Looking for the Best Athleisure Apparel to boost your style and comfort? Our guide tackles the challenge of finding gear that keeps up with your busy lifestyle, from versatile gym wear to trendy everyday outfits. Get ready to explore our must-have collections that promise to transform your wardrobe and elevate your game. In this article, we’ll explore the brands that offer the most utilitarian, comfortable, and best athleisure apparel.
Lululemon
Known for high-quality yoga wear and leggings, Lulemon is a Canadian based multinational athletic apparel brand that specializes in yoga-wear. Though it was initially incepted as primarily offering yoga apparel for women, it later expanded to encompass offerings that included running gear, training accessories, and items that contributed to a fitness-centric lifestyle.
The first Lulemon product were actually black stretchy pants, a product designed to be durable, squat-proof, fashionable and comfortable. The originator of the Lulemon brand, Chip Wilson, attended several yoga classes and observed that women didn’t have the appropriate garments to fully participate in all of the motions, poses, and stretching involved in yoga. Consequently, Lulemon was born, remaining a popular commodity to this day.
Popular Items: Align Leggings, Speed Up Shorts, and the Define Jacket.
Nike
Nike offers a wide range of athletic wear that doubles as casual wear. It remains a singular monolith in the distribution of athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories. Born as “Blue Ribbon Sports” in 1964, it was initially founded as a company producing running shoes for cross-country athletes. It was later re-branded as “Nike,” after the Greek goddess of victory, in 1971.
Contemporarily, its popularity has proliferated due to its emphasis on partnering with popular athletes to not only receive feedback on their products, but to leverage their brand commercially. The fortunes of the company expanded dramatically when they signed Michael Jordan, whose signature sneaker launched a corresponding line of footwear, referred to as “Air Jordan.”
With the resources at its disposal, Nike has crafted a range of products that are reliable and comfortable. Its focus on innovation and athlete-centric designed has engendered a loyal base of customers that continue to prioritize their products.
Popular Items: Nike Sportswear Essentials, Dri-FIT leggings, and their range of stylish sneakers.
Adidas
Adidas initially was crafted as a brand focused on athletics shoes, whose popularity grew after Jesse Owens wore a pair of Adidas sneakers in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. After World War II, the two founding brothers of the company, Adi and Rudolph, separated and formed two competing brands: Adidas, which was helmed by Adi; and Puma, which became the brainchild of Rudolf, Adi’s brother.
Since then, Adidas has similarly sought innovation in the outfit of its products. In the 1950s, Adidas introduced the “Samba,” a singularly versatile training shoe. It also introduced the “Superstar,” a basketball shoe released in concordance with the burgeoning popularity of basketball, to supplement the success of athletes involved in the sport.
Though Adidas is still known for its innovative sports apparel, it has also become acknowledged for its association with popular fashion designers, who further improve the aesthetics of their products.
Popular items: Adidas Originals line, Ultraboost sneakers, and track pants.
Alo Yoga
Based in Los Angeles, the mission of Alo Yoga is to create stylish, high-quality yoga clothing to further prioritize the overall goal of well-being and holistic wellness. Moreover, the brand also places an emphasis on promoting a more spiritual connection to nature, the environment, and the planet’s well-being.
Alo Yoga has become a well known athleisure brand and has now expanded beyond its provenance of being a line dedicated almost exclusively to adherents of yoga. Crafted on the back of popular celebrities, it has now created a presence in luxury and skincare markets.
Popular items: Airlift Leggings, Airbrush Tanks, and cozy outerwear.
Gymshark
The concept of Gymshark was derived out of a group of folks passion for weightlifting, while simultaneously pursuing an everyday, quotidian, lifestyle. Their first product offerings consisted primarily of lifestyle supplements, before transitioning into clothing and athletic apparel. As a relatively smaller brand, they are correspondingly more customer-oriented, crafting clothing specifically designated as a result of their customer’s preferences.
The brand has built itself on the legs of crafting a relentless social media strategy, leveraging influences to popularize their products.
Popular items: Flex Leggings, Energy Seamless tops, and training shorts.
Athleta
Athleta is a brand that proudly puts women first in their marketing and manufacturing efforts. Like many athleisure brands, they promulgate a clothing line that seeks to mix comfort with performance.
In conjunction with their advocacy for women, they have partnered with prominent female athletes, including Allyson Felix and Simone Biles. Athleta has introduced numerous lines revolving around the expedition of female performance in athletic competition.
Popular items: Salutation Stash Pocket Tight and the Conscious Crop.
Under Armour
Under Armour was founded in 1996 by entrepreneur Kevin Plank, who aspired to create moisture-wicking apparel that would keep athletes cool during vigorous workouts. Ideally, Plank wanted to create an undershirt that would essentially obviate the impact of excessive sweat on performance, which later became a signature fabric technology.
Similar to competing brands of its stature, Under Armour is known for its performance sportswear, its innovative design, and its association with notable athletes and celebrities.
Popular items: UA Tech T-shirts, joggers, and hoodies.
Must-Have Athleisure Items
Leggings: Look for high-waisted styles that provide great support and fit.
Joggers: Comfortable and stylish, ideal for lounging or gym session
Sports Bras: Choose athleisure apparel styles that offer both support and comfort for workouts.
Crop Tops: Great for layering or wearing alone, suitable for both workouts and casual outings.
Hoodies and Sweatshirts: Perfect for warming up or cooling down, with many styles to choose from.
Sneakers: Opt for versatile designs that can transition from the gym to everyday wear.
Layering Pieces: Lightweight jackets or vests that can be easily added or removed as needed.
Tips for Choosing Athleisure
Fabric: Look for moisture-wicking, breathable, and stretchy athleisure apparel materials for maximum comfort.
Fit: Ensure that you get the right size; athleisure should fit snugly but not be overly tight.
Style: Choose colors and designs that reflect your personal style and can be mixed and matched easily.
Functionality: Consider pockets, adjustable features, and versatility for different activities.
