- Data from NPD Group confirms that athleisure and casualwear are providing the strongest growth in the fashion industry.
- Apparel sales growth was flat Y/Y in 2014 at $208.3B.
- Footwear sales +2% to $62B.
- Accessories +2% to $52.7B.
- Categories with strong demand included sports bras, polo/golf/rugby tops, children's footwear, sports jerseys, handbags, leggings, and jewelry accessories.
- NPD says an "underlying sense of rebellion" driven by millennials is a major factor in the sector.
- Apparel/footwear stocks: CROX, DECK, WWW, SHOO, SKX, SCVL, BWS, FL, FINL, NKE, KATE, ANN, LULU, PVH, VNCE, CRI, UA, HBI, VFC, COLM, GIL, SQBG, JCP, KSS, DDS, M, JWN, ARO, AEO, ANF, WTSL, TLYS, OTC:CACH, ZUMZ, PSUN, EXPR, BKE, GIII, SQBG, HBI, VRA, ICON, BWS, PERY, DXLG, OTC:BONT, GES, URBN, RL,GIL, OXM, HBI, VNCE, PERY, ICON.