Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The global sports apparel market size was estimated at USD 203.26 billion in 2023
The athletic apparel industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% from 2024 to 2030
Revenue in the Sports & Swimwear segment amounts to USD 346 billion in 2024 globally
Over 70% of female consumers shop for activewear with the intention of using it for leisure rather than sports
Gen Z consumers are 1.4 times more likely to buy activewear that promotes sustainability compared to Boomers
Around 40% of consumers plan to purchase more activewear in the coming 12 months due to a shift towards flexible work environments
Nike remains the most valuable apparel brand in the world with a brand value of approximately $31.3 billion in 2023
Adidas reported global revenue of approximately 21.4 billion euros in 2023
Lululemon’s net revenue increased by 19% to reach $9.6 billion for the full fiscal year 2023
Footwear accounts for roughly 45% of the total revenue in the global sports apparel and equipment industry
The sneaker resale market is estimated to reach $30 billion globally by 2030
Leggings constitute over 50% of the bottoms category in the women's activewear market
E-commerce channels accounted for approximately 38% of total global sportswear sales in 2022
The textile industry including athletic apparel accounts for roughly 10% of global carbon emissions
The second-hand market for sportswear is growing 50% faster than the primary market in North America
Consumer Behavior & Demographics
- Over 70% of female consumers shop for activewear with the intention of using it for leisure rather than sports
- Gen Z consumers are 1.4 times more likely to buy activewear that promotes sustainability compared to Boomers
- Around 40% of consumers plan to purchase more activewear in the coming 12 months due to a shift towards flexible work environments
- 60% of millennials indicate they are willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly athletic apparel
- Approximately 55% of activewear purchases are now influenced by social media trends specifically TikTok and Instagram
- Women account for approximately 60% of the athleisure market spending as of 2023
- Online return rates for athletic apparel hover around 20-30% largely due to sizing issues
- 45% of consumers cite "comfort" as the primary driver for purchasing athletic apparel over "performance"
- Male consumers are 30% more likely than females to purchase athletic footwear from resale platforms
- 32% of activewear consumers use a fitness app that connects directly to a brand ecosystem
- Participation in running increased by 13% globally post-pandemic driving specific demand for technical apparel usage
- Consumers aged 16-24 spend the highest proportion of their clothing budget on sportswear roughly 28%
- 67% of consumers now consider "inclusive sizing" a critical factor when choosing an activewear brand
- Subscription services for athletic wear have seen a 15% increase in adoption among suburban U.S. women
- 85% of consumers claim that the quality of fabric and durability is the top determining factor for brand loyalty in sportswear
- During the holiday season athletic footware searches increase by roughly 45% compared to the yearly average
- 1 in 3 activewear consumers have purchased a "dupe" or lower-cost alternative to a premium brand seen on social media
- 25% of Chinese consumers indicate a strong preference for domestic sportswear brands (Guochao trend) over international labels
- More than 50% of consumers cite reviews and user-generated content as the key trigger for clicking "buy" on athletic websites
- Cross-shopping between luxury and athletic brands has increased with 15% of luxury shoppers also buying premium technical activewear
Interpretation
Think of athletic apparel as the new everyday uniform: more than 70% of women buy it for leisure rather than sport, Gen Z is 1.4 times likelier than Boomers to reward sustainability and 60% of millennials will pay a premium for eco-friendly pieces, while social platforms like TikTok and Instagram influence about 55 percent of purchases and user reviews nudge over half of shoppers to click buy; comfort trumps performance for 45 percent, inclusive sizing matters to 67 percent even as sizing issues drive 20 to 30 percent return rates, resale and dupe hunting reveal price sensitivity among men and younger shoppers who spend roughly 28 percent of their wardrobe budget on sportswear, subscriptions and brand-linked fitness apps are deepening ecosystems, post-pandemic running and holiday search spikes keep demand for technical gear high, and ultimately fabric quality and durability remain the deciding factor for loyalty for 85 percent of consumers.
