The SIA Retail Audit tracks and reports sales in all snow sports product categories and according to the most recent audit, which tracked the August 2005 through January 2006 selling season apparel was hot and more specifically, women’s apparel, in the Winter 05-06 season.

Season-to-date, specialty store apparel sales were up 8% in units and 10% in dollars and the category was 58% sold-through at the end of January 2006. Insulated parka sales rose 12% in dollars this season over last with sales reaching $117 million. Women’s insulated parkas led this category with $56.7 million in sales, in fact, women’s insulated parkas out-sold men’s 1.5 to 1. As with insulated parkas, the softshell parka category attributed a selling increase to women’s sales – with an impressive dollar increase of 86% over last year.

“Women are demanding the more technical outerwear — we actually under-bought for women this season. I had bought 20% over last year, thinking that was a safe bet, and ended up re-ordering all year long,” said Hampton Kew, women’s softgoods buyer for Teton Village Sports in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

With so many dollars being spent on women’s apparel – it’s obvious retailers will need to focus on style, cut and color when making final purchases for the 06/07 season. One of the hottest topics that circulated through the Mandalay Bay Convention Center at January’s SIA.06 SnowSports Trade Show was how far the industry had come in terms of fashion-forward apparel. Be it snowboard, skiing, streetwear or outerwear – bold fashion statements, colors, embellishments and patterns were seen down every aisle. Here were some major apparel trends seen at SIA.06:

“Boardwear is finally becoming more colorful – the colors are reflecting the energy in the sport and design – it’s very positive. More tailored looks are coming back in both ski and snowboard,” commented Rob Santa of Sturtevants of Sun Valley, Idaho.

According to SIA:

  • Color – Green will be huge throughout 06/07 snow sport apparel and outerwear. Slime, lime, acid, sage, hazel, mossy, Kelly, avocado, olive – no matter the hue, green is the “it” color for next year. Earth tones, chocolate browns, khakis and neutrals will also be prominent.
  • Texture & Pattern – Tweeds, houndstooth, plaids, pinstripes, gold lame, camo, tattoo patterns matched with faux fur, corduroy, grommets, rhinestones – product designers let their imaginations run wild in their 06/07 creations.
  • Insulation – Enjoying the snow no longer means freezing and shivering in the lift line. Snowboard/ski manufacturers are offering outerwear that features both down and synthetic insulation to keep everyone toasty. Helly Hansen and Swix are using see-through face fabrics that reveal colored down insulation, while a new breed of insulated soft-shells (combining the stretch and breathability of a softshell fabric with the warmth of insulation) will be available from Arc’Teryx, Cloudveil, Quicksilver, Rossignol, Salomon and Scott.