The global athleisure market is projected to hit $221.3 billion by 2026. Discover how to start a fitness clothing line using Print on Demand (POD) and easily enter this profitable industry.
Let’s flex those entrepreneurial muscles and tap into the lucrative workout clothing market like a pro.
Key takeaways
- The fitness clothing market is among the fastest-growing clothing business niches.
- Print on Demand is one of the easiest methods for those looking to learn how to start a fitness clothing line.
- Developing strong branding and understanding your target market are crucial steps in launching a successful fitness clothing line.
- Consistent market research helps you stay ahead of trends, ensuring your products resonate with the audience.
- Offering versatile options like casual clothing alongside activewear can expand your customer base and increase brand profitability.
How to start a fitness clothing line with Print On Demand
Launching a sportswear brand follows the same process as launching any other brand. You need to find an idea that fills a market gap and sell it to your customer niche.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need – from drafting a business plan to creating your sales strategy and branding.
Research the market and select a niche
![How to start a fitness clothing line – Complete guide ([bp_year]) 1](https://printify.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Research-the-Market-and-Select-a-Niche-1.jpg "Research the Market and Select a Niche 1")
First, examine the current market situation. Conducting relevant industry research will help you find your customer niche and learn about current sportswear fashion trends and bestselling products.
Use Google Trends to explore what’s in demand in different parts of the world, or grab some ideas from the suggestions below.
eSports. Competitive multiplayer gaming events have surged in popularity, amounting to an audience of over 540 million people.
That means there’s a growing number of people wanting to purchase eSports-themed attire. We’re talking about shirts, custom-printed hoodies, leggings, socks, and more, whether it’s in support of a specific team or the game itself.
The industry’s global market revenue is valued at $2.39 billion.
Yoga. One in six Americans practice yoga, so this is your sign to start an athletic clothing business in this niche.
Top items to sell to yoga enthusiasts include leggings, socks, tank tops, and mats.
Experts project the value of the yoga industry to reach $215 billion by 2025.
Home Gym. With 35% of Americans working remotely or in hybrid setups, many adapt their workout routines for home.
A yoga mat near their desk, sneakers for morning runs, or a dedicated gym space – the sky’s the limit for selling gym clothing and accessories.
The global sports apparel market is set to reach around $245 billion in 2026.
Athleisure or Activewear. Your athletic apparel business doesn’t need to focus on just one product type – work out your areas of expertise for maximum profitability.
Create buyer personas to set your gym clothing line up for success and cater items to your target customers, whether they’re fitness enthusiasts or casual athleisure fans.
Choose what products to sell
When learning how to start a gym clothing line, understand that you’re stepping into a saturated market. Choosing the best clothing products and accessories is one way to stand out against competitors.
Check out our selection of products in the Printify Catalog, from fitness apparel and equipment to accessories like custom backpacks and water bottles.
Printify fitness products
Offer products that cater to different areas of the activewear market, whether it’s sportswear, streetwear, or athleisure. This will help you stand out among other fitness apparel brands.
Here are four product categories and some top picks from our Catalog to help you carve out your niche.
- Sportswear essentials – A core product category blending durability and comfort. Check out our Adidas Unisex Sport T-Shirt that’s perfect for intense workouts.
Pair it with our Men’s Jogger Shorts or Women’s Leggings for a full activewear set that customers will love. - Streetwear meets fitness – Combining fashion-forward designs with functionality, the Champion Hoodie and Champion Sweatshirt offer a cozy yet stylish option for post-workout wear.
- Athleisure appeal – The perfect middle ground between sportswear and casual wear, the Adidas Fleece Hoodie and Adidas Fleece Joggers are perfect examples of blending comfort with a sleek, modern design.
- Accessories – To complete your customers’ look, offer Gym Socks, footwear like Men’s Mesh Sneakers and Women’s Mesh Sneakers, and a Gym Duffle Bag wrapped in custom designs.
Whether your customers are hitting the gym or just enjoying a casual day out, your custom Printify product line can cover all their needs with style and functionality.
