NPD Group’s 2017 report shows, athleisure has become a $44 billion industry. Encompassing sneakers, outerwear, and even dress shirts and blazers, the athleisure trend has successfully gone global. In 2016, for instance, Britons spent a whopping £5.1 billion on athleisure products alone.
Popular athleisure brands were included in the 2017 list of ‘Top 10 Sports Brands in the World here on Textile Focus’. Leading the way were Nike and Adidas. Nike was able to offer an impressive catalogue of stylish tracksuits, sweatpants, and similar clothing that utilise a variety of technologies to ensure maximum comfort. In 2018, the brand continues to manufacture more chic yet comfortable clothes for women. It also strengthenes its sneaker line with its Lunar Epic line, the Flex RN series, and the Air Max Kantara and Sequent collections.
Adidas, on the other hand, is focusing on shoes. The brand has launched three types of shows including the company’s classic three-stripe Superstar and Tubular Shadow sneakers. The Kanye West-Adidas collaboration, in particular, has paved the way for the ultra successfulYeezy line, whose releases continue to be some of the most sought after sneakers in the global market.
In apparels, Adidas is planning to consolidate on the success of Adidas Athletics, which was created by the German sportswear company in 2016. Touted as a direct competitor to Nike’s successful premium Sportswear line, Adidas Athletics seamlessly combines style and performance.
