Activewear and athleisure retail is a major growth category — driven by the wellness economy, working-from-home casualisation, and the rise of DTC activewear brands. The market is competitive, with high consumer expectations for fabric performance, size inclusivity, and social proof. Migrating to Shopify is well-suited for activewear, particularly for brand-forward DTC businesses that want control over customer experience.

Product categories

Sports bras: Low, medium, and high impact. Band/cup sizing or XS–XL. Padding and underwire options.
Leggings and tights: Full length, cropped (7/8), shorts. High waist, mid waist.
Training tops: Tank tops, T-shirts, long sleeves. Fitted, relaxed, crop.
Shorts: Running, training, cycling shorts. Liner vs no liner, length.
Outerwear: Running jackets, windbreakers, down gilets.
Swimwear and swim accessories: Training swimwear. Chlorine-resistant fabric.
Sets and bundles: Matching leggings and sports bra sets — strong gifting appeal.

Technical fabric specifications

product.metafields.apparel.fabric_composition = "87% Polyamide, 13% Elastane"   // UK law required
product.metafields.apparel.fabric_weight_gsm = "200"
product.metafields.apparel.moisture_wicking = "true"
product.metafields.apparel.squat_proof = "true"              // key claim for leggings
product.metafields.apparel.four_way_stretch = "true"
product.metafields.apparel.compression = "Light / Medium / High"
product.metafields.apparel.seamless = "true"                 // seamless construction
product.metafields.apparel.anti_pilling = "true"
product.metafields.apparel.uv_protection = "UPF 50+"
product.metafields.apparel.chlorine_resistant = "false"      // for swimwear
product.metafields.apparel.rise = "High waist / Mid waist"
product.metafields.apparel.pockets = "2 side / No pockets"

UK textile labelling requirements

All garments sold in the UK (including online) must comply with the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012:

Fibre composition must be stated as a percentage breakdown — "87% Polyamide, 13% Elastane"
Generic fibre names must be used (Polyamide, not Nylon; Polyester, not Dacron)
Percentage tolerance: ±3% per fibre, ±5% for other fibres
Brand-specific fabric names like "Econyl," "Tencel," "Repreve" can be used alongside the generic name
Country of origin: not mandatory for garments (unlike food) but good practice to note

Sports bra sizing

Sports bra sizing is complex — a common source of returns in activewear retail:

XS–XL sizing: easy to understand, but less precise fit guidance
Band/cup sizing (e.g. 32B–38D): better fit but narrows range for brands offering limited sizes
Hybrid approaches: some brands use S/M/L with cup size variants ("S/32B–34D")
Fit guide: detailed size guide with band measurement + cup size guide on every sports bra product page — critical for reducing returns
Impact level: Low (yoga), Medium (cycling), High (running/HIIT) — note clearly on each product

product.metafields.apparel.impact_level = "Low / Medium / High"
product.metafields.apparel.underwire = "false"
product.metafields.apparel.padded = "true"
product.metafields.apparel.adjustable_straps = "true"
product.metafields.apparel.size_type = "XS-XL / Band-cup"

Influencer and affiliate marketing

Activewear is heavily driven by influencer marketing — integration with Shopify is important:

Affiliate program: Shopify Collabs (native, free) allows creators to apply to promote your brand and earn commission
Discount code tracking: unique discount codes per influencer to track attribution
UGC (user-generated content): Shopify's Reviews apps and Loox allow photo reviews — social proof critical for activewear
TikTok Shop: growing channel for activewear — configure TikTok sales channel in Shopify

Returns management for activewear

Returns are significant in activewear due to fit uncertainty:

Try and return: generous returns policy (30–60 days, unworn with tags) reduces purchase hesitation
Hygiene seal: leggings and shorts with hygiene seal requirement — note clearly in policy
Size exchange: streamline the exchange process — automated returns portal (Loop Returns, AfterShip) reduces admin
Detailed fit guide: investing in comprehensive size guide content reduces return rates measurably

Post-migration checklist for activewear stores

Fabric composition: percentage breakdown on all garments (UK textile law compliance)
Technical properties: moisture-wicking, squat-proof, compression level as metafields
Sports bra: impact level and sizing type clearly noted; fit guide linked on each product
Size guide: detailed measurement guide with model measurements for reference
Returns policy: 30+ day returns noted; hygiene seal policy disclosed
Affiliates: Shopify Collabs or affiliate app configured for influencer partnerships
UGC: photo review app configured for social proof

Migrating an activewear store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)