Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Material Type (Synthetic, Cotton, Polyester, Others), By Sales Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Multi Branded Stores, Online, Others), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 113.17 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.46%
Fastest Growing Segment	Online
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 164.76 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market will grow from USD 113.17 Billion in 2025 to USD 164.76 Billion by 2031 at a 6.46% CAGR. The Global Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market is defined as the sector dedicated to the design, production, and retail of apparel and footwear engineered for athletic performance, physical fitness regimes, and recreational or competitive aquatic activities. The primary drivers supporting this market’s growth include a structural societal shift toward health and wellness, which has significantly increased female participation rates in organized sports and fitness activities. Additionally, the widespread adoption of active lifestyles has created a sustained necessity for functional, performance-oriented garments, distinguishing this demand from temporary fashion cycles.

However, a significant challenge that could impede market expansion is the persistent economic volatility and inflationary pressure, which directly impacts raw material costs and reduces consumer discretionary income for non-essential retail products. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, in 2024, the athletic apparel category grew by 3.2 percent to $30.6 billion, while swimwear specifically recorded a 4.0 percent increase to reach $2.2 billion. This financial environment suggests that while demand remains resilient, price sensitivity and production costs remain critical hurdles for broader industry growth.

Key Market Drivers

The surge in global female participation in competitive sports and the concurrent rise in viewership for women’s leagues are fundamentally reshaping the market landscape. This momentum extends beyond professional athletes to amateur enthusiasts who increasingly require specialized apparel that offers both durability and regulation compliance. The commercial impact of this cultural shift is evident in the skyrocketing demand for licensed team gear and performance-grade kits, compelling brands to expand their inventories with diverse, sport-specific product lines. According to Fanatics, April 2024, in the 'WNBA Draft Day Sales' report, collective sales of WNBA merchandise across their network increased by 500 percent compared to the previous year's draft. This distinct connection between sports fandom and retail consumption drives manufacturers to prioritize performance catalogs that cater to a demographic viewing athleticism as a primary identity marker.

Concurrently, the mainstreaming of athleisure and hybrid lifestyle apparel ensures that sportswear is no longer confined to training environments, effectively multiplying the usage occasions for these garments. Consumers now prioritize versatility, seeking items like moisture-wicking leggings and supportive tops that transition seamlessly from physical activity to social settings. This trend forces manufacturers to integrate technical capabilities with fashion-forward aesthetics to maintain relevance in a competitive retail sector. According to Lululemon Athletica Inc., June 2024, in the 'First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results', the company saw net revenue increase 10 percent to $2.2 billion, underscoring the sustained appetite for premium lifestyle-centric athletic wear. Broader retail indicators reflect this strength; according to Dick’s Sporting Goods, May 2024, in the 'First Quarter 2024 Earnings' release, net sales rose 6.2 percent to $3.02 billion, driven largely by robust consumer activity in the footwear and apparel segments.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

Economic volatility and inflationary pressure constitute a primary obstacle hampering the expansion of the women’s sports and swimwear market. As the cost of raw materials and logistics fluctuates unpredictably, manufacturers are often compelled to adjust pricing structures upward to protect their margins. This inflation in retail prices directly clashes with reduced consumer discretionary income, causing shoppers to become increasingly price-sensitive. Consequently, the demand for high-performance athletic apparel and specialized swimwear is stifled, as potential customers prioritize essential expenditures over updating their fitness wardrobes. This economic friction limits the conversion of rising sports participation rates into consistent sales volume, effectively placing a ceiling on market potential during periods of financial instability.

The tangible impact of these macroeconomic headwinds is evident in recent industry-wide performance data. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, in 2024, the broader sporting goods industry experienced a growth rate of only 2.9 percent, which represented the lowest annual expansion recorded since the pandemic. This figure highlights how persistent inflationary challenges and economic uncertainty have successfully decelerated the broader sector's momentum, preventing it from fully capitalizing on the prevailing health and wellness trends.

Key Market Trends

The adoption of recycled and bio-based performance fabrics is fundamentally restructuring the women’s sports and swimwear market as brands pivot from virgin petrochemical fibers to meet escalating consumer demand for sustainability. This transition involves replacing conventional polyester and nylon with advanced circular materials derived from post-consumer plastic waste and renewable plant-based inputs, effectively reducing the environmental footprint of high-turnover activewear. Manufacturers are increasingly scaling these material innovations to deliver technical properties—such as moisture management and durability—that match or exceed traditional synthetics while adhering to strict environmental targets. According to Lululemon Athletica Inc., November 2025, in the '2024 Impact Report', the company surpassed its sourcing targets early, reporting that 77 percent of its total procured polyester was recycled, highlighting the rapid industrial integration of circular fibers into premium athletic collections.

