For many active and outdoor customers, this past year has brought change to “staying fit”. With two-thirds of our survey respondents indicating that they’ve started a new exercise routine during COVID-19, a new outlook has emerged on not only their activities, but also their materials choices. From cycling to walking, these new routines have developed in parallel with a heightened awareness around which types of fabrics provide the comfort and performance they expect. And while attributes like breathability and odor control may be anticipated in the active categories, the majority of these shoppers are expecting the same from their casual wear, too.

In this Trend Insight, we explore how these new trends are highlighting the material-savvy customer’s potential impacts on the functional fabrics market, in activewear and beyond.

This survey was conducted by MESH01 and originally appeared in Textile Insight May/June 2021

TREND INSIGHT is a feature of Formula4 Media Publications that delivers partnered research conducted on MESH01 providing new insights on all things apparel and footwear related including shopping experiences and what influences consumer purchasing decisions.