For those who value both fashion and fitness, trendy and comfortable activewear has become a staple in their wardrobes. Gone are the days when activewear was restricted only to gyms and sports as activewear brands are focusing more on combining fashion and function.
Sportswear and activewear companies such as Nike, Puma, Adidas, and Lululemon are some of the top activewear brands in the spotlight. Activewear market players are coming up with new and better materials that provide comfort, flexibility, and style, all at once.
According to Straits Research’s latest report on the Global Active Wear Market, the industry was valued at USD 3, 83, 256 million in 2018. During the forecast period of 2019-2026, the industry is expected to reach a value of USD 663444, 70, registering a CAGR of 7.1 percent. Fashion is a dynamic sector, witnessing changes and upgrades almost every day. Therefore, the demand for fresh and better styles will be persistent, driving the growth of the global activewear industry as well.
The American-Multinational Corporation is the leading manufacturer of sportswear, activewear, apparel, and athleisure. By introducing trendy activewear in the market, Nike has become one of the most preferred brands globally. Nike’s financial results for FY2019 reported a revenue of USD 9.3 billion in the third quarter. The revenue increased by 7 percent, with annual footwear and activewear sales of USD 23 billion. Nike is expected to lead the global activewear market until 2022.
The activewear company has always been ahead in terms of innovation, technological developments in the apparel section, and cutting-edge advertising campaigns that helped them establish a firm grip on the market. In terms of popularity and sales, Nike is leading the game for more than a decade. Nike’s Fit app and SNKRS (sneakers) app is used by people across the world, aiding their fitness goals, and also supporting Nike’s online sales and marketing strategies.
Another leading activewear company is Adidas. Adidas has become a household name, with a reach that spreads to over 160 countries worldwide. Their unique style statements have set them on the same success route as other major activewear brands in the market. Adidas has made itself truly memorable by launching funky and functional apparel, from leggings, jackets, pants to t-shirts, and hoodies. Adidas has also made its mark onto FIFA’s fields, also catering to cricket, tennis, lacrosse, skateboarding, gymnastics, and the newly recognized Indian sport Kabaddi.
The activewear company Adidas was valued at USD 16.6 billion in 2019, with an increase from USD 7 billion in 2016, making the multinational corporation the second-largest in the world.
Puma is a German multinational sports activewear company. Founded in 1948, the company has designed and manufactured both comfortable and athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories. Since the foundation of the company, it has grown to become one of the largest and most popular activewear brands and sporting goods companies worldwide, with sales of around USD 6.14 billion and a total number of 14,000 employees as of 2019. For the first time, the activewear company made to the Forb’s Fab 40, ranking sixth in the business category for brand value.
Under Armour is an American activewear company founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank. Plank is a former captain of the University of Maryland special football team. His first team scale ended at the end of 1996, with USD 17,000 in sales. The current headquarters are located in Tide Point, Baltimore.
Under Armour has made to the list of the top activewear brands by using creative marketing strategies like sponsorship agreements with celebrities and celebrity athletes, and college as well as professional athletic teams. The activewear company also markets its products through product placement.
Skechers has been recognized as one of the most favorable top activewear brands in the world. The company deals with functional and comfortable family footwear designs for men, women, and kids. The company is the third-largest activewear brand in the United States of America currently.
In 2019, the activewear brand recorded global net sales to approximately USD 5.2 billion. The brand’s net sales have increased by over USD 3 billion in the last six years.
Founded in 1968, The North Face has experienced exponential growth in terms of sales to date. Their comfortable activewear is fit for the gym as well as indoors, including specially-crafted outerwear that protects from extreme weather conditions. The brand targets the “outdoor” crowd more than the sports-oriented audience and has become of the most preferred choice in activewear.
Lululemon Athletica has become one of the fastest emerging activewear brands in the United States and across the world. The headquarters are based in Vancouver, and the company was founded in 1998, as a retailer of yoga activewear. Lululemon has expanded its sales through online platforms to 460 worldwide. The activewear collection includes t-shirts, pants, shorts, performance shirts, and lifestyle apparel, as well as yoga accessories.
Converse was essentially a shoe company founded in the USA in 1908. The converse is a fierce competitor to its counterpart activewear manufacturers, Nike and Adidas. The brand has been in the spotlight for its trendy sneakers and attractive shoe designs for all purposes, from apparel to lifestyle to sports and fitness.
The Japanese activewear brand ‘Ashikkusu’ soon began to be recognized as ASICS. Since 1949, the activewear brand has grown in terms of excellence, fame, and acceptance worldwide. Professionals and newbies alike have chosen Asics for their sports equipment over time.
Asics Corporation recorded the highest net sales from shoes and activewear, with around 322 billion Japanese yen in 2018. The total net sales accounted for 386 billion Japanese Yen in 2018, making it one of the top activewear companies in Japan.
Asics has a fan-base in other countries as well. The activewear company is well recognized for its relationship with NIKE, which made them sell their luxury Onitsuka Tiger shoes in America back in the 1960s. Asics has even replaced Adidas as the official kit manufacturer for the Australian Cricket Team.
Another American activewear brand, Columbia Sportwear, has been favored by many in the United States. The comfy activewear by Columbia is comparatively more affordable than other brands in the spectrum. Columbia is a big part of everybody’s go-to winter gear for skiing, skating, snowshoeing, snowboarding, winter camping and even activities like tubbing. The brand is generally preferred as a cheaper alternative to The North Face goods, but the quality has never broken the trust of millions of valued customers.