The performance apparel market analysed in this report concentrates on two major areas:

• performance apparel within sportswear;
• performance apparel within protectivewear.

In the sportswear sub-segment, the first obvious manifestation of performance apparel appeared around the time of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Driven by spin-offs from technical developments made during the US NASA space programme, the nature of sports apparel began to change. In sports such as cycling and swimming, the aerodynamic nature of the efficiency of movement was helped by the use of better garment shapes and less resistant fabric types. This process has continued ever since then, culminating in garments such as the Speedo LZR swimwear worn by Michael Phelps in Beijing 2008, and the current rows and recriminations over performance-enhancing swimwear at the 2009 World Championships.

The emergence of performance-enhancing garments and fabrics in the world of work started a little later. Protectivewear in general experienced huge market growth in the 1990s. This was mainly driven by the requirements of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) legislation in the European Union. However, the growth of protectivewear has run out of steam in the last five years. Put simplistically, protective requirements have been catered for.

Following the executive summary in Chapter 1, Chapter 2's Introduction lays out the framework of this fourth edition report. It addresses the:

• Nature of the sector in Chapter 3
• Golden years of performance wear in Chapter 4
• Recent history (2004-2008) in Chapter 5
• Uncertain present (2008-2009) in Chapter 6
• Short-term future (2008-2012) in Chapter 7
• Longer-term future (2012-2016) in Chapter 8

The report then considers some milestone dates and regional trends in Chapter 9 before considering various technological, commercial, environmental and ethical issues affecting the sector in the final Chapters 10-14.

Chapter 3 explains just-style's approach to quantifying performance apparel in the sportswear and protectivewear markets and provides retail and wholesale price- and cost-estimates for performance apparel.

Chapters 5 to 8 provide data and analysis for the market growth of performance apparel in its two elements. In Chapter 6, a comparison is made between what was thought in the previous report's edition (Spring 2008) about the size of the elements of the market, and what is now believed to be the estimate in the light of recent economic events (the credit crunch). 2008-2016 regional market values are provided for sports and protective performance apparel.

Chapter 9 Milestone dates and regional trends
For the first time in its market sector report series, just-style has created regional estimates for key milestone dates. These are, inevitably, generic in their nature, but they do provide marketers in these garment categories with guidance on where in the world the best opportunities will be found.

Chapter 10 Technological developments: Techtextil
In this chapter, just-style asked UK-based NWtexnet for its views on Frankfurt's Techtextil show held June 2009.

Extract: "The hot topic appeared to be the remote monitoring of human beings’ vital signs. From a military point of view, a soldier’s fighting capability. From a patient’s point of view, how they are recovering or dealing with medication in their homes."

Chapters 11 and 12 review technological developments in apparel and fabrics and commerical consolidation.

Green issues in performance apparel are discussed in Chapter 13
There are more difficulties in re-cycling in performance apparel than in ‘ordinary’ clothing, given the advanced materials used. Cases reviewed include Patagonia's approach to recycling, Unifi Inc's REPREVE fibre, Coats' EcoVerde line, and the product carbon footprinting standard, PAS 2050.

Chapter 14 Research and development in performance apparel is a long-term process
This chapter reviews existing technological developments in performance clothing including: water proof or water resistance, windproof and thermal, breathable, anti-stain, high visibility, flame retardant, protection from the sun, cleanroom and antistatic technologies.

The chapter then goes on to review new technologies for performance including: multifunctional fabrics, nanotechnology, electronics and textiles, smart clothes and plasma technology.

Read more about this report with just-style's research article here

Chapter 1 Executive summary
Performance apparel explained
Performance apparel defined
Performance apparel as garments, fabrics and trims, fibres and treatments
Explanation of the methodology for the performance apparel market estimates
The golden years of performance apparel
The recent past, 2004-2008
The uncertain present, 2008-2009
The short term future, 2008-2012
The longer term, 2012-2016
Milestone dates and regional trends
Technological developments exhibited at Techtextil
Technological developments in fabrics
Electronics and textiles – two worlds apart, two worlds that are connecting
Commercial consolidation

Chapter 2 Introduction
Performance apparel: function, comfort and fashion
Report contents

Chapter 3 The nature of performance apparel and the market forecasting methodology
Performance apparel explained
The product life cycle
Theme of the third edition report
Performance apparel defined
Performance in sportswear
Performance in protectivewear
Definitions of corporatewear and protectivewear
Workwear
Careerwear
Corporate casualwear
Uniforms
Protective clothing
Performance apparel as garments, fabrics and trims, fibres and treatments
Explanation of the methodology for the performance apparel market estimates
Exchange rates

Chapter 4 The golden years of performance apparel
Performance sportswear’s golden years
Performance protectivewear’s golden years

Chapter 5 The recent past, 2004-2008
Global performance apparel sportswear market, 2004
Global performance apparel protectivewear market, 2004
Global performance apparel sportswear market, 2008
Global performance apparel protectivewear market, 2008

Chapter 6 The uncertain present, 2008-2009
The credit crunch of October 2008
Revisions to estimates for 2008 and 2009

Chapter 7 The short-term future, 2008-2012
Economic and political concerns
Global performance apparel sportswear market, 2008
Global performance apparel protectivewear market, 2008
Global performance apparel sportswear market, 2012
Global performance apparel protectivewear market, 2012

Chapter 8 The longer term, 2012-2016
An apparel sector with good long-term prospects
Global performance apparel sportswear market, 2012
Global performance apparel protectivewear market, 2012
Global performance apparel sportswear market, 2016
Global performance apparel protectivewear market, 2016

Chapter 9 Milestone dates and regional trends
Regional rationale
Regional percentage shares and relative growth rates for performance apparel, sportswear
Regional percentage shares and relative growth rates for performance apparel protectivewear

Chapter 10 Technological developments: Techtextil
Interview with NWtexnet about the Techtextil show
Show news about technical developments

Chapter 11 Technological developments in apparel and fabrics
The drivers of performance apparel
Military and medical applications
Shoe technology
Technological developments in fabrics

Chapter 12 Commercial consolidation
Mergers and acquisitions
Quiksilver

Chapter 13 Environmental issues
Green is the new black
Green issues in performance apparel
A partnership between motorsport, a bottling company, recycled fibres, and the environment
Sustainability in sewing threads
Other eco-warriors
PAS 2050

Chapter 14 Research and development in performance apparel is a long-term process
Old technologies, new technologies
Old technologies for performance
Water proof or water resistant
Windproof and thermal
Breathable
Anti-stain
High visibility
Flame retardant
Protection from the sun
Cleanroom and antistatic
New technologies for performance
Multifunctional fabrics
Nanotechnology
Electronics and textiles: ‘two worlds apart, two worlds that are connecting’
‘Smart clothes’
Plasma technology

List of tables
Table 1: Retail and wholesale prices and costs for performance apparel, 2009
Table 2: Exchange rates used in this report
Table 3: The performance apparel market, 2004-2008 (US$bn and %)
Table 4: Historic growth, 2004-2008 (US$bn and %)
Table 5: The performance apparel market, latest estimates, 2008-2009
Table 6: The performance apparel market, 2008-2012 (US$bn and %)
Table 7: Future growth, 2008-2012 (US$bn and %)
Table 8: The performance apparel market, 2012-2016 (US$bn and %)
Table 9: Future growth, 2012-2016 (US$bn and %)
Table 10: The performance sports- and protective-apparel market by major region, 2008-2016 (US$bn and %)