Our Favourite Gym Wear Brands & Their History

Nike: A Legacy of Athletic Excellence

Nike was founded in 1964, and was originally named Blue Ribbon Sports. Nike was founded by Phil Knight to was a University of Oregon track athlete, and his coach Bill Bowerman. Seeking inspiration from the Greek goddess of victory, Bowerman and Knight renamed there brand to ‘Nike’ in 1971.

Nike can be labelled as one of the greatest sportswear brands of all time. With some of their brand collaborations being the most successful of all time. Such as the Air Jordans collab with Michael Jordan. Nike’s ethos is to inspire and innovate, their reach is now global. Nike’s clothing is extremely innovative with incorporating cutting-edge fashion and performance fabrics. The Nike Dri-fit fabric technology is a high performance, breathable polyester fabric that transports moisture and heat away from the body.

Nike clothing can be seen worn in gym’s all over the UK. Their gym clothing is extremely high quality.

Gasp Clothing: For the Serious Athlete & Bodybuilder

Gasp Clothing is a brand that emerged from the tough, hardcore gym culture. GASP focus on producing heavy-duty gym wear for serious athletes and bodybuilders. Born in Sweden, and founded by Swedish Fitness, GASP began with the vision of providing the bodybuilding and fitness community with garments that fit their rigorous and hard working lifestyle.

Founded in the early 2000s, Gasp has dedicated itself to creating products that embody durability, functionality, and a distinct rugged style. Their clothing features raw cut edges, baggy fits and distressed prints. The GASP bodybuilding clothing has a raw industrial feel, and is built to last. Their gym clothing range includes heavy-duty mesh pants, hoodies, tank tops, and accessories, which are all designed to withstand the most intense training sessions. What sets Gasp apart is its commitment to the bodybuilding community, reflected in the brand’s robust and straightforward design ethos.

GASP have focussed their energy on producing mens gym clothing, they have now recently launched their womens gym wear range which has seen huge popularity. GASP create sub brands within their range such as the ‘Skull Division collection’ and ‘Iron World’.

Gold’s Gym Clothing: Iconic and Inspirational

Gold’s Gym was founded in 1965 by Joe Gold in Venice Beach, California. We felt it essential to include Golds gym clothing in our list due to the cultural impact on the bodybuilding scene. Gold’s Gym is more than just a fitness centre, it has become an icon in the health & fitness world. The brand printed some t-shirts and gym vests with their iconic classic joe logo. The intention was to never produce an internationally demanded fitness clothing range, but to just create some merch to promote their gym location. Fast forward multiple decades and the Gold’s Gym range is stocked across many activewear stores globally. Their clothing range embodies the heritage of the gym and inspiration that Gold’s Gym represents.

Gold’s Gym clothing is renowned for its vintage and motivational appeal. The gym wear line includes iconic classic stringer vests, gym t-shirts, sweatshirts, and performance wear, all featuring the iconic Gold’s Gym Muscle Joe logo print. This apparel is designed for both function and fashion, providing comfort and style to fitness enthusiasts.

Gymshark: Revolutionizing Modern Fitness Apparel

Gymshark, founded in 2012 by teenager Ben Francis and a group of his high-school friends, is a remarkable success story in the gym clothing industry. Starting in a garage in Birmingham, UK, Gymshark has grown into a leading brand with a multi million pound turnover. Gym Shark leveraged the power of influencer marketing across social media channels, with many fitness influencers promoting their clothing range.

Gymshark’s clothing is at the forefront of modern fitness fashion or ‘athleisure’. Their range gym wear range combines cutting-edge technology with modern design. Their clothing is not only seen in the gyms, but has now become a fashion symbol on the high-street. The brand offers a range of gym clothes that include seamless leggings, sports bras, and moisture-wicking t-shirts. Each item is crafted to enhance performance, comfort, and confidence in the gym. Their men’s range includes gym stringers, t-shirts, joggers and hoodies.

Lululemon: Pioneering Wellness Through Fashion

Lululemon was founded in 1998 in Vancouver, Canada, by Chip Wilson, started as a design studio by day and a yoga studio by night. It quickly turned into a standalone store in November 2000. Lululemon’s philosophy is rooted in creating quality lifestyle and yoga apparel that supports wellbeing.

Lululemon’s product range includes yoga pants, running gear, and workout tops, characterized by their stylish designs and high-quality, technical fabrics. Their signature fabric, Luon, is a blend of nylon and Lycra that is soft, stretchy, and wicks away sweat. Lululemon has also been a pioneer in community-based marketing, creating a loyal customer base through local events and ambassador programs.

Each of these gym wear brands has contributed significantly to the evolution of gym clothing over the decades. Offering products that are not only functional but also fashionable. From Nike’s innovation and sustainability to Gasp’s dedication to hardcore training, from the iconic appeal of Gold’s Gym to Gymshark’s modern aesthetic, and Lululemon’s commitment to wellness and community, these gym brands represent the diverse needs and styles of athletes and fitness enthusiasts around the world. Their shared dedication to quality, comfort, and style makes them our top picks for gym wear.