Inside Outdoor Magazine - Fall 2018

In-Season Inside Outdoor | FALL 2018 41 looking for yoga apparel with technical fibers that combine an ultra-soft hand, compression, colorful styling and dura- bility combined with a long list of other technical capabilities. This includes cooling properties such as wicking and breathability and fabric recovery. In turn, brands known for other product lines, or more traditional forms of yoga apparel, are pushing products with technical capabilities into the mar- ket in hot pursuit of market share. prAna, for example, offers yoga ap- parel for men and women in organic cotton/polyester blends, as well as ap- parel made from fabrics such as Lens- ing Modal and Spandex. “About 50 percent of [this] yoga apparel trend is the reputation of the brand,” said Beringer, “and the other 50 percent is driven by growing de- mand for technical fibers.” Yoga at the Office Consumers also are looking for yoga apparel that can cross over to the office, said Beringer, and buying office apparel made from materials typically found in yoga gear. This trend is popu- lar with both men and women, and major brands are responding with new lines of clothing for both. Beringer described this as an ex- tension of the athleisure phenomenon that started about five years ago. With athleisure, consumers began wear- ing clothes designed specifically for the yoga studio to run errands around town. With this newer version of the athleisure trend, apparel is being designed that can easily cross over from the studio to the office or is be- ing made specifically for the office with fabrics formerly found only in perfor- mance wear. Cindy McNaull, global brand and marketing director for CORDURA, describes this new apparel sector cat- egory as “crossover lifestyle apparel.” “[This] is a growing global demand inspired in many ways by today’s ac- tive and cross-functional sectors,” said McNaull. “The casualization of our wardrobes as well as an athleisure lifestyle has definitely taken off. For consumers looking to work out, but look good while doing it, fabrics with multipurpose functionality and urban styling are key. With this in mind, we have developed an extensive portfolio of head-to-toe CORDURA fabrics that allow designers to create pieces that look great yet hold up to the rigors of today’s high-impact lifestyle.” W. L. Gore & Associates’ Gore-Tex Infinium brand introduced last year is an example of this trend toward urban styling with performance capabilities. Infinium products are made for com- fort, flexibility and performance in daily wear and include water-resistant and lightweight jackets, slim and stylish shoes that keep feet warm, and form- fitting gloves designed to make using a smartphone easy. Gore is referring to this as “next-level comfort.” McNaull added that versatility and style are also factors driving these trends. “Today’s consumers want to The Evolution of Inflatable Kayaks TM Explore Anywhere In the Advanced Frame Convertible Designed to perform. Built for your next adventure. AdvancedElements.com See our complete line of products and nd a dealer near you.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4Njc=