Port Washington, NY–Growth in activewear buoyed the total U.S. apparel market in the 12 months ending June 2014 (July’13—June’14), helping total apparel sales reach $206.3 billion, a 1% increase over the prior year, according to leading global information company The NPD Group.
Activewear sales accounted for $33.7 billion, representing 16% of the total apparel market, and have played a significant role in the overall success of the total apparel market over the last two years. Activewear-related accessories also have seen an upswing.
The top three primary uses for activewear are Casual/Every Day Use, Athletic/Sport/Exercise, and School. While use of activewear in Athletic/Sport/Exercise declined during the 12 months ending June 2014, School use experienced growth.
The activewear industry has experienced growth across all channels*, demonstrating that competition exists and it is not limited to athletic retailers.
“Retailers and manufacturers across the board know that activewear is active, and they all want a piece of the action,” added Cohen. “Because of this competition, it’s not enough for them to simply jump on the activewear bandwagon. To truly capitalize on this ongoing trend, they need to unveil products that are colorful and unique, and fuel the activewear demand not with repetition, but with innovation and creativity.