Athleisure is a combination of athletic wear and leisure wear, offering comfort, flexibility, and versatility. It is characterized by its relaxed, comfortable design that transitions from the gym to casual outings. The term “athleisure” is a portmanteau of “athletic” and “leisure”, describing relaxed, comfortable clothing that blends sportswear with ready-to-wear for chic and comfortable styles.
Athleisure wear typically includes exercise clothing, such as tracksuits, sports jackets, hoodies, yoga pants, tights, sneakers, flats, Birkenstocks, uggs, leggings, and shorts that look like athletic wear and pair well with it. The trend is all about fashion with an emphasis on minimalism, featuring light-toned and neutral colors, simple prints, and patterns.
Athleisure wear is similar to activewear, but it represents a revolutionary fusion of athletic wear and leisure fashion, transcending traditional boundaries to redefine contemporary style. It typically includes exercise clothing like leggings, yoga pants, sports bras, hoodies, and sneakers. The trend designates casual, comfortable clothing designed for both exercise and everyday wear.
Athleisure wear is not just limited to yoga pants and a top; it comprises various clothing items that include leggings, sneakers, shorts, and more. Improved textiles have allowed sportswear to become more versatile, making it an ideal choice for people who want to stay active and comfortable while still looking their best.
In summary, athleisure is a versatile and fashionable combination of athletic wear and leisure wear, offering comfort, flexibility, and versatility. It is a popular choice for those who want to stay active and comfortable while still looking their best.
📹 How Athleisure Wear TOOK OVER America
Nowadays, the athletic wear industry is worth billions and billions of dollars and how the brands leading this industry have created …
Is Nike considered athleisure?
Athleisure, a $44 billion market in the US, has seen a surge in sales from brands like Nike, Primark, and Eres. The term comes from the contraction of “athletic” and “leisure”. Gymshark’s US sales surged by over 150 year-on-year in July and August, while LA-based brand Alo Yoga was ranked the fastest-growing activewear brand in the US by web traffic. Athleisure is redefining everyday wear with athletic apparel, which can be worn in non-athletic settings.
It symbolizes a decompartmentalization of sportswear, making it an everyday outfit that instantly enhances a look. Sportswear is giving credibility to fashion, while sportswear provides functionality like sweating-wicking capabilities, odor resistance, and stretch texturing.
Are hoodies considered athleisure?
Athleisure is a fusion of athletic wear and leisure fashion, combining performance features with casual elegance. It is rooted in the intersection of comfort and aesthetics, allowing individuals to transition from the gym to daily activities without compromising on fashion or comfort. Performance fabrics like moisture-wicking and stretch materials create a harmonious balance between form and function. Leggings, sneakers, hoodies, and joggers become style staples, not just reserved for workout sessions but integrated into everyday wardrobes.
Athleisure has permeated the fashion landscape, influencing high-end designers and mainstream brands to incorporate sport-inspired elements into their collections. As a cultural phenomenon, athleisure reflects the contemporary emphasis on well-being, health-conscious lifestyles, and blurring lines between work, exercise, and leisure. It stands as a testament to the evolving preferences of a society seeking performance and panache in every aspect of life.
What is athleisure apparel?
Athleisure refers to activewear clothing suitable for exercise and everyday wear, such as leggings, yoga pants, sports bras, and athletic jackets. These items provide comfort, flexibility, and are often made from moisture-wicking fabrics. Sports leggings are designed for sports activities and feature compression technology for targeted muscle support. Sports bras are designed for physical activities and offer functionality, often with adjustable straps. Athletic jackets are lightweight, versatile, and designed for activities, providing protection and mobility. These items are suitable for both office and grocery store wear.
Is Gymshark an athleisure brand?
Gymshark, a British-based athletic apparel retailer, was founded in 2012 by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan. Initially focused on fitness wear, the brand expanded to include fitness apparel, sportswear, and accessories. With a valuation over £1 billion in 2020, Gymshark has grown significantly. Ben Francis is the majority owner. In October 2022, it opened its first retail store on London’s Regent Street.
Gymshark’s success can be attributed to its strategic use of social media platforms, such as Facebook Live workouts, during COVID-19 shutdowns. This approach has allowed the brand to effectively connect with its audience and cultivate engagement, contributing to its growth and recognition in the industry.
Are leggings considered athleisure?
Athleisure is a hybrid style of athletic clothing worn as everyday wear, combining the words “athletic” and “leisure”. It includes tracksuits, sports jackets, hoodies, yoga pants, tights, sneakers, flats, Birkenstocks, uggs, leggings, and shorts that resemble athletic wear. The trend grew in the mid-2010s, with the popularity of yoga pants emerging in the mid to late 2000s. Athleisure is a contemporary fashion industry movement, driven by the development of advanced textile materials and technical fabrics that make modern activewear more durable, breathable, lightweight, stretchy, versatile, comfortable, and fashionable.
It has also become a retail clothing category since the mid-2010s. The origins of athleisure can be traced back to the 1930s when American sportswear company Champion produced hoodies for working-class laborers. In 1958, DuPont invented spandex, a crucial material component in many pieces of contemporary athleisure. Adidas introduced sport-to-street tracksuits in 1963, and by the 1970s, athletic fashion was ubiquitous in North American street culture.
What comes under athleisure wear?
Athleisure is a hybrid style of athletic clothing worn as everyday wear, combining the words “athletic” and “leisure”. It includes tracksuits, sports jackets, hoodies, yoga pants, tights, sneakers, flats, Birkenstocks, uggs, leggings, and shorts that resemble athletic wear. The trend grew in the mid-2010s, influenced by the popularity of yoga pants. Athleisure is a contemporary fashion movement, driven by the development of advanced textile materials and technical fabrics, making modern activewear more durable, breathable, lightweight, stretchy, versatile, comfortable, and fashionable.
It has also become a retail clothing category since the mid-2010s. The origins of athleisure can be traced back to the 1930s when American sportswear company Champion produced hoodies for working-class laborers. In 1958, DuPont invented spandex, a crucial material in many contemporary athleisure pieces. Adidas introduced sport-to-street tracksuits in 1963, and by the 1970s, athletic fashion was widespread in North American street culture.
Is Lululemon considered athleisure?
