As an important accessory in the process of sports,the design of sports clothing should not only consider aesthetics,but also pay attention to functional elements.This article takes sports clothing as the specific research object,and analyzes the importance of functional elements in sports clothing design from the aspects of comfort and sports performance;explored the application scope of functional elements in sports clothing design from the aspects of clothing fabric,clothing cutting,ergonomics,and clothing color;based on the design case of functional sportswear,this paper summarizes the design principles of sportswear from the perspectives of practicality,safety,demand,and technology,aiming to provide theoretical reference for the research and development of sportswear.