Abstract
Get out your pickleball racquets.
Specialized sports are driving demand in the activewear market, with interest in tennis, running, golf and pickleball continuing to rise. Pickleball saw a 645 percent year-over-year growth in product availability in the fourth quarter of 2024. Running apparel also saw a 12 percent year-over-year growth, tennis showed a 4 percent gain, while golf and snow sports experienced declines.
That’s according to a study by Centric Market Intelligence, which took a deep dive into the activewear market. The report focused on fourth-quarter market data from such U.S. retailers as Adidas, Alo Yoga, Asics, Athleta, Bandier, Bloomingdale’s, Carbon38, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Fabletics, Finish Line, Foot Locker, H&M, Hoka, JD Sports, Kohl’s, Lululemon, Macy’s, New Balance, Nike, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Puma, Reebok, Sweaty Betty, Target and Under Armour.
Overall, athleisure apparel is showing strength, with sweatpants, particularly from brands such as Hollister, Aritzia and Adidas, having a strong year. They are seeing growth in online searches. By comparison, leggings saw only modest growth or declines in searches, showing that consumers may be looking to augment their crossover athleisure wardrobes versus traditional active ones, according to Centric Market Intelligence.
Recognized as the U.S.’s fastest-growing sport, pickleball has seen a surge in popularity, leading to a demand for specialized apparel. Brands are introducing “racquet-wear” that combines functionality with style, suitable for both on-court performance and casualwear, according to Centric’s report. This trend reflects a shift from traditional athleisure to sport-specific clothing that meets the needs of the pickleball player, the report said.
Specialized sports are driving demand in the activewear market, with interest in tennis, running, golf and pickleball continuing to rise. Pickleball saw a 645 percent year-over-year growth in product availability in the fourth quarter of 2024. Running apparel also saw a 12 percent year-over-year growth, tennis showed a 4 percent gain, while golf and snow sports experienced declines.
That’s according to a study by Centric Market Intelligence, which took a deep dive into the activewear market. The report focused on fourth-quarter market data from such U.S. retailers as Adidas, Alo Yoga, Asics, Athleta, Bandier, Bloomingdale’s, Carbon38, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Fabletics, Finish Line, Foot Locker, H&M, Hoka, JD Sports, Kohl’s, Lululemon, Macy’s, New Balance, Nike, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Puma, Reebok, Sweaty Betty, Target and Under Armour.
Overall, athleisure apparel is showing strength, with sweatpants, particularly from brands such as Hollister, Aritzia and Adidas, having a strong year. They are seeing growth in online searches. By comparison, leggings saw only modest growth or declines in searches, showing that consumers may be looking to augment their crossover athleisure wardrobes versus traditional active ones, according to Centric Market Intelligence.
Recognized as the U.S.’s fastest-growing sport, pickleball has seen a surge in popularity, leading to a demand for specialized apparel. Brands are introducing “racquet-wear” that combines functionality with style, suitable for both on-court performance and casualwear, according to Centric’s report. This trend reflects a shift from traditional athleisure to sport-specific clothing that meets the needs of the pickleball player, the report said.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | The Newscasters' Studio |
| Media of output | Online |
| Size | 00:19:44 |
| State | Published - Mar 23 2025 |
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