Active Sportswear growth in the UK

Active sportswear has become increasingly popular in the UK, with more people participating in various fitness activities. This has led to a growing market for active sportswear, which is expected to continue to grow over the coming years.

According to a report by Allied Market Research, the UK active sportswear market is expected to reach £8.17 billion by 2026, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2019 to 2026. This growth can be attributed to the rise in the number of health-conscious consumers, the increasing popularity of sports, and the growing demand for comfortable and functional sportswear.  In this blog however we will explore the growth of the active sportswear market in the UK, with a specific focus on cycling, swimming, gym, and yoga.

Cycling

Cycling has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with more people using bicycles for leisure activities and commuting. This has led to significant growth in the active sportswear market for cycling in the UK. Allied Market Research predicts that the market will grow at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2019 to 2026, reaching £2.34 billion by 2026.

Swimming

Swimming is also a popular fitness activity in the UK with more people taking up the sport, it also has a cross over, specifically into summer holiday wear. This has led to growth in the active sportswear market for swimming, with increased brand swim-specific collections. Technavio predicts that the UK active sportswear market for swimming will grow at a CAGR of 6.51% from 2020 to 2024.

Gym

The gym is an ever-popular destination for fitness enthusiasts in the UK, and the active sportswear market for gym wear has also seen significant growth. MarketWatch predicts that the UK active sportswear market for gym wear will grow at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2020 to 2025, reaching £7.54 billion by 2025.

Yoga

Yoga has become increasingly popular in the UK, with more people taking up the practice for its health and wellness benefits. This has led to growth in the active sportswear market for yoga, with more brands launching yoga-specific collections. Technavio predicts that the UK active sportswear market for yoga will grow at a CAGR of 6.45% from 2020 to 2024.

Despite this growth most of the active sportswear in the UK is currently manufactured overseas, there is however a growing trend towards moving manufacturing to the UK to improve sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint.

Manufacturing active sportswear in the UK has several advantages from a sustainability perspective. Sourcing materials locally would reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting materials from overseas. Manufacturing in the UK would also mean that the workers are subject to UK labour laws, which ensure that employees are paid fair wages and have safe working conditions. Furthermore, producing active sportswear locally would reduce the environmental impact associated with the transportation of finished products. Shipping products from overseas can result in significant emissions, so manufacturing products closer to the point of sale would reduce the carbon footprint associated with shipping

In conclusion, the active sportswear market in the UK is experiencing significant growth, and this trend is expected to continue over the next five years. As sustainability becomes an increasingly important consideration for consumers, manufacturing sportswear in the UK could be a better option from an environmental and social perspective.

Contact De Ronde Creative Hub to discuss your active sportswear design or manufacturing requirements, we’re here to help.