What: Luxury brands and startups are betting on the growth of pickleball, padel, rugby, boxing and skiing to inspire a new appetite for sportswear.

Why it is important: The activewear industry has seen tremendous growth over the past two decades. Brands like Lululemon or Gymshark have gained huge success through catering to emerging sports trends like yoga or strength training which allowed them to grow with the momentum of the once niche sport and helped them to compete with larger brands like Nike or Adidas who cater to multiple sports.

Today brands are looking at niche sports yet to be associated with established apparel companies. The sports that have been identified as having promising growth include pickleball and other racket-based sports, skiing, rugby, and boxing. Supporters of these emerging trends highlight the importance of community motivating consumers to buy sport-specific gear. Instead of reusing yoga or tennis gear, consumers are enticed by an in-group mentality.

The next big category for activewear