Lululemon athletica inc., founded in 1998 in Vancouver, Canada, is a leading athletic apparel company that has revolutionized the sports apparel industry. Founded by Chip Wilson, the company aims to create stylish and reliable athletic clothing for women. Lululemon has successfully created chic athletic apparel for yoga, running, training, and other exercises, pioneering the athleisure look. The company invests in customer research and development to create products that customers want to wear for workouts and leisure activities. Lululemon’s success can be seen in its chic designs for yoga, running, training, and other exercises, as well as its commitment to customer research and development.
What is the difference between activewear and athleisure wear?
Activewear and athleisure are distinct clothing styles that cater to different physical activities. Activewear is designed for workouts and physical activities, while athleisure is a blend of athletic wear and casual fashion. Athleisure wear includes leggings, joggers, hoodies, sports bras, performance leggings, and tank tops. Leggings are stylish and versatile, featuring trendy designs and unique cuts. Joggers are comfortable and lightweight, suitable for light exercise and can be styled with a jacket. Hoodies are fashionable and comfortable, featuring asymmetrical zippers and high-quality fabrics.
Activewear includes sports bras, performance leggings, and tank tops. Sports bras are designed for intense activities, while performance leggings are moisture-wicking and breathable, ideal for gym sessions. Tank tops are lightweight and breathable, providing comfort and flexibility during workouts. Both activewear and athleisure are essential for various settings, making them versatile and suitable for both workouts and everyday wear.
What is an example of athleisure?
Athleisure, a trend that originated from the yoga pant, has evolved into a wide range of clothing items, including leggings, tights, sweatpants, sneakers, hoodies, and jackets. The popularity of athleisure has led to the rise of companies like Nike and American Apparel, who have adapted their products to become more versatile, comfortable, and fashionable. The market continues to grow, replacing traditional activewear and even cutting into jeans sales.
Companies like Levi Strauss and Co. and Kate Spade and Company are releasing products to cater to the growing demand. The popularity of athleisure has led to significant gains for companies that have followed the trend, with Lululemon’s stock rising substantially between 2017 and 2020. This success can be attributed to the company’s position at the center of the trend and its ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences.
Are joggers considered athleisure?
Joggers, originally designed for exercise, have evolved into a versatile piece of athleisure. These lightweight, comfortable, and athletic-looking sports pants are wide at the top and taper down the leg, fitting the ankle closely. They feature either a drawstring waist or an elastic waist, and the ankles are kept close to the body through the use of elastic. Joggers were invented by Émile Camuset, a French clothing designer and founder of Le Coq Sportif, who experimented with different styles and fabrics to create the classic jogger sweatpants.
The jogger has evolved significantly since its birth in 1920, with designers experimenting with various styles and shapes for both men and women. There are four main types of joggers: sporty joggers, lounge joggers, everyday joggers, and smart joggers. The popularity of joggers has led to designers experimenting with various styles and shapes for several years, creating a wide range of options for both men and women.
What is luxury athleisure?
The growing wellness culture has led to a surge in demand for activewear that is both functional and luxurious. Luxury athleisure, characterized by high-quality materials, intricate designs, and attention to detail, has become a must-have for fashion-conscious individuals. Designer brands have played a pivotal role in elevating athleisure to luxury status by collaborating with sportswear brands. This has made luxury athleisure a must-have in every fashion-conscious individual’s wardrobe, with designer labels incorporating luxury elements such as unique prints, high-tech fabrics, and innovative designs. This has made athleisure transcend its original purpose and become a statement of style and status.
📹 How Lululemon Dominates High End Active Wear
Chapters: 1:45 – The rise of high-end athletic wear 4:39 – Fierce competition 8:10 – The future of athletic wear » Subscribe to …
I hate how polyester is now even in expensive clothing. Never mind workout clothes, I can’t find one decent pair of pants for my office job that isn’t 30% to 70% polyester. And people might not be aware of it, but wearing plastic pants contributes to developing recurring genital yeast infections in woman. Yaay! (/s)
The problem is that synthetics actually serve a purpose in active wear. I used to work out in old cotton tees and it’s really uncomfortable to wear them once they’re soaked in sweat. Maybe something like merino wool would be a good alternative but so far I haven’t seen anything affordable in that material. And I’d just like to point out that athletic wear can be bought second hand if you don’t want to support fast fashion and inflated pricing. The main problem with this trend is over consumption and no one should be judged for just wanting to be comfortable while they work out.
As a woman who regularly goes to the gym, I can comfortably say that Lululemon and similar brands are absolute shit. I bought a pair of leggings back in 2020 and after about 2 months of regular usage the material had holes at the seams where the thighs rub. In contrast the Gymshark shorts I got at around the same time are still holding up fine 4 years later. So even if I don’t agree with their choice of influencer advertising, their products are definitely worth the money
The claims you make about microplastics seeping inro the skin are unsubstantiated. You keep caveating it with “potentially”. You even admit that the study you cite was on fire retardants, not the synthetic fibres you list. So that whole premise is totally misleading. You’re not better than the brands you condemn if you can’t support your claims.
I go to the gym and or run 5x a week, and I honestly love my lulu wardrobe. Also used to wear gymshark when I first started going to the gym, but the gymshark stuff had seems coming apart after one year of use. Every lulu item I own that I abuse in the gym day in and day out still looks and feels new so for me, it’s worth the price.
Man, I hate how people feel like they need to buy gym clothes to go to the gym and whatnot Having worked in a college with an attached town rec centre was “weird”, seeing people wear basically thongs and stringers What made it worse to me was hearing how many people would go to the gym wearing said beyond revealing clothing because they wanted to be looked at while also still being “creeped out when people look” You’ve bough overpriced shit to coddle your inflated ego, spending not just money but time and mental energy put towards that shit when you could have thrown on some Walmart clothes and focused on bettering yourself physically and mentally instead of trying to look provocative to get off
I agree that overconsumption is an issue and no one needs to update their gymwear every season but I completely disagree with “wear anything you want to the gym” point. First, it’s important to consider that athletic clothes is more functional. Working out in cotton sucks (hot, heavy, and sweaty), and you cannot just workout is a regular bra, it’s extremely uncomfortable. Second, we know clothes affect how you feel, so it’s important to wear whatever makes you feel confident and good about yourself at the gym, just like in everyday life. Personally, I have way better workouts when I feel confident in what I wear, and I don’t really care that it’s problematic or I shouldn’t need clothes for validation. Third, if buying a cute workout set motivates someone to workout more or be healthier, let them be.
