The end design must be "fit for purpose"

It is important in performance sportswear design to identify the chosen end user and gain an understanding of issues to do with culture and lifestyle, levels of participation and expertise, the demands of the sporting environment and the importance of aesthetics and brand awareness.

This market is by its very nature covers a wide range of end users from extreme sports, national and international participation, heights and depths (Himalayas to the Gouffre Berger), indoor arenas to muddy fields, snow and ice to arid desert conditions.

The "Requirements of the sport" presents a series of questions that need to be addressed as part of the design process. Some aspects are covered in later sections but this part really needs you to take the series of issues and collect written and visual research material that will help you towards your design.

It is best to select a sport or activity that interests you most and investigate that. The materials you find will be different for each sport but will need to cover the same aspects within the research and design process.