Being A Good Sport

Bindu Gopal Rao looks at a recent report which shows the real scale of the sportswear market in India.

- Bindu Gopal Rao

If you had followed the recently concluded Rio Olympics closely, you would have observed that the athletes were all well-dressed. In fact most sportspersons today pay attention to what they wear and this is naturally a niche apparel segment that is growing at a good rate. A report titled ‘Sportswear Market in India, 2015’ by IMAGES F&R Research estimates India’s active sportswear market (including sports footwear, apparel and accessories) at ₹6,000 crore, growing at 13 per cent, a year.

NEW LAUNCHES

The latest in the sports apparel collection available in the Indian market concentrates on delivering a look which is sporty yet fashionable. Scott Sports, India has just launched its bike-wear collection which comprises of bicycle-specific jerseys and padded shorts. “The jerseys feature top-of-the-line breathable, technical fabric with antibacterial properties to keep the riders comfortable during their bicycle rides. They also have back pockets to help carry small essentials for the rider. The padded shorts feature an anatomic gel padding to prevent saddle sores occurring post medium or long rides. They also feature a silicone gripper to keep the shorts from creeping up and ensure an optimum fit,” says Jaymin Shah, Country Manager, Scott Sports, India.