Digital, Supply Chain, & ESG
- E-commerce channels accounted for approximately 38% of total global sportswear sales in 2022
- The textile industry including athletic apparel accounts for roughly 10% of global carbon emissions
- The second-hand market for sportswear is growing 50% faster than the primary market in North America
- Nearly 65% of major athletic brands have set targets to switch to 100% sustainable cotton by 2025
- Digital adoption in supply chains for demand forecasting has reduced inventory overhead for athletic brands by up to 20%
- Nearshoring of manufacturing to Central America for US athletic brands increased by 8% in 2023 to mitigate supply chain risks
- Mobile commerce drives 73% of digital traffic for sports apparel brands
- Waterless dyeing technology adoption in athletic wear manufacturing is projected to reduce water usage by up to 95%
- RFID technology is used by over 80% of top athletic retailers to track inventory accuracy
- 30% of global sportswear production is still concentrated in China though Vietnam is gaining share rapidly
- The cost of freight and logistics for athletic apparel rose by nearly 77% during the peak supply chain crisis before stabilizing in 2023
- Sales of "digital fashion" and NFTs by brands like Nike (RTFKT) generated over $185 million in revenue in 2022
- Vietnam exports approximately 16% of the world's sportswear making it the second manufacturing hub after China
- Automated sewing bots in sportswear manufacturing can reduce production time per garment by 30%
- 89% of athletic brands have now shifted from plastic bags to recycled paper or compostable packaging for shipping
- Rental models for high-end outdoor athletic gear are expected to grow by 10% annually shifting away from ownership
- Social commerce sales (buying directly on social apps) for apparel are expected to triple by 2025
- Synthetic fibers used in activewear are responsible for 35% of the microplastics released into oceans
- AI-powered sizing tools in e-commerce have reduced activewear return rates by approximately 5-7% for early adopters
- The "Greenwashing" litigation risk for sportswear brands claiming sustainability increased by 25% in 2023
Interpretation
The athletic apparel industry is sprinting toward a smarter, greener finish line, powered by booming e-commerce, mobile and social sales, RFID, AI sizing and automation that trim inventory and returns and by booming resale, rental and sustainability commitments, yet it still hauls a polyester-shaped load of carbon emissions, microplastics, concentrated manufacturing and freight volatility while facing rising greenwashing litigation risk.
Key Players & Competitive Landscape
- Nike remains the most valuable apparel brand in the world with a brand value of approximately $31.3 billion in 2023
- Adidas reported global revenue of approximately 21.4 billion euros in 2023
- Lululemon’s net revenue increased by 19% to reach $9.6 billion for the full fiscal year 2023
- Anta Sports in China reported a revenue increase of 16.2% in 2023 cementing its place as a top global player
- Puma set a new sales record in 2023 with currency-adjusted sales rising by 6.6% to roughly 8.6 billion euros
- Under Armour reported annual revenue of approximately $5.9 billion for the fiscal year 2023
- Nike's Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales grew by 14% on a reported basis in fiscal 2023
- Gymshark, a UK-based DTC brand, achieved a valuation of over 1 billion pounds sterling in just 8 years of operation
- VF Corporation’s "The North Face" brand saw revenue increase by 17% in constant dollars for FY23
- On Holding (On Running) reported net sales growth of 46.6% in 2023 reaching 1.79 billion Swiss Francs
- New Balance reported a revenue of $6.5 billion in 2023 up 23% from the previous year
- The top 5 major players account for approximately 35% of the total global sports apparel market share
- Columbia Sportswear Company net sales increased 1% to $3.49 billion in 2023
- Skechers achieved record annual sales of $8.0 billion in 2023 a 7.5% increase year-over-year
- Li-Ning, a major Chinese brand, saw revenue rise by 7% in the first half of 2023
- ASICS reported a net sales increase of 17.7% in FY2023 driven by performance running gear
- Fabletics exceeds $500 million in annual revenue relying heavily on a subscription membership model
- Alo Yoga is projected to reach over $1 billion in revenue largely through high-end athleisure positioning
- Decathlon reported global sales of nearly 15.6 billion euros in 2023 making it the largest sporting goods retailer
- Hoka, owned by Deckers Brands, saw a revenue increase of 58.5% in fiscal year 2023
Interpretation
Nike may top the valuation charts at about $31.3 billion, but the athletic apparel industry is more of a crowded relay than a sprint, as established giants and fast growing challengers from Lululemon, On and Hoka to Anta and Li Ning post double digit gains, DTC and subscription players like Gymshark and Fabletics reshape customer relationships, and retail behemoths such as Decathlon show that scale still wins, meaning brand prestige, product innovation and direct consumer access will decide who leads the next decade.
