Legging Market Report: Trends, Forecast and Competitive Analysis to 2035

Legging Market

The future of the global legging market looks promising with opportunities in the women, men, and kid markets. The global legging market is expected to reach an estimated $83.5 billion by 2035 from $48.4 billion in 2027 with a CAGR of 6.9% from 2027 to 2035. The major drivers for this market are the increasing preference for comfortable activewear, the rising demand for versatile fashion choices, and the growing trend of athleisure clothing.

• Lucintel forecasts that, within the distribution channel category, specialty stores is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to hand-selected products based on your preferences.
• Within the end use category, men is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to the rise of athleisure and participation in fitness activities.
• In terms of regions, North America is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to favorable athleisure and fitness culture with high market penetration.

Emerging Trends in Legging Market

From 2025 to 2027, activewear will shift towards smart garments that combine functionality with activewear. This report will cover the current trends related to athleisure apparel including fabric technology, new sizing, omnichannel sales, etc. Lucintel has highlighted product differentiation and market expansion as key areas of focus for brands. Brands will also face trade-offs of increased pricing coupled with more restricted distribution and advertisement.

• Functional Performance: Brands will incorporate more advanced technologies into performance activewear. Lululemon is expected to incorporate more performance fabrics into the 2025 product line and other activewear brands will likely follow. Activewear will have to meet the new expectations of having high functionality both for fitness and for everyday use.
• Premiumization: Activewear with performance fabrics will begin to have an edge on the competition. Advanced fibers in leggings will be able to maintain their shape, have enhanced stretch, and other design features. Activewear will become more expensive than general apparel, but discounts and promotions may be more common.
• Sustainability: Some activewear brands have initiated programs to utilize more eco-friendly and lower impact fabrics and to ensure that their activewear is disposed of in an eco-friendly manner. Regulations will likely become more strict beginning in 2025.
• Digital Manufacturing: Innovations in digital manufacturing, like 3D knitting and automated cutting, paired with forecasting demand technology, help apparel brands reduce sampling waste and produce more consistent garment fits. This technology helps shorten production cycles. In 2025, digital manufacturing technologies became more prevalent in the apparel supply chain.
• Regional Diversification: From 2025 to 2027, brands began expanding production beyond one-country sourcing to include Vietnam, Bangladesh, Turkiye, and nearshore facilities. While this helps overcome freight disruptions and concentration risks of suppliers, cost discipline remains a priority.

The legging market moves away from emphasizing legging numbers and focusing on legging performance and fit. Further, how leggings match certain performance needs and expectations and sustainability concerns will affect sourcing. Digital innovations will also impact how inventory is stocked. Brands should focus on how they deliver leggings to customers and maximize assortment variety without adding unnecessary complexity. For value leggings, quality and honesty will impact success.

Recent Developments in the Legging Market

The leggings market is expected to grow through 2027 as more activewear brands find ways to make their products to be used beyond the gym. Private labels are also expected to grow during this period. Lucintel expects the market will grow, but competitors will focus on improving the fit of their products and ensuring they last longer.

• New Locations: Lululemon expected to open 40-50 new stores in 2025. With more brick and mortar stores, Lululemon will be able to have better control over the sale of their products and potentially charge a higher price.
• Improved Materials: Hyosung announced their new line of bio-based spandex at the 2025 ISPO. Bio-spandex has the potential to replace petroleum-based spandex, which will improve the sustainability of activewear.
• Increased Private Labels: Walmart's improvement of their e-commerce sales in 2025 will allow them to produce and sell more private labels. As a result, other mid-range brands will face greater competition.
• Digital Product Development: Nike recorded revenues of $46.3 billion for FY25 (June 2025). Development in direct to consumer (DTC) channels continued with further innovations in digital engagement and refinement of product assortments. Traditionally, greater focus on demand sensing and fit has reduced the need for promotional markdowns. Anticipate disruptions in product assortment to further optimize the product mix and greater use of sensory data to inform product assortment.
• Supply-chain Regionalization: To comply with the European Union's product marking laws, the producers of recycled polyamide in 2025, initiated more Mid- and Far-South-East European based production. Further shortening of product cycles will push the need for regional production and sourcing of raw materials for textiles, apparel and accessories.

The demand for leggings continues to grow; however, greater emphasis is placed on the performance and perceived value of the product. Brands and partners will need to invest capital to facilitate nearshoring to gain competitive advantage.

Strategic Growth Opportunities in the Legging Market

The market for leggings is entering a new phase as consumers wear athletic clothes for activities beyond working out. Leggings have become a staple of the "athleisure" trend. Because of the new normal of remote and hybrid work, as well as increasing health and wellness spending, leggings are becoming more popular, especially if they are manufactured with "traceable" or "sustainable" materials. Companies can use these trends to develop differentiated products as long as they focus on performance and impact.