I used to be caught up in this cycle when I managed a gym but shortly after I left, as the clothes inevitably started to wear out, I found myself not wanting to buy it anymore. I haven’t bought any synthetic clothing for over 2 years and sure enough, I can still do a perfectly fine workout in cotton or merino.
I loove athleisure. As a very active person I use to find myself having to change clothes about 4 times a day because of sweaty/stinky/muddy/uncomfortable clothes. Now my cozy home clothes, taking a walk-clothes, gym-clothes, city-clothes and base layers for winter is the exact same and I save so much time by washing less. It is also motivating to look at yourself in the mirror while doing your reps and feel confident. I can not even wear cotton anymore. It gets sweat-stains and stinks right away.
11:27 and actually anything past “How We Wash them” section, as much as I love natural fibers they don’t hold up well to not just physical activities but also to body shapes/areas. My pants are made out of synthetic materials because they’re the only type that doesn’t succumb to the wear and tear of the inner tigh area. I had to throw many pants because that area was so easily prone to pilling/thinning out, holes were forming. I still have synthetic pants that lasted me for many years, and has survived the inner thigh area. I have tops made out of natural fibers, but thats it. While yes I know synthetic fibers is not good for the environment, neither was constantly throwing out clothes that kept being worn out.
As a woman that does sport I also want to add that I absolutely hate that it’s almost impossible to get baggy sportswear. Every thing is tight and needs to show ever curve you have. Men’s sportwear is better but not always well fitted for women (shirts are okay, pants can be a real hassle to get them right). On the same note; sport shoes. I got big feet, and for some reason they barely don’t make shoes anymore that are also wide. I find it difficult to find shoes that are actually okay to exercise in. And also here are a lot that are made to look cool, for daily wear, but not to exercise in. I still wear my 7 year old sport shoes that really start to wear down now and need to be replaced, because I have so much trouble finding good new sport shoes. Also heard recently there is some synthetic kind of cotton, which explains why every time I found 100% cotton shirts, it’s still felt really synthetic and it just became harder to figure materials out and if it’s practical for what you need it for. I never buy anything new anymore since it’s such a hellscape to get actual good clothes, fit and material wise.
This whole “Natural fabric good, synthetic fabric bad” is dumb imo, there is a lot that goes into a clothing that might be healthy or not, putting one lable as the important thing is dumb, its very simillar to the “organic” lable on many food products, smthing beeing organic doesnt make it healthy, and smthing beeing processed doesnt make it unhealthy, its about whats actually beeing put in there. Personally, I live in brazil, its really hot here year round, I sweat easily and I have a sweat allergy, I have not worn “regular” “non athleisure wear” in years and every time I wear a 100% cotton shirt, I quickly start sweating and get red allergy spots all over my skin, athletic wear is a life saver for me, it might be a different situation for you, and thats fine, but dont go quickly disregarding a piece of fabric just because its tecnicly “not natural”. Athleisure wear works for its purpose, not all of them are good, but that goes for everything in the world, but if you find the good ones, they work.
Not me wearing the same pair of BKE jeans for the past 7 years lol. I’m 26 year old dude that wear jean and Under Armour t-shirts everywhere like a 46 year old dad lol. When it’s crazy hot, I’ll put on my UA golf khaki shorts, but I’m not the basketball shorts or sweatpants kind of guy. I do wear sweat shirts everywhere I can too, AC is cold inside. I just wear things, until things wear out and then buy pretty much the same thing again. I’ve even learned how to sew my sweatshirts and jeans so they last even longer.
It’s not an ideal solution, but I would also add the buying this specific type of clothing secondhand also is something that could mitigate the waste and pollution. For some reason, workout clothing really is saturated in the secondhand market. I don’t know why, the volume of it being mass produced, and maybe just because there’s less tolerance for any type of wear or sign of aging. Or maybe because it ages more visibly than other clothing. There’s a lot of really good clothing on eBay or at Goodwill, that’s really affordable, and that’s all sort of stuff that’s in the pipeline to go to the landfill otherwise. And in fact, I’m sure a lot of really good clothing gets thrown out by people who just don’t have the energy to put it on eBay or drive to Goodwill.
I can’t stand sportswear because it just smells awful and just feels like plastic to me. I’m not the target, I’m not an athelete, I’m not the gym, but I hike. And I really like to hike. I tried a couple of highly suggested clothes basically made of plastic. They were expensive, they felt terrible, they smelled awful after a few hikes, with washes inbetween. Meanwhile, cotton I wash, smell is gone. Comfortable, still great at wicking away moisture. 100% cotton is, for me, the end all be all.
who buys clothes with branding all over? Ive seen it in social media, but in real life, most people are looking for clothing with as little branding as possible, Ive never seen people rocking giant nike logos in public, people wear normal clothes with little to no branding. Athleisure wear is way more than the designer stuf that no one likes and wears beside influencer, its also all the other gym clothing that is actually more functional for the gym (keeps you fresh, doesnt stain with sweat, etc) People like fashion, people like finding outfits that look nice in their bodies for any situation, theres nothing harmfull about that
This is basically all I wear and have been for 20 years. I was rather happy when more fashionable stuff became available and less niche. Can’t speak to the possible risks of toxins from the materials. But outside of that, most of these brands are very functional for working out. It just makes it harder to filter out for very specific-purposed technical clothing.
I’m so glad I go to a gym where people don’t care what other people are wearing. At least I don’t think they do because no one would have the gall to come up to me and say a damn thing about my attire! That being said, what clothes you wear do the gym DOES matter – to you, to your body and what kind of exercise you are doing. I gladly splurge on Lululemon pants – my Lulus are literally the most expensive clothing items I own (aside from winter coats). I’m willing to spend the money because they perform the best when I work out, and I work out intensely and often. My oldest pair of leggings is 11 years old. It’s gone in the washer hundreds of times and it still looks good. My Lulus are the only workout pants I have that wick the sweat off my body without me looking like I just jumped in a pool. Luckily for me, I’m able to get away (ie perform well when at the gym or exercising outside) with wearing tops from Old Navy or The Gap. Those items are much more affordable, which is a good offset. I do think it’s ridiculous for people to buy designer athleisure wear, but I find designer clothes ridiculous already. I think it’s important to separate the clothing from the influencer. These people are just regular people who are not kinesiologists or certified personal trainers – they are just people who are fit by whatever means they chose to get there. Perhaps I can see that clearly since I’m a geriatric millennial who didn’t grow up with social media bombarding me all the time.
