The U.S. fitness clothing market experienced steady growth during 2002-07, thanks to a fusion of fitness and performance, advances in technology, better appeal to women, and the Hispanic athlete. While women shift toward sports-specific apparel, men are falling back to traditional sweat clothing.

This report offers discussion of the following topics:

" How women are helping to drive sales in this market, and how, by appealing to them with variety, technical innovation, and more appealing shopping environments, manufacturers can drive sales.

" How partnerships between companies in the marketplace and outside of it can help propel sales.

" How even in a marketplace that includes the behemoth, Nike, new competitors, such as Under Armour, can come in swinging.

" The significance of the Hispanic consumer in the fitness clothing marketplace.

" The importance of keeping the interest of the older population of Americans.

The report will also explore how rising obesity rates can be both a hindrance and a help to sales in this market, and will discuss the attitudes and motivations of key consumers in the marketplace.