In the past decade alone, the fashion industry has gone through some massive shifts regarding everyday wear. Lately, activewear has now become the go-to choice for many people, as the comfort and versatility offered means they can be easily worn not just when exercising but even while running daily errands.
This is why many luxury brands have also started to join the wave of producing activewear clothing lines, as they look to capitalising on what is an ever-expanding industry. And while it is true that major corporations like Nike and Adidas own a fair share of the market, there is still room for new brands to create their hype.
However, since people’s decisions to spend are often based on emotion, as long as you can find new ways to bring new ideas and concepts to the mix, you will be able to entice people to buy your clothes. To this end, you must manage to find a reliable supplier that can help you produce quality garments.
So, before you discover an athletic clothing manufacturer here, the one named Appareify, we’re going to quickly dive into everything that you need to know about what makes these companies unique, how to make the right decision for your brand and much more.
How To Go About Choosing The Right Activewear Manufacturer?
While there is an abundance of clothing manufacturers to choose from out there, activewear requires a certain type of expertise because the fabrics used can often be difficult to cut and sew properly. After all, you need garments that are not only flexible and comfortable but also extremely durable too.
In addition, these types of garments usually need to offer moisture-wicking, quick-drying, antibacterial, or breathable properties, which usually require a high level of skill and advanced equipment to produce. As such, you need to ensure that the manufacturer you are considering is experienced enough in making this type of clothing.
Another important factor that you need to consider is cost because you need to be able to find a balance between quality and affordability when choosing an Activewear manufacturer. There is no point in getting garments at a low cost when the quality is subpar because your customers will not want to buy your products.
However, you also don’t want to end up paying too much that you can’t get a good return on investment. In most cases, you will often find manufacturers having high MOQs that require you to purchase large quantities but if you’re just getting started, you must work with this site because a clothing manufacturer like Appareify can usually offer up a low MOQ and reasonable pricing.
It is also important to factor in sustainability into your decision because consumer awareness of environmental and social issues has continued to grow online. This means that you need to be confident that you are selling ethical and sustainable products if you want to keep consumer demand for your products high and your brand reputation in good standing.
To this end, you must ensure that you choose an activewear manufacturer that sources its materials responsibly, uses renewable fabrics, and also uses ethical manufacturing practices. In doing so, you will be able to prove to customers that your brand values environmental responsibility, which can often help to drive customer loyalty.
Tips On Starting An Activewear Line In A Competitive Market?
As we’ve established, the sportswear industry is heavily saturated. This means that if you want to make a name for yourself in this market, you need to carve out a niche for yourself by offering customers something new.
To accomplish this, you need to conduct a fair amount of research into your target customer base and even your competitors to see what is missing in the current market that you can start to offer.
For instance, you can create different activewear collections that have designs and styles based on certain demographics like baseball-themed apparel. Another example of this is creating a winter-themed line that introduces slightly thicker materials and fabrics to provide night runners with extra warmth and protection in the cold.
The general idea is to determine what your intended target audience base is and then come up with unique designs that will entice them to shop with your brand. If you can visualize your ideal client and their characteristics, the easier it will be for you to expand on that and create new collections that will have people making more purchases.
It is also important to remember that the activewear industry is constantly evolving. This means that you need to be able to hop on new trends and technologies to create garments that offer more value to consumers. And the only way to accomplish this is by making sure that you choose a manufacturer like Appareify that stays up-to-date with all the latest trends and technological advancements in activewear design.
This is what will help you maintain longevity in the industry, as they will be able to help you adapt to changing market demands and customer preferences, thereby making sure that you are consistently making in-demand products.
What Features Does Your Activewear Line Need To Have?
Compared to generic clothing, activewear clothing lines are special in that they are usually designed to offer unique benefits that do well to enhance performance while working out, running, playing sports, etc. In this respect, there are a few key elements that you need to make sure your products offer:
- Moisture-Wicking and Breathability: Sweat is common while undertaking any intense training or workouts, which is why you need to ensure that your activewear line comes with moisture-wicking properties that help customers to stay dry and comfortable. It is also important that they are made using breathable fabrics that allow air to flow in and out to keep the wearer feeling cool.
- Durability: Your activewear line must be made of high-quality material that can withstand strenuous activity. After all, all your customers will be putting your clothing through the test on an almost constant basis, which means that you need to be able to minimize any risk of wear and tear. This is why it is important to find and work with a good manufacturer that can help you to source the right materials.
- Flexibility: Activewear must be flexible enough to give the wearer enough room to be mobile and undertake intense activities. From gym workouts to yoga training to pilates, your clothing line must be able to be stretchy enough that it does not compress or restrict your customers in any way. For instance, an overly tight sports bra can restrict movement and breathing while working out but a good quality one should be able to provide support while also being flexible enough for them to move freely.
- Comfort: Comfort is another vital feature because no matter how stylish or performative your activewear line is if your customers don’t feel comfortable enough, they won’t buy them. Nobody wants to feel like their yoga pants are excessively pinching them in the middle of a class. As such, you must always ensure that they are made using the right fabrics and materials to keep people comfortable throughout the day.
Conclusion
You should also keep in mind that as tedious as it may be, spending countless hours researching for the right manufacturer and testing out fabrics is part of the process. The worst thing that can happen is finding yourself in a situation where you can’t depend on your manufacturer or disappoint your customers because of poor-quality products.
This means that once you receive the initial samples, you should perform thorough quality checks by conducting wash tests, examining the stitching, testing stretchability, etc.