Wow, I’m glad I stopped going to gyms years ago (not that I ever went that often — I only went because the company I was working for at the time was given free 1-month memberships for all its employees). Couldn’t give a flying flip about what people are wearing in gyms. I’m autistic so I wear what’s COMFORTABLE; couldn’t care less if it’s fashionable.
You really missed out on Lululemon and the invention of athleisure. It’s not just about looking good at the gym but athletic clothing becoming leisurely (e.g. women wearing leggings out and about) and preceded the influencer boom. There was also a lot of thought put into it if you look at any Chip Wilson interviews. The influencer boom may be more a result of social media than athleisure. People want to look good now mostly for get social media content
I just jump and dance around in the nude in my living room, much cheaper and more comfortable. It’s the correct outfit for working out, after all “gym” is short for “gymnasium” which comes from greek γυμνός (gumnós) meaning naked. …Or I’ll wear linen shorts and linen shirts if I’m going to be physically active outdoors where people might object to nude dancing. Linen breathes very well so it doesn’t start to stink too fast; I can usually wear it for at least two days without any smell problem even in the summer heat.
What if workout wear really is better? If it’s cold outside, cotton will chill you when it’s sweaty. I used to wear the cotton clothes I already had to go to the gym, but the elastic shorts wore out pretty quickly. Lulu was great for crossfit because of the built in underwear. If I were skinny enough, I’d still be wearing the Lulu I got in 2008. And the tops were perfect for hot Hawaiian summers, with straps, built in bra, and made to sweat in. Now I buy workout gear at the thrift store.
This is symptomatic of Western culture. 1. People are isolated from each other more then ever. 2. Dating at work is fraught with career ending peril. 3. You meet potential mates at the gym. 4. Therefore you maximize your potential signaling power through spending and fashion and looking to see who’s looking at you. 5. Then you keep that outfit on and go to the grocery store to see who’s looking at you. 6. If it works and you get a spouse, 1000x roi. If it doesn’t then hey at least you looked fabulous for some likes and try again tomorrow.
microplastics scare me since writing my dissertation on my own microplastic research and I dont know why we do this to ourselves (collective us). I tried going to the gym and all these people in athletic wear actually made me feel uncomfortable about myself and then I never went back to the gym. I do have some athletic wear, but I didnt go for specific brands and I got them for a purpose, and I only own a pair of jeggings and shorts that ensures my thighs dont rub.
Not exclusively, but it’s a similar trend as you see with outdoors wear. The North Face is a prime example; they used to make high(er) end clothing to wear out into the mountains, people grabbed onto that in an attempt to replicate something genuine, TNF starts getting sold at Macy’s and slowly but surely becomes the garbage it is today. I suspect Arctyx is going to go a somewhat similar route, but instead of decreasing quality it will be marked with designer-level price tags.
Yeah, but plastic has a lot of advantage. In summer it helps to keep you cool and let’s face it damp cotton is really unpleasant. “technical” shirt that is fit is way more pleasant to wear when the weather is too hot and damp. And in winter if you commute by public transportation when it get hot/cold/hot/cold, having a technical underwear shirt make it more bearable. Those cloths have some advantage even if you don’t workout.
I dont see how any of these brands are “promising” the body of your dreams. Most of these are size inclusive because its not about “working out”, its about casual day wear with multi-use. The lifestyle of being enthused about self care should be celebrated, not demonized. While not your intention, it is quite Caucasian to dismiss the importance of Athleisure in urban culture. GymShark is such a small player in the Athleisure market yet the bulk of the article is about them. They are truly inconsequential yet you focus on them versus the other brands which actually have body positive initiatives and classes. I love your articles but some of them lately are just rants based on weak studies (most of them debunked) and conspiracies. Outside of the devastating environmental impact of all fashion (including non-synthetics) consumption, there isn’t much substance to this article.
I hate it so much that women are practically forced to wear skimpy, skin-tight spandex clothing to the gym. A, that stuff sucks. B, nobody’s using a towel and I really don’t want to sit in your sweat puddle after your rep. C, I go to the gym to become comfortable with my body, having to scour five shops for a pair of knee-length cotton shorts that’s not from the men’s section is just bonkers!
I was under the impression that people just gave in to the desire to be comfortable. “Athleisure wear” looks extremely similar to sleep wear or lounge wear. It’s sweat pants over dress pants. It’s t shirts over long sleave dress shirts. It’s shorts over pants. It’s sneakers over leather shoes. It’s soft and comfortable.
The 13-minute run time of this article gave me enough time to watch it while emptying and reloading my dishwasher cleaning my counters and getting a start on baking salmon for dinner. I hate ADHD so much. But thanks for the good distraction while I’m stuck without meds for God knows how long. Good stuff.
i don’t understand what people think. you’re working out, you’re going to do intense physical activity and sweat and make weird faces and grunts, etc., why do you expect to look glamorous during that time? you’re going to get dirty, you’re going to stink by the end of it no matter what, just wear a t-shirt and and shorts made out of cotton
For me it’s leggings… not only are the expensive ($100+) but they pill and tear in between the legs after a year or so of use. Even if I stitch it up it comes undone so despite wanting to buy less I have to buy leggings every 12-18 months. Oh and half of them are also sheer so if you bend over everyone can see where the sun don’t shine 🥲
I have started using wool from Smartwool for tennis. They have a lightweight line with 50% wool and 50% lyocell. It is so much more breathable than synthetic fibres. One extra advantage is that the clothes does not need washed that often, and only on a 30 degree delicate cycle. I had to wash all the synthetic clothing on 60 degrees on a cotton program to get rid of the smell. The 60 degree synthetic cycle did not do the job properly. As well, I have changed to a silk duvet instead of down. It makes a world of difference. I have recently returned from holiday and the synthetic duvets felt horrible. It felt as my body could not breathe and I got warm in a some kind of trapped way. I use a wooly duvet during winter and it is a game changer to down as well.
Textile choice is a strong case of pick your poison. Cotton farming is extremely water intensive and grown in water stressed regions, is also laced with pesticides (yes even organic). Merino has awesome properties but it’s an animal products with all the problems that come with that (even if you’re not vegan). Synthetics have been around for a very very long time and fulfilling a purpose that natural fabric can’t. For better or for worse, all of them are killing the planet in a way or another so we should keep what we have and keep using until we can’t.
