'We can't prescribe one-size-fits-all approaches ... that fits in with a man's lifestyle' - How one gender is being failed

"Sportswomen have been short-changed when it comes to their gear and equipment. But the days of 'pink it and shrink it' are being consigned to the past as sports products begin taking heed of female athletes, with data and made-to-measure design being applied instead of using male parameters and transferring them"

"It's a man's world, or so the saying goes - but who says it has to stay that way? 'Pink it and shrink it' has long since been a manufacturing and marketing ploy when it comes to the lengths gone to in a commercial sense to gain female attention, with bespoke female products often falling by the wayside."

"At first glance, that can come across as a shortcoming that fails to acknowledge the intricacies and unique aspects of women, reducing them simply to 'small men'."

Sportswomen have historically received gear and equipment designed around male parameters or tokenized through superficial 'pink it and shrink it' treatments. Manufacturers frequently reduced products to smaller versions without accounting for female anatomy, ergonomics, or performance needs. New approaches prioritize data collection, measurement, and bespoke design tailored specifically to female athletes. The shift toward made-to-measure sports products aims to address comfort, safety, and functional performance gaps caused by previous one-size-fits-male practices. Market and design changes reflect growing recognition of physiological differences and the need for equitable, purpose-built athletic equipment for women.

Read at Independent