Launching an activewear brand is both exciting, and demanding. For first-timers, it's filled to the brim with ups and downs. But, with a clear plan and the right strategic partner, the inauguration can favor the highs and improve how you manage the lows.

The supply chain in apparel is complex, with lots of challenges but also opportunities to improve and grow. It includes everything from getting the raw materials to delivering the finished clothes to shoppers.

Given the transient nature of packaging – often disposed of immediately after use – fashion retailers and brands are now exploring sustainable packaging solutions to mitigate waste and environmental harm.

The apparel industry is embracing a greener path. Sport Casuals International is at the forefront, championing fabrics that prioritize both the athlete's performance and the planet's health. After decades of leaning into this environmental change, here are 5 sustainable choices that SCI is proudly selecting to redefine activewear.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of athletic apparel, SeaCell™ emerges as a beacon of innovation and sustainability. This remarkable fabric, blending cellulose from trees with nutritious seaweed, is making waves in the industry. It's not just eco-friendly; it's a powerhouse of functionality and comfort. Dive into the world of SeaCell™ and discover how it's setting new benchmarks in activewear.

In the dynamic world of performance apparel, staying ahead means embracing innovation at every turn. At the forefront of this evolution is a commitment to using revolutionary fabrics that set new standards in comfort, durability, and functionality.

North America, in particular the United States, accounts for a majority of the global activewear market. Younger females within the millennial and Gen Z age groups are the most active consumer, and this behavior increases with gymgoers, yogis, and athletes among those generations.

Consumers are bombarded by choices when shopping for activewear, further complicated by the extremely high but still rising amount of brands in the space. Emerging activewear brands find it increasingly difficult to reach their target consumer today, and ultimately struggle to compete for a share of hearts and wallets.

In clothing, performance fabrics are used to create garments that enhance the wearer's intended activity. In activewear, this includes fabrics that are antimicrobial, durable, lightweight, moisture-wicking, mold-resistant, stain-resistant, thermoregulating, breathable, and stretchable.

Nuyarn is a type of performance wool that’s uniquely made to retain more of the wool’s natural characteristics, which make it softer, less itchy, stronger, and plusher. The eco-friendly yarn offers excellent thermoregulation and moisture management, just like conventional wool.

Direct-to-consumer or DTC brands were holding onto a well-kept secret, at least until recently. That is, activewear is the future of this area of the clothing industry. But why has activewear exploded across DTC brands?

Poly bags or pouches are used to package all sorts of products, from clothing to magazines and other consumer goods. However, the bags are comprised of a plastic film if not made entirely of plastic. So what are some eco-friendly alternatives you can use instead of poly bags?

If you're in the activewear or athleticwear space, Gymshark has to be on your radar. The brand's rise is the stuff of legends - initially founded as a supplement brand by two 20-year-old friends, after a year in business Gymshark started designing and creating fitness apparel.

Seawool is an upcycled fabric made from oyster shells and recycled plastic bottles. The result is a texture that feels like wool yet doesn’t itch. Seawool is antibacterial, anti-static, soft to the touch, and insulates, making it an excellent choice for activewear.

Some of the best fabrics in sportswear are sustainable, including cotton, hemp, recycled wool, man-made cellulosic fibers, recycled or biodegradable polyester, and regenerated nylon. This eco-friendly range of fabrics offers flexible, moisture-wicking, and sustainably sourced alternatives.

Rayon is often promoted as a "natural" fiber, but is actually a semi-synthetic fiber derived from cellulose found in wood pulp. The process of turning cellulose into rayon is chemically intensive and creates toxic byproducts - in other words, it's naturally sourced, but unsustainably manufactured.

SeaCell is a biodegradable clothing fiber that comes from cellulose or tree fibers and organic seaweed. The material is in high demand among athletic apparel brands, since it inhibits bacterial growth, is soft and stretchy, hypoallergenic, and is derived from renewable resources.

Maybe you’re starting your first performance apparel brand, or perhaps you're adding sportswear to your brand's lineup. Either way, the following manufacturing terms will ease your transition into the world of sportswear, activewear, athleisure, or any type of apparel launch for that matter.

Bamboo charcoal fabric is a fabric treatment using the activated carbon of burnt bamboo; a highly porous material. This application has several benefits for garments, including thermal regulation, odor absorption, and static reduction. Bamboo charcoal fabric is also hypoallergenic and antibacterial.

Sportswear is commonly made from a variety of materials and blends, the most popular includes polyester, nylon, and spandex. These synthetic fibers are lightweight, durable, and moisture-wicking; ideal for activewear. A rising trend is replacing synthetic fibers with recycled and natural fibers.