Exploring Trends and Prospects of the Global Outdoor Apparel Market

Explorando Tendencias y Perspectivas del Mercado Global de Ropa Deportiva al Aire Libre

In April, the market research and business consulting company Maximize Market Research (hereinafter referred to as "MMR") based in Chicago, USA, released a report stating that driven primarily by market shares in the Asia-Pacific and North American regions, the sales of the outdoor apparel segment dominated by companies such as Patagonia, Adidas, and Columbia were estimated to reach $15.7 billion in 2022 and are expected to grow at a stable rate of 5.45% from 2023 to 2029, potentially reaching a market value of $22.8 billion.

Outdoor apparel is specifically designed for outdoor activities or sports, including skiing, mountaineering, snowboarding, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. In comparison to regular clothing, they are designed to be more durable and comfortable. In recent years, there has been a shift in people's clothing preferences, emphasizing athleticism and fitness, leading to an increase in consumers opting for outdoor apparel.

The report indicates that with lifestyle changes emphasizing health and adventurous activities, the outdoor apparel industry is experiencing new market trends. Currently, sportswear and activewear have become essential for health-conscious consumers worldwide, further driving the demand for outdoor apparel.

Market Landscape: Numerous Competitors, Innovation Prevails The global outdoor apparel industry faces intense competition, with few major global suppliers alongside numerous regional, local, and unorganized suppliers.

Key players highlighted in this report in the outdoor apparel market include Adidas, Columbia, Nike, Puma, Under Armour, Patagonia, Hanesbrands, VF Corporation, Hugo Boss, Mizuno, Arc'teryx, Newell Brands, Berghaus, Black Diamond Equipment, Cotopaxi, Give'r, Helly Hansen, among others.

In the outdoor apparel market, few companies expand their product supply and strengthen their market position by acquiring local or domestic suppliers to dominate the industry. Instead, they choose to maintain their position in the global outdoor apparel market by penetrating with new products featuring advanced and innovative designs. For instance, Adidas introduced the Adicolor sports jacket with a two-way full zipper and stand-up collar, while Columbia launched the men's Cascade Ridge II hooded softshell jacket.

Simultaneously, outdoor apparel manufacturers are increasingly collaborating with fashion designers to create trendy outdoor clothing.

Trends in Outdoor Apparel Market: Durability, Smart Features, Functionality, Ethics, Sustainability Durability is a key factor in the outdoor apparel field, with recycled cotton or polyester ripstop fabrics gaining popularity globally for outdoor wear. Manufacturers are producing lightweight, breathable, waterproof, and comfortable clothing suitable for adventures by selecting recycled cotton or polyester ripstop fabrics and employing seam-sealing techniques.

For instance, Gore-Tex fabric, one of the most famous durable fabrics and textiles exclusively invented and produced by the American material science company W.L.Gore & Associates, Inc., is renowned for its lightweight, thin, sturdy, and durable properties with waterproof, breathable, and windproof functions. Apparel made from this material, known as the "fabric of the century," greatly influences the outdoor apparel industry.

Furthermore, advancements in production and research technology enable each supplier to produce their own innovative durable fabrics. Currently, technologies such as Columbia's eVent and OutDry Extreme, The North Face's DryVent and Futurelight, and Patagonia's H2No fabric production techniques are popular worldwide.

Additionally, smart fabrics with temperature control functions that provide higher comfort and performance during outdoor activities are increasingly favored in the outdoor apparel industry, driving market growth.

Functional apparel, including moisture-wicking fabrics and lightweight jackets, is also gaining popularity among consumers, offering better comfort during activities such as hiking, running, and cycling.

Functionality is also a key focus for consumers. Convenient features such as reflectivity, multiple pockets, adjustable hoods, and nylon buckles are highly sought after. For example, elastic straps attached to hoods can secure them under helmets, keeping wearers warm, which is particularly useful for cyclists and motorcyclists. Zipper garages can protect runners' chins from zipper abrasions and ensure zippers stay in place during movement, while chest zipper pockets can keep items safe and dry in rainy or snowy conditions. Currently, inner jacket zipper pockets are another trend driving the growth of the outdoor apparel market.