• Performance: Leggings that incorporate technologies that help regulate body temperature or serve as compression wear can be justifiable premium products. As leggings continue to replace all types of pants, from work to play, the market will continue to expand.
• Fit: Like the plus-size market: leggings manufactured using body-specific technologies can be extended to accommodate plus-size consumers. Consumers will continue to be willing to pay a premium for apparel that helps them feel their best as long the fit and sizing is on-point.
• Sustainability: Transparent manufacturing practices can differentiate leggings and other athletic wear. Because of increasing awareness of sustainable manufacturing, Inditex, parent company of Zara, reported that 74% of the fibers used in their manufacturing were sustainable in fiscal 2024. Manufacturers of other athletic wear can incorporate sustainable practices and focus on impact and performance to differentiate.
• Health: Compression leggings can be used to serve the rehabilitation market. As the WHO reported that 1.8 billion adults do not get enough exercise, compression leggings can be positioned to serve a wider market opportunity and help fill an unmet need in the consumer market.
• Digital Customization: More individualized methods of manufacturing allow for greater design creativity while reducing returns. Zalando, which has more than 50 million customers in Europe, reported in May 2025 that its digital fit technologies reduced inventory and increased customer satisfaction. Similar tools are likely to increase and improve throughout the industry.

Greater opportunity lies in modifying products to better fit specific consumer needs. Brands that integrate fabric and fit engineering can command a higher average selling price (ASP) and defend it. Documenting the use of recycled materials in a garment can help brands win listing opportunities. The highest potential in the apparel industry is in developed markets like the US and Europe. Companies in the leggings market should focus on performance to create apparel that meets consumer expectations and demands.

Legging Market Drivers and Challenges

The leggings market is a combination of different social, economic and business trends. There is growing customer interest in leggings and other apparel that is comfortable and allows a full range of motion while still being stylish. Customers also want apparel they can wear while working out and while traveling. The leggings market is competitive because businesses can manufacture leggings in a wide variety of colors, designs and fabrics. Leggings are considered by many to be an essential item of apparel. As such, leggings are subject to the same trends and market demands as active wear. Lucintel notes that market participants are challenged to create a balance between affordable prices, innovative designs, and safer, more reliable production. It is anticipated that in the next three to five years, the market will experience continuous growth, despite challenges related to the manufacture and distribution of leggings.

The factors responsible for driving this market include :

• Customer Preferences: Customers want apparel that they can wear while working out, while traveling and while working. Active wear crossed over into other areas of customers' lives. The importance of active wear in customers' lives is anticipated to continue.
• Performance Fabrics: Research and development investments by fabric manufacturers have increased the performance and functionality of fabrics used in apparel. Fabrics with more than 70% recycled and/or engineered fibers first appeared in apparel launched in March 2025. The apparel industry will likely embrace fabrics with advanced performance and functionality in the same manner that it has previously embraced fabrics with anti-wrinkle and stain-resistant features. As a result, basic apparel, including leggings, will likely be replaced by higher-priced performance apparel within the next 3-5 years.
• Sustainability and Circular Economy: Advances in sustainability and the circular economy will continue to align with customers' expectations, particularly the use of recycled materials and reduced environmental impact. Sportswear companies participating in the European textiles initiative reported in April 2025 that 50% or more of the polyester in textiles used in the companies' products was recycled. Companies will continue efforts to align sustainability initiatives with customer expectations to develop products with a positive environmental impact and reduce the risk of harming the company's reputation. In the next 3-5 years, companies will be required to assess the overall environmental impact of products, and as a result, may be forced to modify or replace products with less favorable environmental impacts.
• E-commerce and Product Innovation: In 2025, the ease of online shopping and expanded use of mobile devices further enabled customers to shop for leggings and other apparel online. Access to leggings through online and mobile shopping will continue. Shortened time-to-market cycles and improved effectiveness of online product launches, based on the use of customer reviews and virtual product displays, will allow companies to quickly and inexpensively test new legging designs to increase customer satisfaction and product demand.
• Manufacturing Efficiencies: Automation and flexibility in production help control waste and lead times. Demand forecasting helps with inventory management. Automation in apparel manufacturing is improving. In June 2025, automating the cutting process was shown to reduce fabric waste by 10-20%. Automation, along with nearshoring, offers apparel manufacturers advantages in lead times and the ability to quickly change their product offerings to meet consumer demand. This enhances their ability to manage product offerings and sales variations to improve profitability.

The challenges facing this market include:

• Raw Material and Supply Chain Volatility: Leggings are 75-85% polyester, 15-25% nylon, and elastane. Volatility in these, plus energy and international shipping, negatively impact competitiveness. In May 2025, shipping rates for intercontinental transport was 4x costlier than before COVID. Uncertain cost factors and demand abruptly changing driven by competition cause manufacturers to produce and sell in different, less distanced locations over the next 3-5 years.
• Competitive Pressures: Leading sportswear companies also face competition from fashion retailers, online retailers and discount stores. In July 2025, the promotional apparel category in online markets grew by 15% from the prior year. Focus on price results in inadequate profit margins. To compete, manufacturers and retailers must focus on differentiating by other attributes such as product quality and innovation for the next 3 to 5 years.
• Regulatory and Environmental Compliance: Multiple regulations related to chemical management, product labeling, recycled content, supply chain management, and sustainability are expanding. Starting in February 2025, textile regulations in the EU will mandate greater disclosures. Increasing regulations result in greater overhead costs for companies, particularly for small and medium enterprises. Non-compliance can result in withdrawal of products from the market and loss of business reputation. The next 3-5 years will see more stringent supply chain management.

