Make sports warmups look good with these athletic apparel fashion tips

Boundaries between fine fashion and athletic wear have become increasingly blurred in recent years. Hoodies, tracksuits, yoga pants, leggings, tank tops, leg warmers, sweat bands, sports bras… have all become staples of every-day fashion. The athletic apparel market exceeded $140 billion in 2015, a figure which is sure to make sports warmups look good (at least fiscally.)

Experts believe that the market is driven by a trend toward healthier, more active lifestyles and longer lifespans, with older demographics and women becoming more active. ?This is not a fashion trend, it?s a lifestyle trend,? said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD Consumer Market Research Group.

But when did it all begin? The aerobics craze took the 1980s by storm. The 90’s saw the rise of fitness trends such as workout machines, in-home gyms and exercise equipment.  The new millennium ushered in trends in membership gyms and fitness classes. Today, lower impact activities like yoga, pilates, spinning, tai-chi, and tae-bo rank among the top exercise trends.

A collaboration between the sporting and fashion industries was born sometime in the early 1970’s. According to Wikipedia, Italian designers such as Emilio Pucci and Simonetta Visconti were among the first to challenge American fashion trends in the 1970’s with their creation of “comfortable and interchangeable multi-purpose clothes that combined practicability with luxuriousness.”

These forward-thinking Italian fashion designers were quick to incorporate innovations in natural fibers and performance fabric technology.  The combination of sophistication and comfort was a leap that took athletic wear and fashion to a whole new level.  Functions such as friction reduction, temperature regulation, breathe-ability, wicking capability, water resistance, stretch, lightness, and soft texture became critical. 

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Today, athletic wear does much more than make sports warmups look good.  Gym clothes go far beyond the gym.  Athletic wear has become trendy and… nearly indistinguishable from fine fashion.  And now, many of the worlds biggest designers and fashion companies are getting into the game.  But there are some simple ways to add flair and personality to your athletic apparel without spending a fortune on a new wardrobe.  Here are some simple tips and trends for accessorizing athletic apparel when you want to make sports warm ups look good!

Accessorizing Hoodies and Sweats

Spruce up your hoodies, sweats, and warm-up gear with simple but eye catching accessories.  Lace-up hoodies with loose fitting or raw-edge necklines are all the rage.  Add colorful laces for an unusual but attractive touch.  

The Layered Look in Matching Gear: Team Jackets, Tanks, Jerseys, Sweats

Layering is key when it comes to sports and sports warm ups.  And the solution to making layers look fashionable is coordinated colors and matching team uniforms.  Place a team order for tee-shirts, tank tops, jerseys and jackets.  Its easy to personalize every item with a players name, number or lucky nickname.  Uniforms and complete sets of matching team gear is a great way to build camaraderie and team spirit.

Tie Your Shoelaces for a Good Cause

When athletes are out on the field, its always wise to sport team colors.  Uniforms with logos, team colors and mascots are standard in the sports arena.  But there is still a way to make a statement and add pizazz to a sports uniform in more subtle ways.  Unique shoe laces can be added to nearly any sports shoe.  For example, sports enthusiasts can show their support for causes such as breast cancer research with pink shoelaces.  These small touches can stand out and make an important social statement. 

Athletic Socks for a Cure

If shoelaces aren’t enough of a statement… splurge on some athletic socks to support a good cause.  Get in the game to kick cancer, or raise awareness for other social causes.  A portion of proceeds from the sale of pink athletic clothing goes to fund cancer research.   

Is athletic wear the future of fashion? Experts predict that a vast array of retailers and companies will soon become major players in the athletic wear game. Aging demographics in the US, the EU, Japan, and other developing countries across South America and Asia will drive demand. Women, in particular, will drive the market for the sports apparel industry. 

In an increasingly health-conscious and eco-conscious world, product and textile innovation will prove critical.  Athletic companies will invest in research and development in order to remain competitive, offer higher performance products and expanding lines of sports related accessories.