Meanwhile, outdoor apparel brands worldwide are seeking responsible, ethical factories and suppliers to meet their requirements for ethical clothing production, aligning with consumers' values or beliefs. Ethical production is particularly crucial in lightweight down jacket production. Previously, The North Face established strict Responsible Down Standard to ensure its down procurement adheres to stringent standards.

The growing consumer preference for natural and sustainable clothing is also shaping the direction of the outdoor apparel market. Consumers are increasingly aware of and concerned about the environmental impact of their clothing purchases. Therefore, environmentally conscious consumers prefer outdoor apparel from eco-friendly or sustainable brands to minimize their environmental footprint.

Influenced by consumer attitudes, some manufacturers are focusing on launching sustainable, environmentally friendly outdoor apparel and integrating sustainable development into their mission statements and marketing. For example, Patagonia has made green activism a core part of its marketing and has launched ocean conservation-related activities in recent years.

Top Segment Markets: Tops, Nylon, Continued Growth; Focus on Women's Categories Based on different product types, the outdoor apparel market can be divided into tops, bottoms, and others. Among them, as of 2022, the tops segment holds the largest market share. The tops category can be further divided into jackets, shirts and t-shirts, flannel shirts, polo shirts, fleece, sports shirts and hoodies, as well as base layers and innerwear, among other categories. Outdoor apparel manufacturers focus on providing customers with more comfortable, top-quality garments, and different fashion categories, creating more demand for this segment of the market.

Based on different consumer groups, the outdoor apparel market can be segmented into men's, women's, and children's wear. In 2023, the men's segment holds the largest share of the outdoor apparel market, driven by men's high participation in sports and outdoor activities. However, the increasing participation of women in outdoor activities and trends in outdoor apparel are expected to expand the consumer base for women's outdoor apparel during the forecast period from 2023 to 2029. The center of the outdoor apparel market will gradually shift towards women, representing the largest potential consumer group in this market.

Based on fabric differences, the outdoor apparel market can be categorized into polyester, nylon, cotton, among others.

The report forecasts that the nylon segment will experience significant growth during the forecast period from 2023 to 2029. Nylon's lightweight and durable characteristics provide many conveniences for functional clothing, with excellent breathability helping to absorb moisture from the body surface, greatly benefiting wearers during outdoor activities in harsh conditions. Therefore, the nylon category remains popular in the outdoor apparel industry, and this trend is expected to continue during the forecast period.

En abril, la empresa de investigación de mercado y consultoría empresarial Maximize Market Research (en adelante "MMR"), con sede en Chicago, EE. UU., publicó un informe que indicaba que impulsadas principalmente por las participaciones en el mercado de las regiones de Asia-Pacífico y América del Norte, las ventas del segmento de ropa deportiva al aire libre dominado por empresas como Patagonia, Adidas y Columbia se estimaron en alcanzar los $15.7 mil millones en 2022 y se espera que crezcan a una tasa estable del 5.45% desde 2023 hasta 2029, potencialmente alcanzando un valor de mercado de $22.8 mil millones.

La ropa deportiva al aire libre está específicamente dise?ada para actividades o deportes al aire libre, como el esquí, el monta?ismo, el snowboard, el senderismo, el camping, la pesca, etc. En comparación con la ropa normal, están dise?adas para ser más duraderas y cómodas. En los últimos a?os, ha habido un cambio en las preferencias de vestimenta de las personas, enfatizando el atletismo y la forma física, lo que ha llevado a un aumento en los consumidores que optan por la ropa deportiva al aire libre.

El informe indica que con los cambios en el estilo de vida que enfatizan la salud y las actividades aventureras, la industria de la ropa deportiva al aire libre está experimentando nuevas tendencias de mercado. Actualmente, la ropa deportiva y la ropa activa se han convertido en esenciales para los consumidores conscientes de la salud en todo el mundo, impulsando aún más la demanda de ropa deportiva al aire libre.

Paisaje del Mercado: Numerosos Competidores, Prevalece la Innovación La industria global de la ropa deportiva al aire libre enfrenta una intensa competencia, con unos pocos proveedores globales principales junto con numerosos proveedores regionales, locales y no organizados.