Prepare a business strategy
![How to start a fitness clothing line – Complete guide ([bp_year]) 2](https://printify.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Prepare-a-Business-Strategy.jpg "Prepare a Business Strategy")
Understanding how to start an activewear brand requires a well-thought-out business plan, from product creation to marketing.
After identifying the industry and target market, review your budget. Will you have enough money to cover start-up costs, or will you need financial assistance?
Consider opening a business bank account to separate your personal finances from your business. This is often a requirement when applying for business loans, business licenses, and business insurance, and will make your store accounting and tax filing much easier.
Next, decide your profit margin with all the associated expenses of your new business in mind. These include product fulfillment and shipping costs, taxes, and other expenses from your chosen sales platform.
Develop a brand
The next step in how to start an athletic clothing brand is crafting a business name. Carefully develop your fitness brand identity and establish your unique selling point to the target audience.
- What’s your purpose? What will make your new fitness clothing line different from all other sports clothing businesses?
- What are your brand values? If you support an important cause, communicate it clearly on your About page so customers understand what you’re all about.
Next, start working on the visuals for your gym apparel line. This includes the product designs, brand logo, and the appearance of your online store.
Select a marketplace or platform to sell on
![How to start a fitness clothing line – Complete guide ([bp_year]) 3](https://printify.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Select-a-Marketplace-or-Platform-to-Sell-On.jpg "Select a Marketplace or Platform to Sell On")
It’s important to meet your target customers where they are to ease their shopping experience. Selling online is the best way to start for maximum flexibility and reach, although you can eventually expand to a physical storefront.
Understanding the difference between an eCommerce platform and a marketplace is crucial when launching your own fitness clothing line.
An eCommerce platform lets you build a custom online store, giving you complete control over branding and the shopping experience. A marketplace is where many sellers offer their products, providing an existing audience but less control over customization.
Here are some popular online eCommerce solutions we recommend.
- Shopify – Perfect for creating a stand-alone, fully customizable online store. Shopify’s apps and integrations are convenient for building a streamlined shopping experience.
- Etsy – Known for unique items, this marketplace provides excellent exposure to an established customer base. It’s ideal for independent designers and beginners selling POD products.
- Wix – An easy-to-use website builder with strong eCommerce capabilities, offering a balance of simplicity and customization for your fitness POD store.
Each solution offers different features and audiences for your fitness apparel business. You don’t have to choose just one – connect multiple platforms to the same Printify account.
We offer the Printify API and automated integrations with some of the most popular eCommerce platforms and marketplaces. For example – Shopify, Etsy, Wix, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, eBay, and more.
Save up to 30% on shipping costs when ordering products for your fitness apparel line in bulk. It’s a cost-effective way to supply physical stores or local markets.
Prepare a marketing strategy
Your fitness clothing business marketing strategy should adapt to each marketing channel you’re using.
Whether crafting engaging fitness lifestyle posts for Instagram or making TikTok videos, make sure to:
- Keep up with trends to create relevant content for your audience.
- Run ads for better visibility.
- Use each platform’s marketing tools to grow your fitness clothing business.
- Optimize your eCommerce shop for search engines.
- Link your online store to major social media platforms.
Focus on the tools and strategies that work best for each platform to connect with your audience.
Collect data and adapt
Regularly analyze data to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to market trends.
Monitoring trends in clothing manufacturing, following fitness influencers, and studying your competitors are all key activities that can inform your business decisions.
Good data collection helps your fitness apparel business meet customer expectations and address their needs.
Understanding their preferences and shopping behaviors lets you create a product line that resonates, making it easier for consumers to see themselves wearing and enjoying your fitness clothing.
Start your own fitness clothing line today!
Tips for successfully starting a fitness clothing line business
![How to start a fitness clothing line – Complete guide ([bp_year]) 4](https://printify.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Tips-for-Successfully-Starting-a-Fitness-Clothing-Line-Business.jpg "Tips for Successfully Starting a Fitness Clothing Line Business")
Maintaining steady business growth when starting a fitness clothing brand involves developing a solid business plan and successfully adapting to market demands.
