Global market review of performance apparel - forecasts to 2014

Abstract

The global market size of performance sportswear is currently estimated at US$6.40bn, having risen 19.4% over the last four years, and is expected to grow a further 18.75% to US$7.6bn by 2014.

It is important to understand why and how yesterday' s performance apparel emerged in order to better consider and speculate how it is likely to develop in the future. The dynamics of the performance apparel sector are more akin to the dynamics of pharmaceutical and hi-tech industries, than to the high street textile industry, and this affects the way the sector behaves. It is both the theme and contention of this report that performance apparel is entering another stage in its evolution.

In the days of prehistory, clothing covered the body, providing warmth, protection and, as time progressed, a degree of modesty. It then began to change from purely function, into fashion and function. Clothes delivered a statement about status, wealth and sophistication. Today, that statement has developed further into one about being ' fit for purpose' , clothing that performs. In a 21st century that is prone to regulation - and full of health and safety standards - fitness for purpose is an important issue.

This is the third edition of just-style' s review of the performance apparel market. In the previous edition, the idea was put forward that the consumer - in the developed world, at any rate - is now accustomed to the idea of performance, and expects performance from both garments and fabrics. Performance is now a given.

In this latest edition the sector is reviewed worldwide, by analysing a global industry which has two segments: sportswear and protective clothing, both including performance apparel. As a result of this, performance apparel is sold in two different ways, at two different price points. As sportswear, it is sold to the individual consumer at retail prices. As protective wear, it is primarily a B2B sale to the wearer' s employer at wholesale prices.

This report provides a comprehensive review of the global performance apparel market, including a definition of the market, market estimates 2004-2014, market dynamics and key strategic issues, evolution of the market (past present and future) and the use of textiles in safeguarding the health of the human body.