Outdoor Performance Apparel Market

The global outdoor performance apparel market has witnessed a significant growth rate over the last few years and is projected to register a 4.52% CAGR during the forecast period. Outdoor performance apparels are specially designed clothing to provide comfort and agility to the user. They can also be worn as casual wear. The increasing participation in outdoor activities such as cycling, running, ski diving, swimming, fishing, and hunting is one of the key factors driving the growth of the global outdoor performance apparel market. Additionally, the increasing number of triathletes is driving market growth. However, the increasing number of private label manufacturers is hampering the growth of the market. The global outdoor performance apparel market is estimated to emerge as a lucrative market for vendors operating in both developed and developing economies due to the various initiatives taken by governments to promote outdoor activities and the influence of social media and innovative marketing strategies.

Outdoor activities, also known as outdoor recreational activities, refer to activities performed in natural surroundings. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, in the US, 146.1 million population participated in outdoor activities at least once in 2017.

In the US, almost 49.0% population aged six and over participated in outdoor activities in 2017. Participation in outdoor activities has increased from 48.8% in 2016 to 49.0% in 2017 in the country. Furthermore, new participants made up 4.1% of the total participants in 2017. Additionally, higher per capita household income, a growing young population, and the rising trend of adventure sports are anticipated to drive the global market for outdoor performance apparel during the forecast period.

Several other countries have also observed the same trend for participation in outdoor activities. For instance, according to the Office of National Statistics, in 2016, in the UK, children aged 8 to 15 years participated in outdoor activities, sports-related activities, or cycling. Additionally, according to the Children’s Society, spending time outdoors and participating in physical activity has been attributed to improving a child’s short and long-term well-being due to a variety of factors, including improvement in physical and mental health. Thus, the increasing participation in outdoor activities coupled with the growing awareness of the benefits of these activities on a child’s health is expected to drive the global outdoor performance apparel market during the forecast period.

Governments from various countries are taking initiatives to create awareness regarding the benefits of outdoor activities, which is expected to increase the demand for outdoor performance apparel. For instance, Sport England, a non-departmental public body under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, has been providing funding to get children and young individuals active from the age of five. Several other government bodies such as the Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education, Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, and Public Health England are also working on creating awareness regarding the benefits of sports and physical activity for children and young people.

Many developing countries, including India, are also creating awareness about various outdoor sports activities through government initiatives such as Fit India Movement and Khelo India Scheme. The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports plays a significant role in promoting sports in India. Additionally, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which works under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, is engaged in the promotion of sports and games in the country. Thus, the initiatives taken by governments to promote outdoor activities are expected to create an opportunity for the players operating in the global outdoor performance apparel market during the forecast period

Retailers across the globe aim to offer outdoor performance products through their brands to increase revenue generation. According to MRFR analysis, retailer sales have increased by approximately 30% over the past two years, primarily due to the growing presence of private-label brands in the global market. Local manufacturers offer outdoor performance apparel that caters to the market needs and planned inventories of retailers. These manufacturers also sell their products in unorganized markets at comparatively lower costs, thereby limiting the growth of players in the global outdoor performance apparel market. Furthermore, the quality and functionality of the products manufactured by local companies are inferior to those offered by established market players who have achieved economies of scale by investing in raw materials and technology.

The sales of private-label products are mostly unaccounted for, which creates a gap between the production volume and the revenue generated in the global outdoor performance apparel market. Thus, the increasing number of private label manufacturers offering products at low costs is expected to hinder the growth of the established players in the global outdoor performance market during the forecast period.