Professional sportswear in which maximum physical performance is required, player's age range and gender are predefined, the sportswear is likely to be worn for a short period of time, wearing frequency is predetermined, and the SPO Sportswear is approximately constant within the boundaries of the required sport field (indoor or outdoor).

Leisure sportswear in which low to moderate physical activities are anticipated, players age and gender may vary widely, wearing time and use frequency may vary widely, and the climatic condition may also vary.

In the context of product development, the earlier classification will typically lead to broad definitions of the design problem associated with these categories. As indicated in Chapter 4, a broad definition of a design problem may be initiated by establishing a general description of the proposed product and the primary performance characteristics associated with each category of products. For example, a broad definition may lead to describing two types of performance, namely, activewear performance, and sportswear performance. Active wear may refer to garments that are intended to provide a combination of aesthetic, style, comfort, and functionality in a less competitive mode such as casual wear and exercise. Examples of activewear products include parkas, hoodies, pants, and crew neck fleece sweaters. Activewear may also include accessories and footwear of many varieties. A sportswear performance on the other hand refers to higher activity levels, perhaps in a competitive mode and in extreme climates. This necessitates different levels of functional characteristics associated with different sports.