Athleisure - A Combination Of Sport And Leisure

Athleisure or athleisure wear is the term for the current fashion trend of dressing sporty, comfortable and chic at the same time. It's about looking good in sportswear and sporty fashion, and not just on the pitch or at the gym. Comfortable fashion with a sporty flair is also the order of the day in the office, at leisure or on many other occasions. The name ‘athleisure’ is a combination of the words ‘athletic’ and ‘leisure wear’. This look can also be seen on the catwalk .

Athleisure outfits: sporty appeal and maximum comfort

Athleisure wear should look like sportswear and offer maximum comfort when worn. It usually makes the wearer look younger and more dynamic. Many fans of athleisure wear sit in the office wearing chic XXL hoodies and Adidas sports trousers. A shift has taken place in the fashion world: Jogging trousers and trainers are now socially acceptable. What used to be considered inappropriate or even rude is now a fashionable trend. Athleisure outfits include leggings, yoga trousers, shorts, hoodies and jogging trousers, as well as rain jackets, outdoor jackets and trainers.

The emergence of athleisure fashion

The origins of this trend can be traced back to well-known sportsmen and women who wore their functional clothing for occasions other than sporting events. Tennis and basketball players in particular have been wearing their trainers off the pitch since the 1970s. Well-known Hollywood actors were already seen wearing trainers on the big screen 20 years ago, but also increasingly in their private lives. The yoga trend led to the fashion for wearing yoga clothing in a leisure context. Another driver for the athleisure trend: sportswear is comfortable and functional, and fewer and fewer fashion-conscious people want to do without these benefits.

The fashion industry and new textile technologies

The fashion industry is increasingly producing clothing that is extremely comfortable and versatile thanks to new types of textiles and improved technologies. Athleisure clothing and shoes are lightweight, flexible, breathable and often water-repellent. Due to their sporty flair, they are robust and performance-orientated, supporting the everyday movements and activities of their wearers. Well-known sportswear manufacturers such as Nike and Adidas are capitalising on this trend to tap into new markets and target groups with special collections. A cover model in a sporty top, cycling shorts and high heels is not uncommon, nor is a catwalk model in glitter shorts and a blazer. Existing products are modified or appear in new designs, for example at Gucci or Adidas by Stella McCartney. Other examples of athleisure wear brands are Nike Sportswear, Epoque Evolution and Veilance.

The athleisure trend - a growth market

In American media such as the Wall Street Journal, the athleisure market was already described as growing in 2015. It was said to be replacing typical workwear styles. In 2014, its market size totalled 35 billion US dollars, with a year-on-year increase of 8 %, and this trend is on the rise. This trend has continued to this day.

The cool fashion trend - a break in style desired

Well-known designers who claim to offer comfortable and cosy clothing send their models to photo shoots in athleisure wear. The lockdown and the trend towards working from home have given the look a new lease of life. Versace, for example, combines blazers with shorts, while other fashion brands such as Celine offer sports trousers embroidered by hand with gemstones. Elegant tops are often styled with jogging trousers. Fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Palms Angels show athletic aspects in their fashion shows . The casual, sporty pieces are regularly enhanced with a chic counterpoint. A model wearing an outfit with cycling shorts and a sporty top is styled with high heels and an elegant blazer for a trendy athleisure look.

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