Athletes today gravitate toward comfortable, versatile gear that works beyond the game, such as these Cool Tees. Photo courtesy of Citadel Brands

Another major trend is that sports and fashion, particularly fashion-forward streetwear, continue to merge, with Gen Z’ers and younger millennials having the most influence on fashion spilling over into sports. This has led to an oversized fit, as well as a shift toward unisex and gender- and size-inclusivity trends. Not only are unisex styles going trending but some companies like Royal Apparel are working on inclusive sizing, going up to size 5X in some cases.

“Unisex, oversized fits are dominating athleisure in 2025, blending comfort and style with a focus on relaxed silhouettes, neutral tones and versatile layering. This trend reflects the growing demand for gender-fluid fashion, emphasizing both function and streetwear- inspired aesthetics,” said Lauren Hoskinson, brand ambassador, TriDri Active.

As Gen Z and young millennials continue leading the way, they are also bringing back an old-school collegiate vibe while at the same time mixing it with modern streetwear and high-performance gear. “They want style, comfort, and a personal touch all in one,” said Rachel Hoskins, vice president of sales at Sock 101. She added that custom socks and sneakers are trending, with teams focused on style on top of performance. “From game day to streetwear, the vintage collegiate look is making a big comeback in both sportswear and retail. Think bold stripes, classic varsity fonts, and retro colorways—blending old-school vibes with modern performance.”

Besides the marriage of sports and fashion, unisex and oversized, some of the other buzzwords for this year’s athletic and teamwear market include versatility, comfort, moisture-wicking, sustainability, breathable and lightweight.

A Range of Influences

Rec leagues can be casual enough for participants to wear more classic athletic silhouettes, such as cotton tees. Photo courtesy of HanesBrands

Gen Z and the athletes and influencers that they follow are the primary drivers of trends in this space.

Most industry experts agree that fashion continues to play a major role in team sports, with amateur teams more closely emulating professional teams, yet another trend that is only growing each year. “Professional athletes are more visible due to social media, where the showcase their gameday attire as well as their training and lifestyle looks so it’s very easy for anyone to replicate what they see on these social platforms,” said Karam.

Glen Brumer, sales director with Royal Apparel agreed with the way these trends are coming from influencers and athletes, and what professional teams are wearing, noting that teams are reinventing the uniform as well as what is being worn to sporting events.

“Within this industry, you find trends drive demand, and brands keep the cycle going. Amateur teams follow professional styles for inspiration, team identity, brand influence and better performance wear,” Hoskinson added.

Boomers are influencing trends as well, as this demographic is concerned about health and mental well-being and is therefore participating in sports, like pickle ball, or joining walking or biking clubs. “Each of these activities could be organized to where they are all wearing high-performance team uniforms or could be casual enough for each participant to wear more classic athletic wear silhouettes, such as cotton tees and blended sweats,” said Marcus Davis, product development manager for HanesBrands.

Fit and Silhouettes

The pandemic solidified the place of athleisure in the market, with many people wearing casual, team-inspired clothing as part of their daily outfits. “As that became the norm in more formal settings, we’ve seen significant advancements in fabrics, innovations and products as consumer preferences shifted brands to move in that direction. There is a spectrum shift when you look at active use (uniforms) to passive use (daily wear/outfitting). As uniforms are getting tighter, slimmer, shorter and smaller, you’re seeing outfitting and daily worn apparel gets looser, more relaxed and oversized,” said Joel Bennink, senior vice-president of product for Momentec.

“For low-impact activities, looser or relaxed fits are popular for comfort and can provide warmth and layering opportunities, where high-impact activities may still rely on more fitted clothes for moisture wicking and stretch benefits, as they are closer to the body,” said Davis. “For off-field styling, classic tees, fleece crews and hoods are the go-to silhouettes in this space. The details on each remain simple with them not being over designed, such as hoodies being offered without drawcords. Relaxed fits are being requested more often for comfort and for layering opportunities.”

Karam agreed, saying: “Relaxed and oversize are making a comeback with a streetwear type of influence, with crossover designs of hoodies and joggers and layering pieces. Simple logos with muted tones are incorporated into the design. I do think women do have a more diverse range for fit, with baggy and oversized bottoms mixed with cropped and more fitting tops, while youth has a more fun and bold look.”

Fabrics, Materials

When it comes to socks and shoes, teams are looking to blend retro styles with modern touches. Photo courtesy of Sock 101

Polyester and polyester blends remain popular in this market segment, in part because of their being the best material for sublimation. That said, materials with some stretch are always welcome in the teamwear space. “Moisture wicking, anti-odor and UV protection are features that everyone will be asking for and expecting, but anything that has stretch and recovery for mobility and a soft hand for comfort will be a top seller,” said Davis.

