past year, athletic apparel arrivals described as “recycled” were up 642% for men and 388% for women
This highlights the rapid spread of the eco-friendly sportswear culture in the U.S. Athletic wear suppliers should invest in repurposed clothing and labeling to highlight their recycled materials. Sustainable footwear has become especially popular within the sportswear market, and companies have pledged to use only recycled plastics in products.

5. The number of athletic wear styles at plus-size retailers has doubled from last year
At retailers that cater to diverse size ranges, such as Lane Bryant and Simply Be, there has been a substantial increase in the selection of athletic apparel on websites. Giant retailers such as Target have launched entire lines of athletic wear from XS-4X for women and S-3X for men.

6. The number of athletic wear products described using the term “moisture-wicking” grew by 39% this past year
This statistic points to the high-tech clothing trend, which includes “smart” clothing and clothing that tracks health indicators. Consumers are paying more attention to the materials used in production and want clothes that minimize sweat and moisture. The activewear products using fabrics described as “breathable” also grew 85%.

7. The athletic apparel market is roughly 60% women and 40% men
This points to the rising popularity of yoga clothing, which grew by 144% compared to last year compared to 26%, indicating increasing options focused on women. The wealthy, who earn over $100,000, are the drivers of purchasing the yoga clothing niche.

8. Athletic apparel consumers are 44% more likely to shop in-store
At the start of 2020, consumers were almost half as likely to shop in-store as online. While purchasing clothing online, they prefer to conduct product research, look for deals, and then go to stores. The COVID-19 pandemic will likely impact this statistic as people try to minimize non-essential trips to retail stores.

9. The global athletic apparel market is predicted to be valued at $580 billion by 2025
This high expected growth can be attributed to the growth of the women’s market and the emergence of millennial consumers in India and China. Market growth should allow more people to mobilize under sustainable clothing and fair labor movements.

10. The athleisure industry is expected to be valued at $83 billion at the end of 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic will accelerate the ascent of the already growing athleisure trend within the athletic apparel industry. And more and more people will pay more attention for sustainable fabric. This trend is especially popular among the younger demographic and spreading worldwide.