As the boundaries between casualwear and sportswear continue to blur, active sportswear has become a laboratory for new ideas, materials, volumes, and styles. Peclers Paris, a renowned lifestyle trend-forecasting agency with offices in Paris, Los Angeles, and Shanghai, has identified the key trends that will shape the Spring/Summer 2025 season in active sportswear.
One of the most prominent trends is the fusion of science, nature, and technology to create a modular and functional wardrobe for the conscious and committed adventurer. Technical materials such as mesh, netting, paper-touch leather alternatives, and featherweight nylons offer a balance of functionality and aesthetics, catering to a comfortable, nomadic lifestyle. Innovative fabrics, like the solar panel-integrated vest designed by researchers at Aalto University in Finland, not only support performance but also perform functions themselves, harnessing the energy of the sun to power wearable devices and body sensors.
The ongoing search for new materials has also led to a new form of refinement in active sportswear, characterized by sporty layering that maximizes lightness and contrast. Innovations in breathability, thickness, ease of movement, and fabric crispness have contributed to the gradual decompartmentalization of categories, with transparencies, fastening details, subtle shades, and almost-tailored volumes becoming integral to the sports look. This trend elevates sportswear to a chic and everyday style, transforming the act of practicing a sport into a holistic experience that begins with dressing and styling.
Sports accessories have also undergone a transformation, becoming more practical and benefiting from high-end innovations in materials and production. 3D-printed shoes, crossover bags, and rucksacks designed for optimal storage and ease of use on the trail or in the city, along with breathable and easy-to-fasten sport caps, serve both as performance enhancers and fashionable accessories. These items seamlessly transition from the track to dressier occasions, adding a unique flair to any silhouette.
Nature-inspired patterns, color palettes, textures, and shapes are another key trend in active sportswear for SS25. Rather than realistically emulating nature, designers explore an unusual, fantasized version of nature, influenced by digital imagery. New camouflage patterns that blend bio-mimicry with digital motifs, 3D effects, and network prints invite the wearer to dive into a mysterious universe where patterns merge seabed, space, and nature. Accessories, in particular, offer an opportunity to be daring and transform familiar objects into collectibles.
The athletic body itself serves as inspiration for new designs in active sportswear, with garments that not only accompany the body in its endeavors but also showcase and enhance it. Complex cuts that encourage movement while emphasizing the harmony of shapes and muscles, such as sports-inspired lingerie for multiple uses and high-performance jerseys with reinforced zones that become patterns themselves, demonstrate the fusion of sophistication and technicity.
Sustainability remains a crucial aspect of active sportswear, with brands turning to nature for eco-friendly materials. Textiles made from blends of fibers derived from agricultural waste, such as orange peel and banana, offer a low environmental impact while maintaining high performance. Collaborations between brands like Ganni and Pangaia with textile innovators Pyratex Elements and Genometica showcase the potential for creating clean, sustainable jerseys without compromising on quality.
As the Spring/Summer 2025 season approaches, active sportswear continues to evolve, driven by innovation, sustainability, and the growing convergence of casualwear and sportswear. Peclers Paris' insights into the key trends shaping this category demonstrate the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for brands and consumers alike, as they embrace a new era of functional, fashionable, and eco-conscious active sportswear.
