Staff Blog: Summer 2013 Apparel Trends From Outdoor Retailer

SKECHERS launches apparel line: The footwear label can now add "performance apparel" to its resume, as SKECHERS has a released a collection of fitness apparel and accessories for men and women. The line will include Shape-ups, Tone-ups and SKECHERS branded technical running, training and everyday "toning" gear that they developed with Li & Fung Limited, a global supply chain manager based in Hong Kong. LF USA, which also works with fashion icon Rachel Zoe’s and Keds’ expansion into sportswear, designed and produced the collection inspired by SKECHERS’ existing line of shoes. The new collection is set to launch early November.

Travel- and Media-Friendly: Brands are keeping travel-minded runners on their radars as they emphasize suitcase-friendly apparel that’s easily compressible and can be folded into small sizes. They’ve also created more loops, pockets and holes in both tops and bottoms to keep media-player cords tucked, secure and out of the way. Such pieces include the Adidas Outdoor baselayer-shell combo Windstopper Fast Jacket and the Dakine packable windbreakers.

Cowl Necks and Ruching: Women’s performance apparel continue to see a shift towards street-to-studio, fashion-friendly pieces as summer items play up cowl necks in jackets and tops, and ruching wherever they can get away with it. The Lucy Activewear Pranayama Jacket and Athleta Prevail Jacket (pictured) are prime example.

Less Is More: As if running wear couldn’t get any more technical, many brands are lightening up with barely-there feel pieces. Most of The North Face’s apparel is 30 percent lighter while Fera, which is mostly known for its skiwear, has a seamless, running technical shirt that weighs 2.3 ounces.

All Strung Up: Ladies, keep an eye out for adjustable tops and bottoms with drawstring cords to make your favorite singlets, t-shirts, shorts, skirts and jackets fit just the way you like it. Such pieces include the Moving Comfort Sprint Tech Skort and items from Gore Running’s Air Lady collection.

Fresh Faces: An influx of ski, surf and other industries are making moves and jumping on the fitness bandwagon as they step outside their comfort zones and release technical collections for runners of all levels. Such labels include surfwear giants Roxy Quiksilver and O’Neill, which launched the Outdoor Fitness and 365 Line, respectively.