With the ever-changing trends of athleisure, it can be hard to predict the following must-have style. Between flashy fitness watches, the rise of yoga pants, and the retirement (and comeback) of the fanny pack, sports fashion can get confusing. 

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Don't worry; in this article, we'll break it all down and review upcoming sports fashion trends for 2023!

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Add Some Flare

Last year, one of the biggest athleisure trends was apparel that could be dressed up or down, and pants were one of the main pieces of clothing to adapt. Ever heard of snoga pants? They're ski pants and yoga pants combined!

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This year, while comfort is still a priority, the 80s and 90s are also back in style. So get ready to see many brands include flare pants, where tight material widens below the knee to create a bell-bottom. These styles have already become popular in loungewear, like sweatpants. 

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Prepare for athleticwear companies to expand their designs into something a bit more fashionable (and maybe even comfier) than standard leggings.

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One-Pieces

Matching sets are one of the most popular athleisure pieces of recent years, and they're only getting better…enter: the rise of unitards. 

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Any gender can rock these one-piece, short-sleeve athletic bodysuits, and they're often sold in monochrome, whether neon green, classic black, or pastel blue. They may even remind you of the unforgettable leotards that fitness instructors used to rock in workout videos from the 80s. 

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All types of brands, from everyday wear like H&M to luxury brands like Palm Angels, have jumped on the unitard wave. Some may like it for the comfort and ease of a one-piece, while others may enjoy the flexibility to layer or mix and match a simple staple with other styles. 

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Whichever your preference, check out this excellent Women's Health Magazine article for an A to Z review of the best one-piece brands and styles.

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Eco-Friendly Practices

If you're tired of the words "sustainable" or "eco-friendly," we've got some bad news because it's only becoming more important! We've touched on this in the past, but the idea of brands becoming more in touch with environmentally conscious decisions won't go away anytime soon. 

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Over 75% of Gen Z customers think sustainability is a crucial business characteristic, according to this NASDAQ article.

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For the sports fashion industry, this can mean a lot. Fast fashion, which some brands engage in, is the practice of rapidly producing, distributing, (and later discarding) styles and products en masse. The process typically makes products cheaper for customers than higher quality pieces or styles, which can take longer and more money to create and purchase. 

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The problem, however, lies in how many unused fast fashion products end up as waste and cause massive carbon emissions. 

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As an outdoor brand, ways to introduce more eco-friendly alternatives include the materials used to make apparel, where and how these materials are sourced, and even how these products are shipped, packaged, and handled worldwide.

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Transitioning to more eco-friendly business practices may be expensive, and these changes can take time! But there's no right way to do better besides educating yourself and keeping the brand faithful to your customers' needs (and the earth). 

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For some ideas of excellent brands, check out this article from Vogue.

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Wrapping Up

One of the best parts of the new year is seeing all the fresh design trends that will emerge, especially for outdoor brands in sports fashion. No matter your style, there is a way to incorporate some of these hot new ideas of 2023 into your routine, whether you flare it up, go back to the (eco-friendly) basics, or create a funky one-piece!

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