Every few years, a new trend pops up and takes the world by storm before promptly giving way to another. While many fashion trends are short-lived, a few completely revolutionize the industry and grow year after year. Athleisure, the confluence of athletic clothing and leisure wear, is one such anomaly. What began as a niche fashion choice touted by celebrities and large fashion brands has seeped its way into the mainstream across national borders. In addition, the static period of the covid-19 pandemic made athleisure an even more relevant choice. Studies showed that orders of athleisure clothing have grown by 84% since the pandemic’s beginning. Valued at $306 billion in 2021, the athleisure industry is expected to grow by 8.9% by 2030. When trying to understand the rise of athleisure and its surprising resilience as a fashion trend, it is important to explore why people are so attracted to this type of clothing.  

The Intersection of Style and Comfort  

Blue denim may be classic, but colored denim is ever-increasing in popularity. For instance, white and black denim are crowd favorites when it comes to jeans. In addition, non-standard colors like brown, mustard, military green, and even red are finding their place in the spotlight. Unique fabric shades are also preferred for other kinds of apparel, like denim skirts, jackets, and jumpsuits.While our world pre-pandemic could be neatly segregated into professional or casual clothing, the lines have been increasingly blurred since. With work meetings being taken in yesterday’s track pants and office wear becoming obsolete, people were looking for clothing that gave the appearance of style with the comfort of loungewear. Athleisure fits neatly into the niche, with easy-to-wear options that still show a sense of personal identity.  Blue denim may be classic, but colored denim is ever-increasing in popularity. For instance, white and black denim are crowd favorites when it comes to jeans. In addition, non-standard colors like brown, mustard, military green, and even red are finding their place in the spotlight. Unique fabric shades are also preferred for other kinds of apparel, like denim skirts, jackets, and jumpsuits.

Size-Inclusive 

For years, major fashion brands have come under fire for creating clothing lines that cater to a specific body type, as represented in beauty norms. While the tides have begun to turn, there is still a long way to go to break barriers for size inclusivity. Athleisure, by nature, provides various options and stretchable sizes that can do more than the conventional sizing chart. While brands must still make a conscious effort to manufacture for all sizes, it is undoubtedly easier to begin this in the athleisure industry.  

The Growth of Streetwear

Streetwear, a vast term whose meaning is precisely what it sounds like, is a growing industry in mainstream and niche markets. Streetwear clothing tends to be experimental, unique, and more expensive than fast fashion choices. The rise of athleisure has complemented the growth of streetwear, as the two often overlap. Streetwear is touted as a powerful way to show personal expression in one’s day-to-day clothing choices.  

The Importance of Sourcing and Manufacturing Right

Given the highly competitive nature of the athleisure industry, it is crucial to source and manufacture your products without ratcheting up costs or delays. New brands can begin with sourcing or producing small batches of activewear. If yours is a young company in this market segment, you may want to start by sourcing or manufacturing a few athleisure products in some basic colors. Once you gather clarity on how your target audience reacts to your products and what else they are looking for, you can fill the gaps, scale up and expand into larger batches.

To get sourcing and manufacturing right in an industry as ambitious as the activewear segment, you need to identify the right sourcing and manufacturing partners. Zoglix helps you manage the sourcing and manufacturing process for your business comprehensively, from end to end. So, get in touch with us to experience the advantage of holistic supply chain transformation today.