Surfing Apparel and Accessories Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Surf apparel, Surf accessories), By Distribution Channel (Offline retail, Online retail) And Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Surfing is a sports adventure that has gained wide popularity among users fascinated by adventure stuff. It's an aspirational activity for those who love wearing outfits that associate them with the freedom of enjoying the beach and riding waves. Surfing as a sports activity has gained wide popularity over the years, and the culture of popular surf destinations had a tremendous impact on global surf fashion.  The love and passion for surfing are growing, and most of the population is aligned towards adventure-related and beach leisure activities.

As surfing became popular, there is a greater penetration of new brands to deliver superior quality aesthetics targeting surfing lovers. Surfing apparel brands like Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Vans, etc., have created enormous growth opportunities by offering rich quality and design surfing accessories. Clothing items such as wet suits, board shorts, pro water surf boots, and surfboards allow the surfers to stay comfortable, warm, and rash-free. Also, flip-flops and polarized sunglasses are essential requirements for surfers.  This type of outfit offers easy flexibility and mobility to the users since they are prepared from nylon or rubbered synthetic polymers that are stretchable. The fashion trends in relation to surfing among the new generation are expected to grow in the future.

The rising number of surfing destinations and the trend of surfing activities are anticipated to propel market growth. Surfing enthusiasts have established a passion for trending outlooks that suit their comfort and functional requirements. The growing number of training programs for surfing sport has positively influenced the surfers to invest more in surfing activities. For instance, in December 2020, the International Surfing Association(ISA) has played an active role in developing and promoting surfing sport and launched the surf instructor certification program. This program comes with the best practices to instruct adaptive surfers.

Also, the popularity of surf camps and surf schools provides a taste of the surfing lifestyle. It includes accommodation and involvement in social surfing communities, which are often directly involved in uplifting surfing accessories such as surfboards and surf apparel. Furthermore, surfing and skateboarding were included in the Tokyo Olympics 2021, triggering the market demand for surfing accessories for all the participating nations.

The rising number of skin problems such as rashes and allergies due to the ordinary wet suits and shorts used for surfing has posed a challenge to the surf apparel market. The fabrics used in making such apparel are of low quality and are not skin-friendly, which can likely deteriorate the market growth.

Key players covered:

Quiksilver, Hurley, Billabong International, Volcom, Roxy, Ripcurl, RVCA, and Reef Sports are the prominent players functioning the market.

The global surfing apparel and accessories market is segmented based on product type, distribution channel, and geography.

Based on product type, the market is segmented into surf apparel and surf accessories. The surf apparel segment is projected to hold a dominant share globally due to the increasing trend for versatile outfits for surfing activities that enhance comfort and sustainability in surfing. The popularity of surfing has enabled more and more clothing brands to release products that cater to surfers when in the water and out of the water, such as wetsuits, boots, boardshorts, and rash vests. Surfing-inspired collections have captured a broader consumer base across the coastal parts of Hawaii, California, South Africa, Costa Rica, etc. Tie and dye shirts and ombre t-shirts have been all-time favorites among teenagers. The rise in female surfers has given rise to surfing-inspired fashion, including swimsuits, shorts, tops, and vests made up of waterproof fabrics like polyester. Brands like Quiksilver and Rip Curl are prominent manufacturers of long-lasting and fashionable clothing exclusive to the surfing style. Rip Curl, based in Australia, was the first brand to manufacture wetsuits that were integral surfing wear and are made with flexible synthetic and stretchable materials like nylon and polyester for quick drying.

Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented into offline and online retail. The offline channel is anticipated to uplift the market share in the forecast period. The easy accessibility and wide availability of surfing gears and outfits of various brands through offline retail stores such as Decathlon, Walmart, and SPAR have substantially fueled the market demand. Moreover, the vast presence of fancy shops and retail stores across the coastlines and surfing sites has also supported the growth of surfing gear and accessories at lower prices and rented offers. The offline stores also allow the users to have a first-hand look at the products, which helps ensure the quality and specifications and develop an impression towards the items sold. The surfing-related accessories can be quickly returned without any hassle, which can likely induce the offline segment's growth.

Regional Analysis:

By geography, the global sweatshirts and hoodies market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The North American region is projected to witness dominant growth in the forecast period 2021-2028 and is likely to be the fastest-growing region globally. The growth in the region is attributed to the growing trend regarding water sports activities such as surfing, parasailing, swimming, and jet skiing. Also, considerable investments in recreational activities and infrastructure development have significantly boosted the regional growth. The demand for such activities has enhanced the growth of the surfing apparel market by introducing products and accessories according to the functional requirements of surfers and sports enthusiasts. Users' fast-paced lifestyles and busy routines opt for a greater need for leisure and fun activities, which is likely to elevate interest towards adventure sports and fun, including surfing adventures. The tropical coastlines of San Diego, Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Costa Rica are one of the best surf spots in the North American region, providing a wide range of attractions for tourists and locals indulged in surfing activities. These regions have a wide presence of major retail stores for consumers to purchase surfing apparels that have supported the regional growth of surfing accessories and apparel production.

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is also expected to grow substantially during the forecast period 2021-2028. The Australian region is projected to be the dominant region in surfing sports and has created numerous opportunities for regional growth. The changing consumer preferences and trends towards leisure and recreation have demanded greater surfing apparel consumption. The Australian region has the world's second largest population of surfers after the U.S.A. There are various kinds of competitive lineups which have been attracting a majority to take part in surfing. For example, the Rip Curl Pro is a world tour surfing competition in Victoria, Australia. It is currently the longest-running competitive event in surfing and has also triggered the demand among surf lovers with its appealing Rip Curle Merchandise and accessories. Also, a notable presence of surfing associations, schools, and surf camps such as Surfing Australia, the Bodyboard Academy, and Mojosurf have motivated youngsters to adopt surfing as a sports activity in their respective lifestyles. The surf training programs conducted by renowned athletes and sports stars in surfing sports and adventures have boosted youngsters' participation. The surfing academies and associations are trying to make the sport more approachable to the growing generation. With such expansions planned, the demand and popularity of surfwear are expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.  

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments:

• In November 2019, Finisterre, a U.K.-based company collaborated with both Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership and the University of Exeter to design wetsuit techniques that would save close to 380 tons of discarded wetsuits sent to landfill every year in the U.K.


• For instance, in July 2019, Billabong, an Australia-based company announced the launch of graphene-enhanced surfing apparel named Furnace Graphene inspired by surf and skateboarding culture for both men and women.