Increase your chances of success in the fashion industry by following these additional tips to help your business idea thrive.
1. Market in the right places
Consider multiple marketing channels to reach potential clients, but only stick with ones that provide a return on your investment. Weigh these factors to make an informed decision:
- Where do your customers spend most of their time?
- Which social media platforms do they use?
- What types of media do they consume?
Advertise your business website through these channels to gain the most reach for your new fitness clothing line.
Remember to keep track of your advertising expenses and metrics as part of your overall marketing plan to ensure your ads bring in new and returning customers.
2. Automate repetitive tasks
Save time and increase your productivity by automating key features of POD and eCommerce platforms.
Connect your Printify account to a sales channel to quickly manage product listings. We also provide order fulfillment automation – our activewear manufacturers will print, package, and dispatch products for you.
Some other aspects to consider automating are ads, email campaigns, and customer relationship management (CRM).
3. Expand your product selection
Once you start selling athletic wear, customers will provide feedback on which sports clothing products they like and want to see featured in your store.
This is all valuable information that will help you expand the offerings of your private-label fitness clothing line by adapting to customers’ needs and requests.
4. Be one step ahead
Having a solid business plan is just the beginning. To stay competitive, keep an eye on trends like:
- Customers’ spending habits
- Competitors’ products and strategies
- New items with a high profit potential
These are all crucial aspects of running a successful fitness clothing line.
The trends you follow will depend on the type of fitness line you have, but make sure to capitalize on opportunities before they go mainstream. Whether it’s men’s leggings or innovative sports bras, keep your store stocked with potential bestsellers.
Start a fitness clothing line with Printify
![How to start a fitness clothing line – Complete guide ([bp_year]) 5](https://printify.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Start-a-Fitness-Clothing-Line-With-Printify.jpg "Start a Fitness Clothing Line With Printify")
Break into the clothing industry from anywhere in the world with Printify.
We offer the lowest prices in POD, a global network of leading Print Providers, and a dedicated Support Team to help you maximize your eCommerce journey.
Step 1: Customize your products
Browse our Catalog to find the perfect products for your fitness clothing line, then upload your custom designs to our Product Creator.
Preview realistic mockups to see how the designs will look in real life and make adjustments if needed.
Step 2: Order a sample
Place sample orders to make sure your products match your expectations. Check the size, texture, fabric weight, and everything else that’s important to your customers, so they are happy with the end result.
Step 3: Publish fitness apparel to your store
Connect your Printify account to a store using our eCommerce integrations. That’s it! Now, promote your store and start selling fitness clothing to customers worldwide.
FAQ
Expenses vary, depending on factors like sourcing materials, manufacturing, and marketing. To keep costs down, consider partnering with a print-on-demand service like Printify.
Doing thorough market research will help you estimate the initial investment needed and tailor your brand to the target market.
The costs to start a clothing line vary significantly depending on your business model and goals. Using a print-on-demand service like Printify is one way to reduce upfront costs.
Whether selling fitness apparel or casual clothing, sign up for free and only pay once you make a sale. Ultimately, your budget and business goals will guide these financial decisions.
Many sellers make a good profit with the right strategy, like tapping into niche markets and focusing on sustainable materials. Profitability depends on factors like your unique selling point and product quality.
With the growing demand for activewear, a well-executed brand story can set you apart in the competitive clothing industry.
Starting an athletic clothing line involves everything from choosing the right materials to creating a compelling marketing plan and selecting a manufacturing partner. With Printify, our vast network of print providers and over 900 hundred products can help kick-start your success.
To recap
Now that you’ve learned how to start a workout clothing line and reach your niche market, it’s time to start selling.
With Printify, design and sell activewear to your target audience with no inventory, no risk, and no upfront investment.
All you need to do is design and market your workout clothes to reach potential customers while we handle the rest, from production to shipping.
