Published 04 March 2025

The convergence of sports and outdoor activities with art, lifestyle and culture continues to evolve, resulting in increasingly directional and expressive products. Meanwhile, robustness, resilience and nature-powered design remain in focus. Here, we highlight the key colour, material and finish (CMF) trends and innovations for 2025 and beyond.

Nature 360

Expressive Arts & Crafts

Advanced Optimisation

The Fashion & Lifestyle Crossover

Robust, Resilient & Protective

The yearning for nature immersion is on the rise. In response, brands are taking biophilic design in new directions. Nature’s imprints – whether inspired by earthy gardens, rugged landscapes or warm sunlight – are translated in enriching graphics and CMF, while plant-based materials and natural dyes provide a deeper connection. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring scale of the outdoors is captured in spatial design.

The yearning for nature immersion is on the rise. In response, brands are taking biophilic design in new directions. Nature’s imprints – whether inspired by earthy gardens, rugged landscapes or warm sunlight – are translated in enriching graphics and CMF, while plant-based materials and natural dyes provide a deeper connection. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring scale of the outdoors is captured in spatial design.

Summary

Nature 360

The yearning for nature immersion is on the rise. In response, brands are taking biophilic design in new directions. Nature’s imprints – whether inspired by earthy gardens, rugged landscapes or warm sunlight – are translated in enriching graphics and CMF, while plant-based materials and natural dyes provide a deeper connection. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring scale of the outdoors is captured in spatial design.

Expressive Arts & Crafts

An artful and energised narrative is emerging across outdoor and activewear, fuelled by the interplay of sport with culture and creative expression. Kits and arenas are elevated with bold, playful graphics and handcrafted detailing, like embroidery. Artist collaborations are central to this trend – their signature styles a bastion of diverse local heritages and dynamic individuality.

Advanced Optimisation

The quest for optimisation continues across both product performance and manufacturing. Technological advances, like generative AI tools and 3D printing, are helping to streamline the design process and minimise material usage, all while amplifying features, fit and comfort. Plus, unexpected material innovations are offering up new opportunities for equipment.

The Fashion & Lifestyle Crossover

The influence of sports and outdoor activities is becoming increasingly cross-industry and universal. Active brands are borrowing aesthetic cues and materials from fashion and vice versa, while other lifestyle endeavours – like gaming, galleries, beauty, interior design and wine-making – serve as refreshing inspiration for colour, texture, finish, detailing and even experiences.

Robust, Resilient & Protective

Resilience and personal protection are becoming key consumer aspirations, so products with increased durability and safety measures – including weather protection, corrosion resistance and signal shielding – are growing in significance. A utilitarian aesthetic emerges in unison, defined by sleek technical fabrics, heavy-duty materiality and camouflage prints.

CMF Industry View: Sports & Outdoor 25/26

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Offering access to over 350 consumer and cross-industry reports annually, Stylus Membership is your window to tomorrow’s most exciting opportunities.

We already arm more than 500 of the world’s most forward-thinking brands and agencies with the creative insights they need to make transformative business decisions.

We’d love to do the same for you.

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CMF Industry View: Sports & Outdoor 25/26

CMF Industry View: Sports & Outdoor 25/26

CMF Industry View: Sports & Outdoor 25/26

CMF Industry View: Sports & Outdoo...

CMF Industry View: Sports & Outdoor 25/26

The convergence of sports and outdoor activities with art, lifestyle and culture continues to evolve, resulting in increasingly directional and expressive products. Meanwhile, robustness, resilience and nature-powered design remain in focus. Here, we highlight the key colour, material and finish (CMF) trends and...

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