How the Athleisure Trend Has Taken Over

Fashion trends change quite often and even though most people categorise the changes based on decades, it can actually be seen from one year to another more effectively. These days, the trend is not the flashiest and fanciest clothes money can buy, but Athleisure fashion. What is Athleisure fashion, you ask? Essentially, it is a trend in which comfortable athletic clothing is being worn for everyday use.

Includes Footwear

Many of us have embraced the athleisure trend in our everyday lives without realising it. Athletic wear is now more fashionable and therefore able to adapt to more social situations than ever before. The trend is also known as sport leisure and includes active wear clothing as well as footwear. The vast majority of footwear sold in the U.S. in the past few decades can be linked to designer varieties and dress fashion, but these days, casual sneakers are beginning to take over the dress fashion market.
Sneakers, skate shoes, and other athletic foot covering sales have risen 7% in the past year. That might not seem like a significant change to some, but when coupled with the fact that shoes such as high heals, men’s dress shoes, and other dressier shoe sales have dropped 5% during the same timeline, that is a remarkable shift in the market. Additionally, technical performance footwear, has declined 7%, so athleisure is certainly making waves in the fashion industry.

Sports Bras

Bras come in a range of styles and designs to fit the contours of a woman’s curves. They are made to be beautiful and allow for ultimate support. However, sometimes that support can be very uncomfortable. A few years ago, high fashion bras were all the rage, but women quickly realised that, although beautiful, these bras were impractical and very uncomfortable. The athleisure trend is changing the perception of what a bra should be and women are finally able to relax where their undergarments are concerned.
Athleisure bras are essentially sports bras that offer ultimate support and lift while maintaining ultimate comfort. They allow for movement and let sweat shed from the body rather than absorbing it. In 2015, sports bra sales grew 38% while in 2018, sales were up 45%. We can plainly see that sports bras are becoming more viable and popular than ever before leaving the impractical, sexy variety of undergarment far in the past.

A Shift in Work Attire

There was a time in our professional lives where a button up suit was the way to go. A more formal work attire was expected for both men and women, but today’s perception of professional attire has drastically shifted. Strict formal dress codes are no longer an issue as more companies are embracing a more casual attire mindset. This trend is largely due to millennial’s driving the change. Workers today are not going to sit all day in uncomfortable clothing and where casual Fridays might have been a thing at one point, the shift has led to a more casual environment on a daily basis. It is no longer uncommon to see high heels, dress shoes, and suits abandoned for comfortable sneakers and more breathable fabrics.

Affordability

Clothing is expensive for the most part, yet companies that manufacture gym clothing tend to offer far more affordable pricing. The prices drop even more when you move away from the high end sports companies. These companies tend to place large logos in obvious places on their clothing making it difficult to where them anywhere, but at the gym. However, other companies have turned smaller logos and placing those logos in out of the way areas. The benefit to the wearer, is that the logos are able to be covered allowing for more versatility within their wardrobe.
Traditionally, name brand athletic wear can cost upwards £50 just for a pair of mens joggers featuring the company’s logo. Smaller athletic wear companies are offering the same fabrics and mobility without the hefty price tag. Essentially, you can get a quality pair of leggings, bras, and shoes without the expensive labels and pay a fraction of the cost. Affordability is king in athleisure wear.

Comfort is Here to Stay

During the recent shut down and even before it occurred, people were beginning to embrace comfort over style in many areas. The Athleisure trend has drastically amplified the need for comfortable clothing and it is a trend that is not soon to be dismissed. These days, instead of investing thousands on a new wardrobe that will ultimately be outdated in a year, more people are turning to simple, affordable, and comfortable athleisure styles. Companies are embracing the trend with vigor offering new styles and more versatile fashion options, so no matter who you are or where you live, you can find an athleisure style to fit with your lifestyle.