The Latest Fitness Fashions

by Diane Lofshult

While most women’s magazines are reporting on the latest fall fashions,

fitness apparel and athletic footwear are also making headlines. The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) just released its findings on these lucrative products in its recent Recreation Market Report.

According to SGMA, sports apparel sales rose 3.3 percent in 2002 and remained the largest segment of the sports/recreation industry, with sales topping $22 billion! The highest sales in 2002 were in activewear, but growth was also seen in sweatshorts, sweatpants, shorts, socks, caps/hats, team uniforms and coats/jackets.

Not pussyfooting around, athletic footwear sales during 2002 increased 2.5 percent, with total sales exceeding $9 billion. The three categories that topped the billion-dollar mark last year were running/jogging shoes ($2.71 billion); basketball shoes ($1.95 billion); and cross-training/fitness shoes ($1.20 billion).

The SGMA report is based on data from industry trade publications, research studies and reports from industry experts. For more information, contact info@sgma.com.