The market is favorable for leggings and other performance apparel because of the active lifestyle of the consumer. The market will be driven by a continuance of product innovations that further integrates digital and sustainable supply chain. There will be continued opportunities for differentiation and broader acceptance. Barriers for entry will be price and performance. Regulatory changes will require continuous investment for smaller businesses. For long term survival and success, companies need to integrate sustainable growth and profitability into their core business. This will include continuous assessment of market demands and expectations, differentiation, and positioning for competitive advantage.

List of Legging Market Companies

Companies in the market compete on the basis of product quality offered. Major players in this market focus on expanding their manufacturing facilities, R&D investments, infrastructural development, and leverage integration opportunities across the value chain. Through these strategies legging market companies cater increasing demand, ensure competitive effectiveness, develop innovative products & technologies, reduce production costs, and expand their customer base. Some of the legging market companies profiled in this report include-

• Nike, Inc.
• Adidas AG
• Lululemon Athletica Inc.
• Under Armour, Inc.
• Puma SE
• Gap Inc.
• Spanx, LLC
• Levi Strauss & Co.
• Gymshark Ltd.
• Calzedonia Group

Legging Market by Segment

The study includes a forecast for the global legging market by material, category, distribution channel, end use, and region.

Legging Market by Material [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]:

• Cotton
• Polyester
• Blended
• Others

Legging Market by Category [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]:

• Mass
• Premium/Luxury

Legging Market by Distribution Channel [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]:

• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Online Retail Stores
• Others

Legging Market by End Use [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]:

• Women
• Men
• Kids

Legging Market by Region [Value ($B) from 2019 to 2035]:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• The Rest of the World

Country Wise Outlook for the Legging Market

Performance apparel will continue to include leggings. Lululemon and Nike will continue to gain market share as they expand their legging and apparel lines. For the next few years, textile policies are expected to bring changes to supply chains. Each of the three regions will have distinct market drivers.

• United States: Companies will invest in leggings and apparel manufacturing in the USA. Lululemon introduced the newest versions of its popular leggings in 2025. Nike will continue to strengthen its presence in women's training apparel and leggings. Other companies will attempt to keep up with new leggings designs and technology to gain a competitive edge in the industry.
• China: Anta and Li-Ning will attempt to keep up with the latest fabrics and designs in leggings to gain market share. Other textile companies in China will invest in new technologies and automation to manufacture performance leggings and apparel.
• Germany: Adidas and other companies will work to gain market share with leggings designed with recycled materials. Other companies will work to ensure their leggings meet new requirements for sustainability and traceability to gain a competitive edge.
• India: One of the key features of the Indian textile sector is its capacity to produce large volumes of textiles. In February 2025, the Indian Cabinet released the second phase of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the man-made fibers (MMFs) and technical textiles sector with a total budgetary allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore. Additionally, Rs. 1,148 crore were allocated for the National Technical Textiles Mission. It is expected that both the initiatives will bring large scale manufacturing units of technically advanced textiles and stimulate the domestic production of stretch synthetic textiles.
• Japan: Product Innovation: In February 2025, Asics, the Japanese sportswear company, announced its financial results for the year ending December 2024. The company reported a 18.9% year over year increase in its net sales to ¥678.5 billion. Asics has been focusing on research and development of new textiles and digital products. The company aims to develop new textiles to manufacture high end leggings and expand its distribution to new markets.

Features of the Global Legging Market

• Market Size Estimates: legging market size estimation in terms of value ($B).
• Trend and Forecast Analysis: Market trends (2019 to 2026) and forecast (2027 to 2035) by various segments and regions.
• Segmentation Analysis: legging market size by various segments, such as by material, category, distribution channel, end use, and region in terms of value ($B).
• Regional Analysis: legging market breakdown by North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.
• Growth Opportunities: Analysis of growth opportunities in different materials, categories, distribution channels, end uses, and regions for the legging market.
• Strategic Analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape of the legging market.

Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter's Five Forces model.

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This report answers following 11 key questions:

• Q.1. What are some of the most promising, high-growth opportunities for the legging market by material (cotton, polyester, blended, and others), category (mass and premium/luxury), distribution channel (hypermarkets/supermarkets, specialty stores, online retail stores, and others), end use (women, men, and kids), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World)?
• Q.2. Which segments will grow at a faster pace and why?
• Q.3. Which region will grow at a faster pace and why?
• Q.4. What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the key challenges and business risks in this market?
• Q.5. What are the business risks and competitive threats in this market?
• Q.6. What are the emerging trends in this market and the reasons behind them?
• Q.7. What are some of the changing demands of customers in the market?
• Q.8. What are the new developments in the market? Which companies are leading these developments?
• Q.9. Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are key players pursuing for business growth?
• Q.10. What are some of the competing products in this market and how big of a threat do they pose for loss of market share by material or product substitution?
• Q.11. What M&A activity has occurred in the last 7 years and what has its impact been on the industry?