(image from TopVogue.net)

If there was one word in particular that stood out to me while reading this article on Nike’s success in sales, it is the slang term “athleisure”. What is athleisure? The purpose of athleisure apparel is to provide comfortable clothes while suggesting a sport-centric lifestyle. Meaning, one doesn’t have to be sporty to wear fashionable workout gear.

This trend was one of the prime reasons why Nike saw success in their sales. Athleisure clothing is a trend that isn’t something particularly new to me, as I have undoubtedly witnessed this trend during my early years of high school. From Lululemon yoga pants to Nike track pants, they were abundant in the hallways. Everyone – especially non-athletic people – wore them.

Only approximately 30% of my high school of 1400 students were involved in sports, and yet I had seen at least half of my peers wear some sort of athletic clothing everyday. From my experience at school, it’s no surprise that Nike gains most of their sales from athleisure clothing. Recognizing this trend allowed them to concentrate on a particular customer segment. By targeting people who wish to look athletic and fashionable simultaneously, Nike experiences growth in sales.