Get All Access for $5/mo

The Emerging Fashion-Oriented Brands are Tapping Millennial Athleisure Market in India Atleisure is the new choice of every groovy individual, who loves comfort and wants to be fashionable at the same time and let's explore the new terminology

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

In earlier times, wearing athletic wear outside any sporty setting was considered as lack of fashion options but in the past few years, Athleisure, a portmanteau of 'Athletic' and 'Leisure' category has grown and grown to the stage where it is no longer a trend but a mainstay in Indian fashion culture.

Today's millennial generation who has become both health conscious and fashion forward proudly sport their stylish athleisure whilst wanting to look good and feel comfortable in what they wear. As a result, fashion brands are becoming increasingly central to athleisure market to tap into the growth of this segment, which has become a buzzword for fashion industry. To keep up with this mega trend, brands are offering more of a mix of functionality and fashion in their products to catch the attention of new consumers.

The Trend Amongst Millennials

The casual athlete isn't the only thing driving the lifestyle push of athleisure clothing, though. There's also been a shift towards using celebrity influencers who are becoming the mainstream curators of what's cool and trendy and are often seen sharing their look on social platforms like Instagram, which itself is a powerful platform for fashion clothing brands.

The Data

Indians are being drawn to athleisure outfits in larger numbers every year. According to industry estimates, athleisure wear as a category is growing at a rate faster than the rest of apparel categories. In 2016-17, Athleisure grew at a rate of 20-25% annually; menswear grew at a rate of 8-10%, while women and kids' apparel segment grew at 11-15%. In the global activewear market, India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9 %, in terms of value, according to the report published by Allied Market Research titled, Activewear Market by Product and Fabric: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

Initiative By The Government

The Indian government is giving huge importance to the fitness-driven lifestyle and are running various programs and campaigns to propel the growth of the overall sports and fitness industry along with activewear industry. The introduction of an International Yoga Day and fitness wave by our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is an inspiring example of that.

Here is why Athletic wear will get more heed for casual wear in the future thereby bringing more opportunities for fashion retail brands to magnify their profits.

Here is how athleisure trend is helping Clothing & Athletic Apparel brands to excel and magnify their profits.

  • Brands are conceptualizing clothing to suit each and every sport such as golf wear, Poker wear, Football gear etc. This has been a huge hit for sports lovers as these clothes act as an extension to their personality.

  • As India's climatic conditions shower us with heat and humidity for a long part of any year; the need for comfortable clothing is practical to feel less restrained and flexible. Since the comfort and the flexibility is the unique selling proposition of any sportswear, it is ideal that growth opportunities are tremendous in this sphere.

  • The trekking culture is rising in India; more and more youngsters are going to trek. One usually dons sportswear for any sort of trekking. Thus, the social element in trekking influences others to follow the same; hence, demand is account to increase.

  • India's young generation looks out for convenience; Wearing athleisure gives a chance to manage in one outfit inconsiderate of what occasion or place it is.

  • A large amount of people in India have started to pursue Yoga in their daily routine due to which the use of flexible wear is account to head towards growth. Since athleisure lexicon uses the most flexible fabric, the yoga-enthusiasts are going to opt it as their daily wear.

  • Enhancement of performance at gym is a desire of every fitness-follower; Science says, when you're burning calories of your body, the blood pumps oxygen to the muscles, lactic acid builds up as an outcome, which often causes pain, fatigue and cramping. The activewear helps in the stimulation of blood flow and therefore, the production of lactic acid is reduced.
    Since Activewear assists improvement in gym-performance, the profits for fashion retailers in Athleisure segment are going to accelerate.

Based on the points above, it can be inferred that perception of a buyer is changing and new lifestyle and trend is emerging. Therefore, acceptance towards athleisure in vast population can be witnessed.

Emphatically, it can be concluded that athleisure is going to have its base for a long time and thus, it can generate revenues for the business related and associated to it.

News and Trends

Startup Community Grieves the Sudden Demise of Rohan Malhotra, Beloved Leader of Good Capital

From HSBC intern to Good Capital's Managing Partner, Rohan Malhotra's journey spans co-founding Investopad and advising AngelList India, showcasing his expertise in fostering startups and driving innovation.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Starting a Business

This Ex-CIA Officer's Near-Death Experience Inspired Her to Start a Business That's Earning Over 8 Figures a Year: 'I Have a Higher Risk Tolerance Than Most'

Emily Hikade, founder and CEO of luxury sleepwear and home company Petite Plume, had an unconventional path to entrepreneurship.

Growing a Business

The Top 5 AI Tools That Can Revolutionize Your Workflow and Boost Productivity

Discover the top 5 AI tools for marketing and content creation that every marketer needs to know.