An inclination for soft living lifestyle pursuits and sporting activities with low barriers to entry is driving up participation in recreational hiking, trail running, wild swimming and fishing. Evolving gorpcore aesthetics that prioritise form and function will increasingly meet the resulting demand for versatile everyday pieces with multifunctional appeal.

From skincare-infused apparel to sun protection, heat regulation and sustainable developments, brands and consumers alike are increasingly seeking out harder-working materials with wellness-imbued pragmatic qualities. Additionally, unexpected fabrications will become a go-to as evolving active lifestyles drive interest in sartorially versatile pieces.

The collaboration landscape is shifting across the board, and brands can no longer rely on hyped-up crossovers or buzzworthy logomania to succeed. For active and outdoor brands, it’s all about the strategic sharing of resources, the creative merging of style codes and exploring new ways to drive up excitement across consumer demographics – with learnings for other segments and industries.

As casual participation in sports lifestyle pursuits increases, and comfort continues to be a consumer priority, the visual language of active and outdoors becomes ever more embedded into the fashion vernacular. This offers a plethora of opportunities for non-sports designers and brands to get creative and reimagine their category with new active-inspired flourishes.