To me what really wild is the companies going for ‘new’ and ‘inovative’ products like ‘mushroom leather’. We have natural fibers we have used for millenia, and instead of going back to those, they create franken fibers. Wool, leather, and silk, despite their animal origins (and because of them) are far better for the environment, your body, and the garments longevity. Same with traditional plant based fibers like cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo etc.
Athleisure is great, very comfortable workout clothes, and great for just lounging around too. It’s also very durable, I’ve had the same pair of lululemon sweatpants for 4 years now and I’ve worn them for 100s of miles of running. Like everything, just keep it in moderation and don’t buy just to buy and you’re good!
I get you’ve got to make content, but you just lost me with the outrage/fear mongering. Maybe you should’ve had someone that actually works out talk. A big reason for all the spandex is that it discourages chaffing (a real problem for people who workout hard and sweat). 90%+ of my clothes I buy second hand (including stuff for the gym aside from shoes specifically for athletic pursuits). A lot of my athleisure clothes I bought at thrift stores 7+ years ago.
Something else that I think people sometimes forget about most people turning more and more to social media relationships is that it’s sometimes because there can be something they may be missing in IRL that they’re trying to fill in that need with social media. Some people have relationships IRL that are unhealthy or they’re not close, or they have other personal issues going on that helps with turning to social media addiction. Have heard that there’s various people that struggle to find jobs (despite media coverage and stats saying that we have the highest amount of employment in a long time), and I wouldn’t be surprised if the discouragement for struggling to find a job can lead to social media addiction… 0_0
Bad take, very bad take. Gym culture has existed since the 1920’s, it wasn’t until Arnold came along that “bodybuilding” became popularized. Never heard of Jack Lalane? The rise in modern gym culture has a lot more to do as a response to sedentary lifestyles than it does with being fashionable. People are finally getting it that the best way to improve their lives and stave off the effects of old age is to have more muscle mass.
My ass whould go to the gym in a blank random colored t and a no logo random color pair of sweats or some jeans. Its all I really wear and I don’t care enough to have a outfit for the gym and a outfit for this and that. I got a couple dress shirts and dress pants for when I have to have them and that is it.
I don’t understand all the hype about gymshark. I find it ugly and shabby. Same feeling as with Sketchers. A brand grabbing the most plain, bland and regular pieces of clothes out there and stamping their horrible logo. And is not like “ah, you don’t get it”. I love fashion. I’m a bit of a sneakerhead ( worthy sneakers, not the freaking dunk low), boxy fit, rule of thirds, chasing timeless pieces, new balance, acne studio… and when I go to the gym, I wear a T-shirt, short pants and whatever shoes I’m walking on that day, while everyone around me wears gymshark and hoka. Honestly, I don’t get it. I used to skateboard in jeans and a shirt for 5 hours a day (more if it was a weekend) and never felt constricted. Now everyone needs a Stanley cup and a full ugly brand outfit to do 30 minutes on a treadmill while checking their phone.
I think it’s only happening in America. Before i moved to the US, I never knew that students used athleisure outfits or hoodie-baggy pant combination were the norm there, that made me who use flowery cotton tunic (which is just a not-so stylish outfit in my country) felt overdressed 😂 Even, i could pinpoint which students weren’t americans, if they were stylish, they were most likely not americans, maybe european or asian from Korea/China.
Yeah, worrying about speculative dangers to our health that modern science can’t confirm seems healthy. Also, dividing things in natural and not natural also seems logic, without a clear divider, or explanation to why natural things are automatically supposed to be safe, like lava, uranium, botulinum toxin, and other completely natural things, no danger to health there?
Dude, despite the fact you’re mostly criticising all kinds of brands in your articles, they’re having quite the opposite effect on me. You talk about Hydroflask, I want one, you talke about Stanley cups, I want one, Doc Martens? Wife has two pairs. Why these brands don’t pay you thousands is beyond me. 😀
If the focus in gym spaces was on health, there would be strict covid/airborne regulation with mandatory P2 masking and air filtration in gyms. Reccurent covid infections are much, much worse for your health than not working out. (And reccurent covid infections are likely to stop you from working out anyway). But then we might not consume as much and that would be terrible. (the person who wants to reply “but covid is gone ???” is now mandated to look up wastewater data in their location.)
I’m a runner, I run outside most of the time. When the roads are bad in the winter I have to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I wear running shorts I’ve had for like 7 years and a ratty t-shirt from some local road race. I kind of look like a bum, but I guarantee you I’m getting a better workout running 4-8 miles on the treadmill than the people in nice outfits who spend 5 minutes on the ellipticals then sit on the benches in front of the mirrors playing with their phones for 40 minutes.
YES, finding simple, functional pair of sports trainers/shoes/footwear without elevation on the heel area, that are not overly cushioned and that allow you to perform multiple exercises is becoming hell I don’t want to have to change footwear when I move from running to weight lifting to calisthenics. On fabrics I have less trouble because loose shorts and cotton tshirts are relatively easy to find
breathable moisture-wicking thermal-regulating quick-drying flexible washable water-repellent UV -blocking odor-reducing butt-enhancing fabric This indeed took my mind by storm. It indeed made my day. 😂😂 polyester nylon Goretex spandex (Lycra or elastane) I was indeed thinking of something else with the last word here. 😂😂
I bought a woollen peacoat. It’s 100% wool. Very warm in winter, but as it’s a natural fibre, it’s good in spring and autumn also. A friend wanted to buy the same one. When I checked, the new version is now 74% wool, and 26% polyester, and the price has gone up. So they’ve cheapened the material, reduced it’s utility (it won’t be as warm ), and hiked the price. It’s almost impossible to buy 100% cotton trousers or t-shirts. I get that some slim cuts use polyester to help maintain a garment’s shape. But that amount doesn’t need to be any more than 4-5%. Athelisure wear has accelerated the “barbell” notion of fashion …. it’s either near disposable/ very cheap and made with synthetic fibres, or it’s very expensive to get natural fibres that are well cut. There is no middle ground anymore. Even brands like Marks and Spencer in the UK where everyone bought their underwear now has underwear with a high percentage of synthetics and now my balls are sweaty. Nobody needs that ! And synthetic panties are no girl’s best friend either
Nah. It’s actually, athlethtic clothing just became way more expensive. Look at Salomon selling running shorts for 150 USD. I don’t mind people wearing what the want to wear. Everybody should wear whatever. But I will vote with my wallet. I think this is a dilemma. But my priority of not telling people what to wear is something I value more than having to dig and find good pair of running shorts. I don’t think the effect can also be quantified that it’s significant. The trend is generally that stuff becomes way to expensive and margins increased by 50% by adding a single technical fabric term, that is just another polyester weave.