Market Valuation & Forecasts
- The global sports apparel market size was estimated at USD 203.26 billion in 2023
- The athletic apparel industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% from 2024 to 2030
- Revenue in the Sports & Swimwear segment amounts to USD 346 billion in 2024 globally
- The United States sports apparel market is forecast to reach approximately 95 billion U.S. dollars by 2025
- The Asia Pacific region is expected to register the fastest CAGR of over 7.0% from 2023 to 2030
- The global activewear market size is expected reach roughly 546 billion U.S. dollars by 2030
- Europe held a market share of over 26.0% of the global activewear market revenue in 2023
- The men's segment of the sports apparel market accounted for the largest revenue share of over 48% in 2022
- China’s sportswear market is projected to reach roughly 82.8 billion U.S. dollars by 2025
- The global yoga clothing market size was valued at USD 25.46 billion in 2022
- Increasing at a CAGR of 5.6%, the sports apparel market in India is anticipated to reach notable highs by 2032
- The global licensed sports merchandise market size was valued at USD 33.48 billion in 2022
- The global compression wear and shapewear market is expected to reach 6.9 billion USD by 2027
- The outdoor apparel market size was valued at USD 15.6 billion in 2022 globally
- The winter wear market, a subset of athletic apparel, is poised to grow at a CAGR of 5% through 2030
- Discount stores distribution channels held a revenue share of over 30% in the global market in 2022
- The global sustainable athletics market is witnessing a growth trajectory projected at a 9.1% CAGR through 2028
- The children’s sportswear market is projected to witness a CAGR of 5.8% from 2023 to 2030
- The global athleisure market specifically is estimated to be worth USD 358 billion in 2023
- Per capita revenue in the Sports & Swimwear segment is expected to be US$45.16 in 2024
Interpretation
This is not a fad but a wardrobe-sized global economy: already a multi-hundred billion market in 2023 and set to expand at about 6.4% annually through 2030 with athleisure and activewear driving growth toward roughly $546 billion, Sports and Swimwear pulling in $346 billion in 2024 with per-capita spend near $45, the U.S. and China anchoring demand while Asia Pacific grows fastest, Europe holds more than a quarter of revenue, men account for nearly half of sales, and high-growth niches from sustainable and children’s wear to compression, yoga, outdoor and winter apparel thrive even as discount channels keep price-conscious consumers buying.
Product Trends & Segments
- Footwear accounts for roughly 45% of the total revenue in the global sports apparel and equipment industry
- The sneaker resale market is estimated to reach $30 billion globally by 2030
- Leggings constitute over 50% of the bottoms category in the women's activewear market
- Smart clothing with integrated electronics is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.2% from 2023 to 2030
- Recycled polyester (rPET) usage in sports apparel has doubled in the last five years taking 14% total fiber share
- The sports bra market was valued at $9.8 billion in 2022 and is expanding due to product innovation
- 3D printing in athletic footwear is projected to generate $3.6 billion in revenue by 2031
- The demand for antimicrobial sportswear is growing with a CAGR of 6.5% driven by hygiene awareness
- High-performance swimwear is 15% of total swimwear sales driven by competitive swimming interest
- "Gorpcore" (hiking/camping style) apparel sales rose by 10% in urban areas during 2023
- Seamless activewear technology market share is increasing by 8% annually due to demand for chafe-free clothing
- The global basketball apparel market was valued at USD 12.5 billion in 2021
- Sales of wide-width athletic shoes have grown 15% year-over-year showing a trend toward comfort fit
- The global thermal underwear market often categorized under winter activewear is valued at USD 3.6 billion
- Sustainable footwear (making up part of the athletic segment) has a CAGR forecast of 6.2% through 2030
- The golf apparel market is estimated to reach USD 1.55 billion by 2026
- Moisture-wicking fabric remains the most sought-after feature in 65% of men's activewear purchases
- The global tennis apparel market is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2027
- Plant-based leather alternatives in sneakers are expected to capture 10% of the eco-friendly shoe market by 2028
- Reflective running gear sales increase by an average of 22% during daylight savings transitions
Interpretation
With footwear commanding roughly 45% of revenue and a $30 billion sneaker resale market looming, the athletic apparel industry is both a cash machine and a laboratory, as leggings and a nearly $9.8 billion sports bra segment reshape women's wear, moisture-wicking fabrics drive 65% of men's purchases, wide-width and seamless designs and antimicrobial finishes answer comfort and hygiene demands, niche categories from gorpcore to high-performance swimwear and sports-specific markets like basketball, tennis and golf expand, recycled polyester use has doubled to a 14% fiber share while plant-based leathers and sustainable footwear gain market share, and rapid tech adoption with smart clothing growing at roughly a 26% CAGR and 3D-printed footwear set to bring in billions points to an industry becoming simultaneously more performance-driven, comfort-focused, sustainable and tech-enabled.
References
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