Hitting New Highs

With designers, brands, and celebrities vouching for it all over the world, Samir Alam charts and analyses the rising demand for athleisure today.

- Samir Alam

Perhaps, it would be a surprise for many to learn that one of the fastest-growing fashion segments globally is athleisure. The global athleisure market was estimated to be over US$300 billion in 2018. Furthermore, this market is expected to continue growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over six per cent from 2019 to 2026 to reach about US$455 billion. The reasons behind this sustained interest in this segment can be traced back by nearly five decades, coinciding with numerous evolutions that relate closely to the apparel and fashion industries in general. In this article, we explore the world of athleisure—from its origins to its widely lauded future.

WHAT IS ATHLEISURE?

The idea of athleisure is fairly simple—it is a combination of athletic and leisure garments. It is a form of casual clothing that is highly versatile for its suitability for general purposes as well as for exercise or active periods. While it was unorganised in its origins, as people began to wear athletic items in a casual setting, it soon became a fashion trend that has endured over decades. Today, athletic wear is found well beyond the sports domain and in homes, schools, social settings, and even workplaces.

The most popular clothing item in this category are perhaps yoga pants, but this also extends to hoodies, tights, shorts, leggings, sweatpants, sports bras, zippers, and more. As a result, it has taken on a market segment of its own, with specialised brands having arisen over the years to focus and promote it as a separate apparel segment. During that time, the popularity of sports branding with athletes and the reduced cost of producing synthetic materials has also made the athleisure segment more easily accessible to a wider consumer base; plus, developments in materials such as Lycra, nylon, spandex, micromodal, and other technical textiles have also added to its popularity.