As someone who is an aerial dance instructor I need VERY DURABLE clothes. My gymshark leggings were with me for 2 months lol. Most of the popular brands (nike, adidas) lasted no more than 6 months. There was one exception: in my country (central europe) there is a brand called 4F and 2 pairs of leggings I bought in 2021 are still in use and maybe they don’t look like they used to but still do their job perfectly.
I just dropped $200 on scrubs. Cause my workplace is seeing most of the women wearing them these days. Even some men. Ties are gone, leather business casual shoes are now sneakers. Now, scrubs. And even leggings. 😅. I think I like wearing scrubs? Not as soft and nice as I’d thought they’d be, but new clothes never are – the pants are easier to use than khakis anyways.
I work out and I’m a runner and I think the issue when someone buys something for fashion instead of it being functional for what you’re actually doing. This athleisure wear just looks nice, but I would never actually wear it to the gym or on a run. Most of athletic clothing you can buy cheap and it’s perfectly fine. I just get some Dry fit leggings and shorts and I wear crop top cotton shirts. If you buy high-quality the first time, you can keep athletic clothing for years. I’ve had the same Nike running shorts for 10+ years.
Bro its crazy when I can buy branded jeans that I can wear to clubs and party out for years and years cost $25-$35 but the workout joggers with a stupid checkmark that are going to rip apart in a few months starts from $50 onwards. I guess people care more about looking better at the gym than when they’re out partying. Its ridiculous this trend
Personally I wear Nike and the quality is top notch – I need to get rid of shoes after 500 miles because the sole is gone, but the rest of the shoe is perfect. Same for clothing – you get rid of them because they smell, not because they break. And trust me, I don’t care about Nike one bit, but their stuff is super durable.
I buy used and cheap stuff for my biketouring training and tours. Interesting how 5-7k miles of riding per year, the only real thing I need to do is redonate clothes that don’t fit anymore. The only thing I need to replace/throw away are my padded shorts every couple years. They are meant to literally protect my bum.
Training for powerlifting, I’m regularly at the gym at least 4 days a week, and I’ve been using the same gear for years. I might have bought maybe 3 technical shirts that I needed, but the idea of getting a new shirt, maybe bought for around 50/60 €, just to cover it in chalk and sweat seems absurd to me. I only spend money on equipment that can actually aid me, like knee wraps, belts, and such, but even those I buy maybe once every 3/4 years, if not once in a lifetime. This trend really strikes me as absurd.
Athleisure is annoying because sweaty, non-breathable polyester that clings to the body seems like the absolute antithesis of work out clothes. Wouldn’t a loose fitted cotton shirt and shorts be more comfortable? People just wanna show their booties and there is nothing wrong with that but don’t lie!
Honestly, the only brand I trust generally is Popflex. The owner prioritizes quality, versatility, customer feedback, and paying fair wages over quantity. They also now have their own secondhand program to keep pieces out of the landfill. I only own a few of her pieces, but they’re the best quality items I have in my closet and I come back to them every day! I don’t mind paying a little extra knowing someone actually gives a 💩 about the clothes I put on my body. Best part? 99% of Popflex’s clothes have USEABLE POCKETS.
Its a catch 22 hellscape imo. My family get skin cancer easily (we are a pasty lot) and we are tired if slathering on sunscreen as im sure its only a matter of time before that gets dinged as slowly killing us (we do try to stick with zinc based ones, but still). So we turned to clothing that has a good upf rating when we are trapped under the sun (we try to stick to shade as much as possible too). So now i have special nylon upf overalls for gardening and upf polyester shirt and gardener sleeves which also supposedly have crushed up microscopic jade in them to help with cooling (sure, jan). I wear natural fabrics like linen to keep from overheating in the summer when im inside or under shade like a gazebo, but that has a upf rating of 5. Wool is highly rated but if i wore wool in august id die. Sadly im stuck eith a damned if you do, damned if you dont scenario and so im taking the approach if limiting my time in those clothes and hope thats good enough. Its just a shame that to keep ourselves safe from the environment that we’ve dammaged were stuck using products that are probably futther dammaging the environment and possibly ourselves. Good grief.
I found that when I seriously got into weight lifting 15 years ago, I really did need seperate clothing. 100% based cotton items at the gym at that time were more prone to shrinking/staining/smelling/overheating/tearing. I don’t think it’s vain or mindless for the youth to want to dress in what makes them feel good. When I was younger, looking good in the gym was highly motivating. It’s interesting that synthetics may pose a health risk, but are there not similar risks with ‘natural fibers’? Won’t they contain herbicides/pesticides from farming practices, conditioners for the materials, bleaching and dyes…?
I am a very active guy. I dont really partake in gym fast fashion but over the years my tastes and wants changed so I do update the wardrobe. I actually really cant stand working out in cotton. I do have a few cotton shirts but only 2 and its very specific times I wear them. I do find the fast fashion aspect of it weird. I also dont understand the “fashion” of it. In terms of wearing athletic wear outside being athletic. It looks so lazy in my opinion. I hate to be judgey but heck I am lol. I do want to look decent when I work out just like I want to look decent doing my job. Having clothes you like does help how you feel. But dosent mean I want to wear athletic clothes for hanging out with friends.
8:24 the best athletic wear I’ve ever had that’s durable and functional are army PTs. The current ones are only able to be worn by soldiers but the previous generation grays are free to use if you can find them. It’s for impersonation reasons. I saw this American complaining about Japanese gym clothing rules and I agree with the Japanese gyms. It’s basically baggy shirt and tees over gym wear if you want to wear gym wear. Athlesuire isn’t allowed because it’s inappropriate. Only specialty gyms would allow power lifters etc to wear less because of getting caught in things.
Tactical clothes make sense – chafing your body during long runs or being uncomfortable during working out is bad. Most of these clothes are the cheapest in my wordraw and I own most of them for over five years and they are still holding up. For daily, I am coming back to natural materials as much as possible. I would like to buy a choodie with hemp, cannot find it in ordinary brands so far.
