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Outlook 2010: Apparel

Despite the tough economy, manufacturers are fired up about their apparel offerings.

Clothing trends continue to be toward bold and vibrant colors, says Rob Grow, director of apparel for Prince. “However, many consumers are also looking for the basics that can be worn off the court as well.” And high-performance fabrics offering technical aspects — such as anti-microbial, UV protective, anti-static, and water and wind resistance — continue to appear in clothing lines.

Prince’s Gold and Black lines will have enhanced technical features in 2010, including taped seams, laser-cut mesh, seamless styles and aerotech stretch mesh for fit and ventilation. Prince offers a classic white and black color scheme in the Gold Collection for men and women that will be launched in February, then a hot pink for the women and a bold red for the men in April.

Bolle’s Purple Rain High-Performance group will be delivered to stores in March. Included in the group is a racer-back top with built-in bra and a pull-on skirt with attached shorts. Bolle’s High-Performance line is geared toward a younger market, with silhouettes cut closer to the body, skirts slightly shorter, and vibrant colors.

Fila’s debuted its Heritage collection last spring, combining classic styling with state of the art performance fabrications for men and women. The clean designs in navy, red and white continue to appeal to players of all levels, says Fila, and are worn by pros Agi Szavay, Marin Cilic, and Svetlana Kuznetsova, among others.

For Wilson, the 2010 line is focused on creating performance quality apparel with innovative technologies and an athletic fit, says the company. The line was created with careful attention to smart design and details. It’s Core Performance Collection features “body mapped” pieces that maximize cooling and ventilation. “We feel strongly about creating gear for the athlete while integrating style and design,” says Wilson.

From the February 2010 issue
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