Bennink added that while performance is still king in teamwear, he’d also still seeing a lot of movement toward softer fabrics, cotton handed synthetics, double knits and textures across the board.

“Fabrics can vary from 100-percent cotton, which remains popular due to the soft hand and breathability, to polyester/spandex blends, which can offer benefits such as wicking and stretch. Bottoms will remain important as long as the fabric and styling allow for diverse end-usage occasions, such as training, running and various sporting activities, while maintaining appeal as an everyday lifestyle item,” agreed Davis.

Recycled/alternative materials are also always being improved upon, with recycled polyester (rPET) becoming a staple, Hoskinson said, noting recycled fibers, and cationic dyed products are both trending. “Cationic dye means a product has a higher resistance to bleeding, staining and fading and can promise zero dye migration on to your chosen decoration technique,” Hoskinson said, explaining the advantages of the latter.

“The athletic orders we get have the best of both worlds: the comfort of cotton, and rPET gives you some of that performance,” said Brumer.

Patterns and Colors

Colors are all over the board this year. Brumer said to look for pops of bright, vivid colors trending as well as neutrals. Bright colors can be traced back to fashion influences, while neutrals are often influenced by nature.

“Team palettes don’t change, but how kids express themselves and get noticed through accessories—gloves, mouthguards, sleeves plus footwear continue to drive the trends. Textural patterns are also big—we’re seeing a range of tonal colors within those patterns, to really fun spectrums of cools (purples, turquoises/teals to light blues) or warms (orange to red to pink). Color combos are less abrasive on the eyes (neons), while still providing a pop to the overall look,” said Bennink.

Sustainability

The call for sustainability in apparel—in corporate practices as well as in actual materials used—continues to grow each year, with an increasing

Unisex Fashion Fleece pulls double duty offering more than a trendy look. Photo courtesy of Royal Apparel

number of companies working to try to meet those customer demands. Still, not all experts see sustainability trending very heavily in the area of team apparel. “There are so many advancements in yarns, fabrics and processes that are happening right now. I wouldn’t say it’s at the very top of customers’ demands or wants yet in the team space though; it doesn’t drive the purchase amongst other key features and benefits necessarily,” said Bennink.

“Sustainability is becoming a larger focus for the majority of consumers, but comfort and performance adaptability will be what people look for in their active apparel,” agreed Davis.

One problem, he said, is the attention on the negative environmental impacts of microplastics, often found in recycled apparel. “Synthetic garments make up a large portion of what’s sold in the active wear and team wear markets, and these materials have a higher tendency to create microplastics as they typically do not biodegrade. There are many regulations and innovations being set in place to try and manage the impact of microplastics, from new standards for filters in washing machines to managing how we dispose of our clothes at the end of their lifecycle,” Davis said.

This awareness has led companies to work on innovative solutions and alternatives. Hanes, for example, introduced EcoSmart polyester technology into many of its products last year, which allows synthetic plastic-based fibers to behave more like natural fibers once they are in a landfill, unlike untreated polyester.

Customization Techniques

Customization remains key in athletic wear and team uniforms, though stock uniforms continue to sell well and will always likely have a place in the market.

Customization remains dominant, but stock uniforms also have a strong presence. Photo courtesy of A4

“Customization is still a dominant force in athletic wear and team uniforms, but stock uniforms continue to have a strong market presence—especially for budget-conscious teams. However, the overall trend is shifting toward custom, performance-driven designs,” said Karam.

Brumer noted direct-to-film (DTF), in particular, has grown tremendously over the years. “You can do printing on demand; individual sport names or number lend itself to that,” he said, though if the team is all wearing the same thing, traditional screen-printing comes into play.

“With the continued growth of DTF printing, it’s easier to customize and decorate on just about any fabric blend now. Designers are no longer limited to sticking to high polyester content fabrics to support the decorating side of the business,” said Davis.

That said, sublimation remains important, particularly for polyester-dominant sportswear, which is why companies like Momentec invest heavily in it. “Sublimation is the biggest mover and shaker in the industry right now. It allows so much creativity and expression while allowing for speed and service needs at a reasonable cost,” said Bennink.

“I think embroidery is back in a big way, the consumer is appreciating the quality and the time it takes to get something custom embroidered,” said Hoskins, adding that heat transfer or sewn on patches are another way to personalize garments.

The Year Ahead

The future is bright for this segment of the market, due to the demand for versatility, comfort and performance.

“I still think it continues to be very, very strong. Real estate for activewear continues to grow. As society gets more and more casual, we don’t see it slowing down,” said Brumer.

