Fashion’s Lifestyle Blog

Unsurprisingly, gymwear was once reserved for the gym. The mere idea of wearing sports clothing outside of the gym would’ve been viewed as informal, possibly scruffy. But that’s all changed now. Some of the world’s most exclusive fashion houses compete in the sportswear sector, leggings and tracksuits are common sights in brunch cafes, and the lines between gymwear and everyday clothing have become somewhat blurred.

In this article, we’ll uncover how we got here, discuss the birth of athleisure, and cover some 2025 trends that combine gymwear and streetwear.

The Birth of Athleisure

The murky intersection of athleticwear and leisure clothing has been given its own name now: athleisure. While athleisure is seen as a modern term, we can trace its origins back to 80s Hip-Hop, where it was common for stars to wear sports tracksuits in music videos and even on the red carpet.

Today, athleisure has moved on from simply throwing on a tracksuit. Consumers look for both comfort and style, and trends align with this view. Yogawear is a comfortable yet fashionable option for women today, while items like basketball shorts tick both boxes for men.

The Fashion Industry Embrace

While athleisure clothing is still seen as a casual option, the rise has grabbed the attention of luxury brands that have seen athleisure as a route into the sportswear market. The likes of Balenciaga and Prada now offer sports clothing for those who want to combine high-end fashion and athletic garments.

Alongside this, the rise of athleisure has also created a new group of brands offering premium activewear. The likes of A-Game Active, specialising in performance-based sportswear, and Alo Yoga, offering activity-specific garments, give consumers a way to express their lifestyle as well as their fashion.

The Role of Social

Like most fashion trends today, social media is at the heart of athleisure’s uprising. Famous influencers snap themselves working from coffee shops while rocking a comfortable tracksuit, and world-renowned sports stars act as posterboys/girls for sports brands’ lifestyle ranges.

Social also means that it’s becoming easier than ever to start an e-commerce brand. Couple this with the increasing popularity of activewear, and it’s no surprise to see a surge in the number of startup fashion brands offering athleisure clothing or similar.

The Cultural Impact

Perhaps the increased popularity of the gym look comes from culture rather than fashion. With more and more people putting time into their health and wellness, gymwear has become a way to express a lifestyle choice, rather than just a fashion preference.

Circling back to social media, certain individuals are now changing the perception of certain sports brands through the content they post online. Where these brands were once seen as budget and affordable, seeing the brand worn by popular influencers moves it into the aspirational category.

Current Trends

The rise of gymwear means that the sector now even has its own trends, with different styles of sportswear coming in and out of fashion. In some cases, the activewear market responds to the wider fashion space. For example, gym goers may now be searching for more sustainable clothing for their workouts, given the increased interest in sustainable fashion.

Other trends are exclusive to the area of sportswear. Currently, we’re seeing consumers combine gymwear with high-end fashion to form unique looks that strike the perfect balance between comfort and style.

Females in particular love the best of both worlds. Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancée, Georgina Rodríguez, has been spotted pairing gym attire and even football shirts with luxury handbags on several occasions. It’s also common to see gym leggings paired with items such as leather jackets to style up an otherwise casual outfit.

Final Thoughts

The evolution of activewear has been caused by many factors, and the motivation for wearing athletic clothing outside of sporting environments will differ from one individual to the next. For some, it’s become a preference motivated by fashion; sports clothes have become trendier thanks to what we see online and partnerships between brands and influencers. Others now view gymwear as a way to express their lifestyle; leading an active, healthy lifestyle is perceived as an attractive trait by many. Now that even luxury brands are showing an interest in the sector, it will be interesting to see how the sector evolves in the near future.