Athleisure grows, and grows. Brands and supermarkets in the UK are jumping on the athleisure bandwagon as it continues to grow and evolve. Today’s young people are more health and wellness minded than previous generations.
From mums in leggings at the school gate to yogis donning their harem pants at the coffee shop, athleisure has been an inescapable fashion trend in the last couple of years.
Sales of sports clothing by specialists has grown 44 per cent since 2011. About 14 per cent of shoppers bought sportswear from a fashion retailer in 2016.
The athleisure trend has an added bonus for fashion retailers who have long battled unpredictable weather. People buy it regardless of the weather.
The desire to look fashionable while working out first invaded the world of fitness, but active wear has fast become an everyday, must-have, fashion item. Customers wear athleisure and trainers not just to the gym but also out shopping, meeting friends and around town.
There is no sign of athleisure’s appeal waning any time soon but retailers that want to capitalise on the trend need to innovate in terms of design, fabric and even wearable technology to keep up with pacesetters. Newness and product differentiation are critical. People are looking for color and print and differentiation in athleisure. It’s not just about black leggings.