“Team sports and activities will continue to grow as people look for community building and focus on their own mental and physical well-being. It’s not just organized team sports, but also activities that help build groups and communities that find a common interest in being active together. The products for each market can be completely different, so make sure to offer a variety to your customers, ranging from high tech polyester performance gear to cotton rich tees and sweats,” advised Davis.

“The athletic team wear market is expected to remain strong in 2025, driven by growing participation in sports, increased demand for customization, and advancements in sustainable and performance-driven materials. However, economic factors, supply chain challenges, and evolving consumer preferences will influence the pace of growth,” said Karam.

Hilary Daninhirsch is an award-winning freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. Her work has been featured in a number of lifestyle and trade magazines. She can be reached at hdaninhirsch@gmail.com or hilarydaninhirsch.journoportfolio.com.

The post Game, Set, Match: Athletic & Teamwear Trends appeared first on Impressions.

The Augusta Sportswear Pursuit Polo is versatile and comfortably designed for coaches, fans, professionals and more. Photos courtesy of Momentec Brands

To measure the popularity of the placket and woven categories in today’s promotional apparel market, we must consider where these styles fall behind the tried-and-true T-shirt. While a comfy T-shirt continues to lead the way as the largest selling category, in its wake are wovens, polos and placket designs. These styles continue to secure their respective niches through a marked resurgence in 2024 that is expected to continue in 2025.

Though they may account for smaller pieces of the proverbial pie, wovens and plackets are holding their own. An increase in a return-to-office environment and an uptick in versatility and comfort-driven details are big reasons why.

“T-shirts and polos are always in high demand, since they are versatile, comfort-driven wardrobe staples,” says Amy Carton, director of merchandising & brand management for SanMar. “With a focus on stretch and ease of movement, wovens are providing a fresh new look in the office, with all the benefits needed for an active workplace.”

Emily Quilter, product design director for Momentec Brands, seconds the staying power of the polo: “Polos continue to be very popular as a comfortable and versatile workwear option, particularly when done in performance fabrics,” Quilter says. “Performance polos also continue to be a go-to sideline option for athletic coaches and staff. This style is gaining in popularity with racquet sports, such as pickle ball, as well.”

The sales trend in the placket and woven categories as seen at the end of 2024 was expected to hold steady, even with an evolving shift of the workforce back to the office. However, the formal office dress we remember has been modified. Habits of the office dress code have changed as the need to “keep it formal” is no longer as necessary.

The work-from-home trend that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic most definitely continues to leave a mark on the sales volumes of wovens for the office. That trend, coupled with an overall relaxed dress code in many office cultures, contributes to a steady sales projection.

“I would have to say the sales trend will meet in the middle,” says Jose Garcia Botello, founder and executive manager of YazbekUSA. “Bigger companies are asking their employees to go back into the office, but I don’t think it will mean a return to the same formal dress as before.”

The shakeout of four-plus years of a work-from-home mentality has also created a diversion from more formal dress codes to more casual attire—sometimes much more casual.

“The formal dress code has changed a lot over time,” Botello says. “Wovens were the go-to piece for corporate environments and organizations with very strict dress code guidelines. Nowadays, the trend is more relaxed and casual. T-shirts and jeans are more popular than ever and widely accepted in new corporate environments.”

The Untucking

The untucked trend in plackets and wovens remains popular, even in the corporate space. This trend has only strengthened over the past year and is sure to gain in popularity.

The traditional woven dress shirt never goes out of style, such as Yazbek’s Oxford. Photo courtesy of YazbekUSA

“Untucked shirts remain extremely popular,” says Eric Rubin, CEO of Blue Generation. “The trend took over the woven shirt market, and now with its more casual appearance, we still see tremendous strength in the category.”

To be sure, companies are paying attention to the untucked trend. For example, specialized brands in the retail market are laser-focused on this style, creating a garment that is longer than a regular cut to achieve the untucked look when worn out over the pants.

This is the perfect option for companies in the corporate space that still need their employees to portray a more corporate image. The look is polished, yet casual, checking all boxes. And it’s versatile.

“It looks great and can be dressed up or down,” Botello says. “It is versatile, and I’m positive the trend will translate into the blanks.”

An Opportunity?

Up-selling from T-shirts to a more structured style of shirt absolutely can be a viable way to increase margins, says Botello.

“In any supplier’s catalog, wovens represent a higher ticket,” he says. “The cost can range from three to five times the cost of a T-shirt. The margin is higher, and it helps.”

While up-selling is one way to boost margins, the budget of organizers from church groups and families holding reunions to corporations and companies holding events, also comes into play. Another consideration may be the overall objective for the shirts. A corporation, for instance, might consider a high-end, long-lasting gift for its employees versus a cost-effective T-shirt for a church’s 5k run or a family’s annual reunion.