The growth of the second-hand and circular resale market for activewear is emerging as a dominant trend, driven by value-conscious consumers seeking high-quality performance gear at accessible price points. This shift has compelled major women’s sports brands to launch branded resale programs and peer-to-peer exchange platforms, thereby extending the lifecycle of durable garments like leggings and outerwear which retain resale value well over time. This circular model not only addresses textile waste but also allows aspirational customers to access premium labels, fundamentally altering traditional retail purchasing behaviors. According to ThredUp, March 2025, in the '2025 Resale Report', the U.S. secondhand apparel market grew by 14 percent in 2024, outpacing the broader retail clothing sector and signaling a robust migration of spending toward pre-owned performance and lifestyle apparel.

Segmental Insights

The Online segment constitutes the fastest growing category within the Global Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of digital retail strategies by manufacturers aiming to bypass intermediaries. Consumers favor internet retailing due to the ability to access a broader range of sizes and designs that physical stores cannot accommodate. Furthermore, the integration of precise sizing technologies and flexible return policies has effectively addressed concerns regarding product fit. These operational efficiencies and enhanced accessibility firmly position the online channel as the leading engine of sectoral growth.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific commands the Global Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market, driven by its unique position as both a premier manufacturing hub and a rapidly expanding consumer base. The region benefits from established textile production infrastructure in countries like China and Vietnam, which ensures supply chain efficiency for global brands. Concurrently, rising disposable incomes and widespread urbanization have fueled a surge in female participation in recreational sports and wellness tourism. Policy frameworks promoting physical activity, such as national fitness mandates implemented by regional government bodies, further stimulate demand for performance apparel and swimwear, solidifying Asia Pacific’s market leadership.

Recent Developments

• In May 2025, Speedo launched its new "Jetstream" collection, a retro-inspired swimwear range that reimagined heritage designs from the brand's extensive archives for the modern market. The collection featured stylish silhouettes such as sleek one-pieces and avant-garde hooded swim shrugs, blending vintage aesthetics with contemporary performance materials. Constructed with fabric that offered UPF 50+ protection and high chlorine resistance, the line was designed to meet the needs of both fashion-forward beachgoers and active swimmers. This release highlighted the company's strategy to leverage its historical design language while providing functional, durable swimwear for the summer season.
• In February 2025, Nike and the shapewear brand Skims announced a significant collaboration to launch a new fitness brand aimed at redefining the intersection of athletic performance and body-enhancing style. This partnership combined the sportswear giant's expertise in sports science and innovation with the inclusive design philosophy of its partner to create products that cater to all body types. Executives from both companies stated that the collection was designed to support the body's natural curves while delivering functional athletic capabilities. The collaboration sought to invite a new generation of consumers into fitness with gear that instilled both strength and confidence.
• In May 2024, the lifestyle brand Sports Illustrated announced the launch of a new women’s swimwear line, designed and produced in partnership with the industry leader SWIM USA. The eighty-three-piece collection, which debuted exclusively in Amazon stores, featured a mix-and-match assortment of bikini tops, bottoms, one-pieces, and cover-ups available in sizes ranging from XS to XXL. Priced between $30 and $60, the range incorporated bold graphics and bright tropical prints to emphasize individuality and body confidence. This strategic expansion into the swimwear market coincided with the release of the 60th anniversary edition of the brand's iconic magazine.
• In March 2024, Lululemon unveiled a comprehensive suite of new product innovations and research findings derived from its "FURTHER" initiative, a six-day ultramarathon designed to study female human performance. The company released thirty-six new items co-created with female athletes, addressing specific situational needs such as storage and cooling during endurance events. As part of this research-driven launch, the brand introduced a new running shoe engineered specifically for the female foot shape to provide enhanced cushioning and support. This initiative underscored the company’s commitment to closing the data gap in women’s sports science and developing bespoke equipment for female runners.

Key Market Players

• Adidas AG
• Fila Korea Corporation
• Asics Corporation
• Columbia Sportswear Company
• Lululemon Athletica, Inc.
• New Balance, Inc.
• Under Armour, Inc.
• Puma SE
• Adidas AG
• Nike, Inc.

By Material Type	By Sales Channel	By Region
Synthetic Cotton Polyester Others	Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Specialty Stores Multi Branded Stores Online Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market, By Material Type:

• Synthetic
• Cotton
• Polyester
• Others

• Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market, By Sales Channel:

• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Multi Branded Stores
• Online
• Others

• Women’s Sports & Swimwear Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE