Migrating an activewear store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)
How to migrate an activewear, athleisure, or performance apparel WooCommerce store to Shopify — technical fabric specs, size inclusivity, returns policy, brand building, and activewear retail Shopify setup.
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
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