Houston, we have a clothing problem. We’re buying more apparel that is cheaply-made, wearing it for shorter periods of time and disposing of it at an alarming rate. In just the last 25 years, clothing sales have more than doubled, but the number of times an item of clothing is worn has decreased by about 36%, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Roughly 85% of all textiles produced are currently ending up in landfills.

Just as the scope of traditional 9-to-5 jobs has shifted over the past several years, so too has workplace style. Even before COVID changed our world and lifestyles in 2020, most office cultures had shifted to a more casual vibe for wardrobes and footwear. As work from home (WFH) became the norm for more and more people post-2020, casual style morphed into an even more comfy, super-casual zone.

The women’s team sports landscape in the U.S. is becoming ever more exciting and vibrant, not just in participation, but in viewership, sponsorship investment, social media dominance, attendance records and financial milestones, creating huge opportunities for all parties who want a piece of the pie.

While wintry weather led to a challenging holiday for run specialty shops, more sunshine and some strong footwear launches has resulted in an uptick in sales this spring. We checked in with running shops across the country. Here’s what they told us about sales, strategies, brands, and more.