Just giving my two cents on whether athletic wear quality has been dropping. Im a pretty regular gym goer (6 times a week), and ive bought from most major and some small athleisure companies now. I haven’t noticed a drop in quality, but i have noticed an oversaturation in options bring overall quality of the industry down. I always stick to the stuff i find people online say is comfortable and reliable in threads least a few years back, because they are typically the staples of the brand. You can often rely on a staple not changing much and being of good quality. I can see how others might feel quality is getting worse when companies put out their 8th type of brand new shorts thats really meant to appeal to people who want to look good after phasing out the last piece of junk that wasn’t a hit, and not people who want something that feels good and works in the gym. Its really up to the consumer at that point whether they want to shop with their eyes, or actually do some research of whats good in the catalogue.
Gore Tex is not to be mixed up with PFAs treated surfaces- u said that gore Tex is automatically using these forever chemicals which is not correct- gore Tex is layered fabrics which does not automatically mean those have been treated with pfas. Btw- pfas are banned for most of the textile brands since many many years and meanwhile are even restricted by REACH, California prop65 and GB standard ( Chinese minimum requirement standards). Sorry for being so nerdy but this is my profession…. 😇
I actually prefer to work out in cotton clothes, even if they have some nylon or spandex in them. I have eczema and need to wear breathable fabrics, especially if I’m gonna be sweating. Fully synthetic workout clothes are gonna make me want to rip them off after a few minutes of sweating. Oh, and my go-to workout clothes are pj tank tops and jeggings I got from walmart years ago lol
The same is true for cold weather clothing – there used to be clothes specifically for mountaineering that were extremely high quality, but they are almost impossible to find these days – the few that still exist cost four figures. I turned to military cold weather clothing which is much higher quality but can be had for a few hundred, but you have to live with camo….
I got back into biking this year and have been biking every day to try to build up my endurance. Yknow what I’m wearing and riding? I’m wearing whatever the heck tshirt and jeans/shorts I was already wearing that day, riding the adult bike my parents got me when I outgrew my kid bike back in middleschool and the first helmet I saw at the big box store because my last helmet was lost several moves ago. Even better my bike’s almost 20 years old and the only parts that have been replaced are a couple of random bolts that fell off and a shifter line that wore out.
I wear a lot of techwear and hiking clothing / “gorpcore” specifically because it caters to my aesthetic tastes. That said though, “genuine” techwear and gorpcore stuff is actually super nice to wear in almost any condition or environment due to its inherently feature-rich design, plus a lot of smaller brands use fair labour with ethically sourced materials (i.e. Outlier NYC). With that said, I’ve delved into some of the recent Adidas Terrex stuff and it is just straight up “meh” for the price point. My Terrex pants feel pretty cheap for having an MSRP of $70ish USD, and my $40 USD Terrex midlayer fleece feels like it cost maybe $5 USD to make lol. It’s sad to think that a lot of “nicer” technical or performance-oriented clothing just outright sucks now (i.e. it’s not breathable, doesn’t wick moisture, lacks solid stitching or seam taping, etc).
This article sorta of sounds like the Greek picking on the Cool kids. It’s our own money and we can buy what we like if I want to look cute and cool at the gym then I will buy it. If I want to feel comfy going to the shops I will buy it. I am not going to feel guilty about my clothes and what I want to wear that makes me feel the way I like to feel. I try to give these articles a chance but like 1% of companies now a days actually live up to their standards. Is it perfect no, but the dosage makes the poison. And they come after popular brands ALL THE TIME (Trader Joe’s, Athleisure Wear, Tote Bag Brands, Reusable Cups Brands, Starbucks, etc.) knowing its going to get clicks. All they do is bring down the vibe, argh.
I just wore a cotton shirt to the gym, and to be honest, it wasn’t as comfortable as Lululemon. It was soaking wet and made me feel really warm compared to wearing Lululemon. Another good thing about Lululemon is that their material is moisture-wicking, which dries out very fast so I don’t feel cold afterwards. It’s good material, it makes you look good, and they offer almost a lifetime quality guarantee. (Yes, it works! I just returned a pair of leggings that I wore for over 5 years, which had pilling, and they offered a $100 gift card. Talk about a satisfied customer here.) And because of that, I love going to the gym to see myself in better shape and in pretty colors. So…why not?
I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s when clothes were made from cotton, and that is what I like. But in the 1990s society transitioned to making clothes from oil instead of plants. Kids started wearing plastic clothing and the trend expanded to adults as exercise and outdoor clothing. Even my bowling league requires us to have matching team shirts, which are all made of plastic. For comfort I wear a 100% cotton t-shirt under mine.
I’ve been to the secret sports brand store that you need an invitation to get into. The loud music club vibe was really sad, actually. The cleat the city soccer team wears cost $400+! The fact is, to make performance gear, you have to spend out the a–. Bicycle shirts with vents and reflectors that aren’t too heavy cost about the same. Part of me doesn’t blame them for subsidizing the mainline with billions of $10 socks.
This is one of the only articles of yours that I disagree with. As a cross country athlete and someone who does hard workouts and sweats a lot daily, I can tell you with 100% certainty that synthetic materials serve a needed purpose in endurance sports such as running/biking/riding. Yes, I agree that ‘normal’ clothes should not be made with synthetic materials if it is not for a functional sense and is for money saving reasons, as this dramatically shortens the lifespan of the clothing and creates more microplastics in our environment, HOWEVER, athletic wear should be an exception to this rule. You forget how the invention of synthetic fibres was SUCH a quality of life enhancer for athletes around the world, and made entry into sports easier for the general public. p.s. Stop fear mongering about the dangers of synthetic fibres, as I am undertaking a chemistry degree right now and have done research about synthetic fibres for one of my units, and there is no actual real danger to humans when clothing made out of this material is being worn :)))
Perhaps this “athleisure” is a trend in the USA, but in Italy we don’t follow it very much. We still prefer classic clothing and natural fibers, also, we have a knack for a perfect fit, not oversized (at least older generations) and we don’t want look shabby. Young people may wear some hoodies and large pants in the city, but it is not advisable at work. Wearing a track suit outside some athletic structure equals to bad taste, lower income, lower job, lower aesthetic, lower style, lower anything.
