Underscoring the health of the wellness movement, the U.K. sports apparel market will reach 2.5 billion pounds this year — an 8 percent gain from 2016. This compares to a 2.1 percent expected gain in total apparel sales in the U.K., according to a recent report from analytics firm Global Data.
The increase in sports apparel is being fueled by the ath-leisure trend, researchers of the report said, adding that new entrants such as Asos would also boost sales. The firm noted that the increase of sports apparel demonstrates “the extent to which sportswear is outperforming other clothing segments. Indeed, fashion retailers have picked up on the trend for sportswear and will continue to invest as consumer demand for fashion-led sports apparel remains high.”
Asos is rolling out a sportswear launch this November, and will be “competing with more established ranges from H&M, Boohoo, Primark, New Look, Ted Baker, Topshop, Whistles [and] Superdry,” the authors of the report said, adding that sports brands from the Eighties and Nineties “such as Kappa and Ellesse are [also] tapping into market opportunities, due to a resurgence in consumer demand following high-profile attention via Instagram influencers.”
Under Armour’s Eclipse sports bra.
Despite the crowded field, Global Data said it “expects the
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