“Although I would love to see customers step up to a polo shirt instead of a T-shirt, it is usually driven by a lower budget,” says Rubin. “T-shirts tend to be more casual than a polo or woven shirt.”

We know that wovens always have been popular in the hospitality and uniform markets. A woven shirt is simply dressier than a polo and typically projects a more upscale image. However, we also are seeing exciting innovations in woven shirts—both in fabric and styling—that give this category life outside of traditional corporate offices.

“Lightweight, stretch and UV protection fabrics in relaxed silhouettes transition to resort, travel and outdoor industries,” Carton says. “These characteristics make the pieces even more versatile.”

Wovens and plackets have longevity in the market that will remain sound, says Botello. “There is always a market for the style,” he says. “We have seen an increased demand for restaurant uniforms and retailers that prefer their collaborators to dress well. Wovens are here to stay, and the style is not going to disappear overnight. It has been around for years in the market, and there is always an opportunity to sell.”

Botello adds that, while woven and placket products are quite niched, specialized markets need access to those products to offer and sell.

Patterns, Fabrics and Fit

Heading in to 2025, we will see a continued presence of stretchy fabrics and loose feels.

“People love fabrics that stretch for comfort,” Rubin says. “There is no question in my mind that demand for stretch fabrics will continue to grow.”

Add the casual OGIO knit shirt with mechanical stretch to your wardrobe. Photo courtesy of SanMar

Botello adds that the trend of oversized garments and softer stretchy fabrics is only just beginning. “Some brands have decided to address it by manufacturing bigger sizes that don’t look like you are wearing someone else’s shirt,” he says. “The loose fit has to do with comfort and ease of movement.”

A twist on tradition can be expected as well. For instance, polos tend to follow fashion trends, so we can expect to see a few different looks, says Quilter. These include modern, minimalist looks with visual fabric texture, smaller collars with upgraded construction to maintain shape and a return to a more classic, retro-preppy look that offers an on-trend, sporty design.

Rubin points to Blue Generation’s newly introduced “revolutionary polo,” which has a bonded knit collar mimicking a woven collar. “It is uniquely designed to transform a polo into a more polished, dressy look,” he says. “It is the perfect answer for those looking for the comfort of a polo shirt with the dressier look of a woven shirt. It can even be worn with a tie.”

Aesthetically, expect to see colors in various combinations and patterns, while fabrics will be even softer in 2025 as manufacturers strive to meet the demand of the end consumer. A nice-looking and long-lasting, comfortable piece will be complemented by a soft feel.

“Stripes, plaids and patterns are still a mainstay in the retail space for wovens,” says Carton. “For our customer, we are seeing growth in smaller, easy geo prints. These can easily work for individuals or groups, giving seasonal variety and a little pop of interest that can elevate classic styles.”

Patterns, in particular, pose a difference in the perception of the garment, says Botello. Smaller, finer designs can create a look that is more elegant to dress, whereas bigger patterns, such as squares, flowers and other mixed lines, can create a more casual look. Blue Generation offers a full line of tropical-printed camp shirts that are popular in the hotel and hospitality markets as well.

Polyester blends remain popular with plackets and wovens, with brands like Columbia and The North Face offering all-poly or all-cotton woven lines with breathable designs for outdoor activities—widely popular in the American market.

Fashion Forward

Fashion remains a driving a factor in the plackets and wovens space, fostering changes in all aspects of a garment. These shifts range from initial fabric choice, fit and silhouette to design detail decisions regard ing collar shape and size, and placket length.

“Performance and versatility are critical for today’s consumer, so fabrics with performance attributes are key,” Quilter says. “Consumers have come to expect performance attributes, such as wicking, stretch and softness, from their everyday apparel.”

The women’s space is seeing an increased demand for feminine woven shirting, says Hoffman. Expect to see styles with special details that give the customer a modern, polished office vibe. From a popover silhouette to subtle shirring and sleeve details, wovens will be the go-to option.

Rubin adds that sales volume is in the basics, no matter what the trending elements may dictate: “Customers always want to see what’s new,” he says, “but, although we offer 25 colors in many styles, black is the No. 1 selling color.”

The main takeaway? The woven shirt is not going away. “Fashion can add to the style, if we consider the oversized or untucked trends,” Botello says. “It is a piece that defines a polished, well-dressed, professional look, so it may be modified because our dressing habits are changing. However, it won’t disappear.”

Jennifer Morrell Todd is an award-winning writer who has written for a number of national consumer and trade publications. For more information or to comment on this article, email Jennifer at jennmorrell@hotmail.com.

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