Men's sports zippered long-sleeved tops have become the new favorite in fitness, with technology and fashion empowering sporty outfits

As the national fitness craze continues to heat up, the sub-categories of the Sportswear market are constantly innovating. Recently, a men's sportswear long-sleeved top with a zipper that combines functionality and Fashion has quickly made it onto the "must-have list" of sports enthusiasts due to its flexible on-off design and professional sports protection performance. It has become a best-selling item in both online and offline sportswear sections, promoting the upgrade of sportswear consumption towards "professionalization + personalization".

According to the latest sales data from a certain sportswear e-commerce platform, the sales of men's long-sleeved sportswear with zippers in the third quarter of this year increased by more than 60% year-on-year. Among them, the search terms related to "spring and autumn outdoor running", "indoor fitness layered dressing", and "daily casual commuting" saw a significant increase in popularity. In the past, long-sleeved shirts for sports were mostly pull-over styles. The zipper design made them more convenient to put on and take off. They could be pulled open for ventilation during warm-up and pulled up for warmth after exercise, eliminating the need to change clothes frequently. Mr. Li, a seasoned fitness enthusiast, has provided feedback that highlights the core advantages of this category. ​

Wang Ying, an analyst in the sportswear industry, pointed out that modern consumers' demands for sportswear have transcended "single sports scenarios", and products that combine "sports functionality" and "everyday wear" are more favored. The men's sports zippered long-sleeved top precisely meets this demand - it can be paired with jeans as a casual jacket in daily life, and serve as a core or middle layer during sports. It is suitable for various scenarios such as running, fitness, and cycling, becoming a typical representative of "one garment for multiple uses".

In terms of product competitiveness, the innovation of fabric technology has become the "core selling point" of men's sports zippered long-sleeved shirts. Journalists visited several sportswear stores and found that mainstream brands' such products generally adopt a combination of "moisture-wicking fabric + elastic fibers", and some high-end styles also incorporate functions such as sun protection and antibacterial properties. ​

"Our zipper long-sleeved top uses our self-developed 'quick-drying breathable fabric'. Through a special weaving process, the fabric's moisture absorption rate is increased by 30%. At the same time, spandex is added to ensure 4-direction elasticity, so there will be no sense of restraint during exercise." " A product manager of a well-known sports brand introduced that for outdoor scenarios, some styles have added a sun protection index of UPF50 +, and the cuffs are designed to be tightened to prevent cold air from entering. The details are fully in line with the needs of sports. ​

In addition, the quality of zippers has also become a key concern for consumers. Currently, the popular styles on the market mostly adopt waterproof zippers or metal zippers with high smoothness. After tens of thousands of pull and close tests, they can still maintain stable performance and avoid the problem of zipper jamming during movement.

In addition to functionality, the design of men's sports zippered long-sleeved tops is gradually moving towards fashion, becoming a "trendy item" in the daily outfits of many young people. In terms of color selection, in addition to the classic basic colors such as black, gray and navy blue, the sales proportion of bright colors like fluorescent green, Klein blue and retro orange has increased to 35%, meeting the needs of personalized dressing. From the perspective of silhouette design, the fitted style is suitable for showing off a sporty figure, while the loose style is appropriate for a casual look. Some brands have also launched hooded styles to further enhance the sense of fashion. ​

This grey zippered long-sleeved shirt I bought is suitable for wearing to the gym on weekdays and also goes well with sweatpants to the supermarket on weekends. There's no need to change clothes specially. Xiao Zhang, a 25-year-old office worker, said that the "scene cross-border" of sportswear has greatly improved his dressing efficiency. This "sports + daily life" design concept has also enabled men's sports zipper long-sleeved shirts to break through the scene limitations of traditional sports clothing, becoming an important category of clothing that connects sports and life.

With the continuous upgrading of consumer demands, the development of men's sports zippered long-sleeved shirts has also shown new trends. On the one hand, personalized customization services are gradually emerging. Some brands have launched services such as "custom prints" and "exclusive sizes". Consumers can add elements like names and sports slogans to their clothes according to their preferences, meeting their personalized needs. On the other hand, the application of sustainable materials has become a consensus in the industry. Some brands have already used recycled polyester fibers to make fabrics. Each piece of clothing can recycle about six plastic bottles, which is both environmentally friendly and ensures product performance, in line with the current consumers' green consumption concept. ​

Industry insiders say that the hot sales of men's long-sleeved sportswear with zippers reflect the shift of the sportswear market from "function-oriented" to "experiential". In the future, with the further integration of technology and fashion, this category is expected to continue to innovate and bring consumers a better sporty dressing experience.