Los principales actores destacados en este informe en el mercado de la ropa deportiva al aire libre incluyen a Adidas, Columbia, Nike, Puma, Under Armour, Patagonia, Hanesbrands, VF Corporation, Hugo Boss, Mizuno, Arc'teryx, Newell Brands, Berghaus, Black Diamond Equipment, Cotopaxi, Give'r, Helly Hansen, entre otros.

En el mercado de la ropa deportiva al aire libre, algunas empresas expanden su oferta de productos y fortalecen su posición en el mercado mediante la adquisición de proveedores locales o nacionales para dominar la industria. En lugar de eso, eligen mantener su posición en el mercado global de ropa deportiva al aire libre penetrando con nuevos productos con dise?os avanzados e innovadores. Por ejemplo, Adidas introdujo la chaqueta deportiva Adicolor con cierre completo de dos vías y cuello alto, mientras que Columbia lanzó la chaqueta softshell con capucha Cascade Ridge II para hombres.

Al mismo tiempo, los fabricantes de ropa deportiva al aire libre están colaborando cada vez más con dise?adores de moda para crear ropa de exterior de moda.

Tendencias en el Mercado de Ropa Deportiva al Aire Libre: Durabilidad, Características Inteligentes, Funcionalidad, ética, Sostenibilidad La durabilidad es un factor clave en el campo de la ropa deportiva al aire libre, con telas de algodón reciclado o poliéster ripstop ganando popularidad mundial para el uso al aire libre. Los fabricantes están produciendo prendas ligeras, transpirables, impermeables y cómodas adecuadas para aventuras seleccionando telas de algodón reciclado o poliéster ripstop y utilizando técnicas de sellado de costuras.

Por ejemplo, la tela Gore-Tex, una de las telas y textiles más famosos y duraderos inventados y producidos exclusivamente por la compa?ía estadounidense de ciencia de materiales W.L.Gore & Associates, Inc., es conocida por sus propiedades ligeras, delgadas, resistentes y duraderas con funciones impermeables, transpirables y cortaviento. La ropa fabricada con este material, conocido como el "tejido del siglo", influye en gran medida en la industria de la ropa deportiva al aire libre.

Además, los avances en tecnología de producción e investigación permiten que cada proveedor produzca sus propias telas duraderas innovadoras. Actualmente, tecnologías como eVent y OutDry Extreme de Columbia, DryVent y Futurelight de The North Face, y H2No de Patagonia son populares en todo el mundo.

Además, las telas inteligentes con funciones de control de temperatura que proporcionan mayor comodidad y rendimiento durante las actividades al aire libre son cada vez más populares en la industria de la ropa deportiva al aire libre, impulsando el crecimiento del mercado.

La ropa funcional, incluidas las telas que absorben la humedad y las chaquetas ligeras, también está ganando popularidad entre los consumidores, ofreciendo una mejor comodidad durante actividades como senderismo, correr y andar en bicicleta.

La funcionalidad también es un enfoque clave para los consumidores. Las características convenientes como la reflectividad, los múltiples bolsillos, las capuchas ajustables y las hebillas de nylon son muy buscadas. Por ejemplo, las correas elásticas adjuntas a las capuchas pueden sujetarlas debajo de los cascos, manteniendo a los usuarios calientes, lo cual es particularmente útil para ciclistas y motoristas. Las solapas de las cremalleras pueden proteger las barbillas de los corredores contra las abrasiones de las cremalleras y asegurar que las cremalleras permanezcan en su lugar durante el movimiento, mientras que los bolsillos interiores con cremallera en el pecho pueden mantener los artículos seguros y secos en condiciones de lluvia o nieve. Actualmente, los bolsillos interiores de las chaquetas son otra tendencia que impulsa el crecimiento del mercado de la ropa deportiva al aire libre.

Mientras tanto, las marcas de ropa deportiva al aire libre de todo el mundo están buscando fábricas y proveedores responsables y éticos para cumplir con sus requisitos de producción de ropa ética, alineándose con los valores o creencias de los consumidores. La producción ética es especialmente crucial en la producción de chaquetas de plumas ligeras. Anteriormente, The North Face estableció el estricto Estándar de Plumas Responsable para garantizar que su adquisición de plumas cumpla con estándares rigurosos.