Honestly, I’m way more disappointed in how insecure people are becoming, it’s way out of hand. And no, I’m not a fat ass or unfit, I’m a climber and actually use my body, not just ogle myself in the mirror and need to be seen. If you all haven’t seen a slim and light Magnus Mitbo destroy gym junkies, I can highly recommend the dose of perspective. Jacked like Arnie and strong are completely different things. One is only useful for body image issues. The other is to be athletic. I took one of my lifting mates climbing and he could not get up the easiest of beginner routes. He was so ashamed to have put so much effort in to have his only skill be that he can pick up heavy crap (briefly). Sad world we are becoming in this regard.
Anyone can wear what they want… it’s not worse today than it was in 2000s when the “skate” fashion was the way. It’s just the new “cool” stuff which will be replaced in a few years with something different. Most people don’t have their own opinion, so they follow the trend and that’s how this happens. The only thing that’s wrong about this current “sport fashion” is that girls wear basically a second skin, revealing their whole body. That’s good and all but man are biologically attracted to woman body, so we will look at it. But ooooh we are then called creeps. Girls… if you don’t want men to look, wear something that does not show your every nook and cranny. Rant over.
I can’t understand athlesiure wear for the life of me. The whole point of exercise is your hair and clothes are gonna get messed up (if you’re getting anything meaningful out of the workout at least), it’s literally the last place I’d care about being fashionable??? I’ll take an old beat up dinosaur t-shirt and soccer shorts I’ve had since middle school, thank you very much.
You don’t mention the social aspect. I began to notice a few years back so many people, especially women, wearing yoga pants in non-athletic situations. Maybe I’m an old codger, but wearing skin-tight clothing, that leaves nothing to the imagination, in public, is nothing I want to see. Even for those few who have the body to wear them. In order to not inflame my hormonal response, I make an effort to not look. That’s on me. But, I feel there should be a separation between street-wear, athletic-wear, and non-public-wear. I’m not saying we should go back to men wearing suit and tie with homburg hats in public (though, to tell the truth, I wouldn’t mind) and women wearing long sleeves and longer skirts, but I feel that the relaxation of dressing standards is paralleled with a relaxation of cultural standards (though, correlation is not causation).
I don’t know how much this crosses over into western markets, but I think Kpop has also boosted Sweats. Kpop trainees spend 12+ hour days practicing performing and they’re almost always in sweat pants, sneakers, and tee shirts. This carries over to still being the casual wear of choice for idols and their fans who buy a lot of high-end sweats…
Hi, I have several comments to make.Thanks for this article it is more about the high end fashion brands. Than traditional sports brands. When you live in Florida Athleisure wear is what I wear on my days off. In any hot climate some of what you can wear in the gym you can wear as casual wear because you may want to wear moisture wicking fabrics, I have 3 favorite brands that I wear the most Adidas,Russel Athletics, & Athletic Works. I also shop online just for a select color or pattern that I want that is also in this catagory. I don’t go online shopping for the most high end prices for new clothing either. This is what I like about Adidas the most. I can wear their apparel anywhere and buy it really good pricing for this brand compared to the brands mentioned in this article. I hate influences that make the best list and all have a amazon links and none include Adidas. Just those micro more expensive brands that nobody really heard of. Do I need to spend $60 on gym shorts for a brand? No. GQ thinks so why because he claims that the fabric won’t smell after a workout. There is such a thing as fabric freshener. Yet GQ only goes with brands they like they aren’t going to test wear anything by Russel Athletics. You talk about microplastics in the body from fabric materials yeah I don’t buy into it and consider it junk science. Polyester has been around for decades and in that time life expectancy has gone way way up. What you don’t mention in the article is the supplements that the influencers and gym work users use.
I don’t know. I sort of get all of this but at the same time if you can afford it and looking cute at the gym helps you actually go and work out whatever. We are such a sedentary society. I’m a firm believer and whatever you can do to make sure you move is good and athleisure is super comfortable. When you are working from home and going about your business it doesn’t pinch. It doesn’t constrict who cares. Just where would you find comfortable?… Over consumption is one thing, but I think athleisure is great and I think that people who wear it everyday busy moms busy people are just fine and it’s one of those things that doesn’t really deserve the attention that it’s getting.
As somebody who used to train a lot for almost a decade, i had clothes that sucked and weren’t exactly cheap (at least for me), like 70 bucks for training shorts or more than a hundred for a pair of shoes that lasted less than two years, i wear my clothes until the holes are really noticeable so pushed them as long as i could, and I’m talking about big brands like nike and Reebok, then my dad bought me a pair of shirts on a supermarket back 2015 or 17 approximately, and those are some of the few pieces of clothes that are perfectly fine (even without holes).
Great article, and so interesting sociologically! Though you lost me on the “leaching toxins into your skin” and “accumulation in your body”. Generally bodies find a way to deal with this sort of chemical exposure which goes on constantly, and the fact its synthetic – is necessarily an issue. I think i found the study on google scholar and it was an in vitro model so id be careful applying it to real life.
I’m a men and even I love synthetic fibers. Nylon shirts, workout leggins, tights under pants when it’s cold or semi sheer or opaque nylon socks. The feeling of the material hugging your body and how soft it feels on the skin is something many people like even tho some may refuse to admit. Still for an average guy like me clothing like that is mostly reserved for a gym or home or when it’s really cold but still I like to wear it when I can. Too bad that it’s so bad for the environment and potentially our health. Still I believe human ingenuity will find a way to finally safely replace synthetic fabric with something actually biodegradable or at least a way to safely dispose of our current petroleum based clothing.
And the durability and quality of all those is are just crap. It’s moee than good enough for ppl to just walk around in, but not for more intensive/long exercise. It goes with the fact that nowadays nothing lasts as long as it used to, but also bc it’s made to look good rather than perform really well.
As a “gym bro” the guys who are actually at the gym to work out with no bullshit aren’t the guys wearing a bunch of expensive branded “gym clothes” they’re the guys who show up in a faded hoodie and an old tee-shirt with holes in it. The biggest guys at the gym aren’t wearing gym shark, they’re wearing an old cotton hoodie that’s seen too many washes and they don’t care what you think about it because they’re huge.
I bought a bra in synthetic fibre and a sports bra aesthetic (though not even as much support as a regular bra) and said to the seller “I’m gonna use this to go to the gym” because it was comfy and wireless and thus easy to wash and when I go pump I don’t need much support. She was confused because this clearly athletic-style bra was apparently meant to be sexy because it had like a hole in the underbust area. I am misusing non-athletic athleisure as athletic wear. I have come full circle.