Global Activewear and Sportswear Growth

Research reports released in July 2026 project strong expansion across several related apparel segments. A forecast for activewear expects the market to rise from about $440 billion in 2026 to roughly $651 billion by the early 2030s, while the sweat‑resistant apparel segment is projected to grow from $232 billion in 2025 to nearly $396 billion by 2034. Drivers cited include increased fitness participation, hybrid‑work lifestyles, athleisure adoption, advances in performance fabrics, and a focus on sustainability, with major brands such as Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, Hanesbrands and Columbia investing in R&D, partnerships and regional expansion.

A separate market outlook issued later in the month predicts the global sports and fitness clothing market to increase from $224.5 billion in 2025 to $422.2 billion by 2033, at an 8.4% CAGR. Growth is attributed to rising health awareness, the mainstreaming of athleisure, textile‑technology improvements and online retail. The report highlights the rising international profile of Chinese athleisure firms like Anta and Li‑Ning, which are leveraging proprietary fabric innovations and fashion‑forward designs to capture expanding demand for functional sportswear.

Together, the snapshots illustrate a broader trend of accelerating demand for versatile, performance‑focused apparel worldwide, with both established multinational brands and emerging Chinese labels positioning themselves for long‑term market expansion.