Golf Followed by Tennis Craze... Fashion Industry Keeping Pace

Fila increases 'Whiteline' supply by 290% YoY
Kolon and others launch new brands consecutively

FILA Tennis Wear 'Whiteline'

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] As tennis gains attention as a new hobby, especially among younger generations, the fashion industry is increasingly interested in the tennis wear market.

According to Fila Korea on the 21st, Fila has increased the production volume of its tennis wear collection, ‘Whiteline,’ by approximately 290% compared to last year. Corresponding to the expanded volume, sales are progressing smoothly, with a sales rate reaching 80% as of the 8th. Fila Korea, which releases Whiteline annually, is targeting the market by dividing it into ‘Active On,’ emphasizing functionality, and ‘Active Off,’ which can also be used as everyday wear off the court.

The industry cites tennis’s appeal as a sport that can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors, and its relatively youthful and active image compared to golf. In particular, the image of tennis as a ‘luxurious sport enjoyed in the city’ is seen as having strong appeal. An industry insider analyzed, “For the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), who share various aspects of their daily lives on social media, tennis wear with a luxurious image seems to be gaining favor as a new fashion category.”

As demand for tennis wear increases, new brands are also launching. Last month, Kolon FnC’s Lucky Marche introduced the tennis line ‘Lucky Le Match,’ and earlier this month, LF’s ‘Athe Vanessa Bruno’ and Shinsegae International’s ‘Studio Tomboy’ also launched related lines.

With growing interest in health and hobbies, and increasing demand for tennis’s luxurious and stylish image, the popularity of tennis fashion is expected to continue for the time being. Especially, its versatility as everyday wear compared to golf wear is also considered a strength. As of last year, the number of tennis players in Korea is about 500,000, and the domestic tennis market size is estimated at around 250 billion KRW. Considering the global tennis market size is approximately 43 trillion KRW, the growth potential of the domestic market is still regarded as high.