Gym junkies and regular folk alike, we are all mobilising our flesh vehicles in the hope that the better we care for them, the better we will feel. In the spirit of the age old adage "use it or lose it" loved by our parent's doctors, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite activewear brands to move in, because even if your coordination levels are sub-zero, your outfit can compensate. At least that's what we're telling ourselves.
Below, find the 31 activewear brands we turn to when we're ready to sweat.
1. Nike
An old, faithful favourite. With a commitment to diversity and sustainability, performance is not the only thing going for Nike. Their extremely extensive range caters to essentially any kind of sporting needs you may have, even if those sporting needs include playing Wii in a tracksuit.
2. SET Active
A minimalists dream. Stretchy ribbed sets fit into the elevated activewear category with their muted, on-trend tonal palettes. A range of sports bras, leggings, bike shorts, and more have you SET (sorry).
3. Outdoor Voices
A sustainable activewear brand for those who want simple activewear solutions and a clean conscience. Outdoor Voices offers a range of sizes, colours, cuts, and spans across womenswear, menswear, and kids.
4. Live The Process
Should you feel the need to incorporate some luxury into your workout regime, Live The Process is the place to start. Thoughtful design and construction with an unsurpassed level of detail creates quality you can feel, and shapes you can feel good in.
5. LSKD
Minimal, streamlined activewear for those on the go. LSKD is an Australian-owned and operated brand that prides itself in producing high-quality functional sportswear with a street aesthetic since 2007. Perfect for those who are all action.
6. P.E Nation
Blurring the lines between activewear and streetwear, P.E Nation is something of a cult favourite among Sydney siders. With its luxe athleisure aesthetic and function-driven silhouettes, P.E is designed to fit into your active life effortlessly without compromising style for comfort in their streetwear forward pieces.
7. The North Face
If you're looking for top-notch gear that does more than just look great, The North Face is a non-negotiable. Their ubiquitous puffer jackets feel just as at home on a mountain top as they do at your local coffee spot, and they'll hold up against both climate and trend.
8. Alo Yoga
Founded in Los Angeles in 2007, Alo was conceived from a love of the transformative power of yoga. Based on contemporary comfort, Alo prides themselves for being suitable off-mat wear. Stocking a huge range of yoga-geared crops and leggings in all the colours (especially pastels), there’s something for everyone.
9. Prism
Founded by Anna Laub, Prism offers minimal, comfortable, luxurious and fashion-forward activewear with functionality at its core. A collection of multi-functional and multi-fit garments, which can be used as sportswear, swimwear and underwear – all in one.
10. Nagnata
With their philosophy deeply rooted in sustainability and studio-to-street style, Nagnata is the brand we’re all wearing at the moment. Their 70’s inspired crops and bike shorts could easily be worn with jeans or a button down post or pre workout and are technically supported by soft wool fabrications insulated in all the right ways.
11. LNDR
The cool-girl activewear brand. Designed by women for women, LNDR lends to the sustainably-focused, function-forward crowd with their minimal, geometric designs which fit perfectly from the gym into streetwear.
12. Vaara
Perhaps the most chic activewear of them all. London founded Vaara makes unisex, unique, and effortlessly hardworking wear for movement and play. Minimalism never looked better.
13. Adidas By Stella McCartney
For those of us who like to be fashion-forward without compromising planetary wellbeing or function. McCartney has been a long supporter of animal rights and sustainable practices. Here, her collaboration with Adidas skimps on none of these, while offering a streamlined edit of pieces championing performance.
14. Lululemon
The crème de la crème of classic activewear. Geared towards yoga and performance, Lululemon is a long-standing house name associated with efficiency. Based around technical athletic apparel married with a strong aim to build community, you can always rely on a classic.
15. Girlfriend Collective
Beautiful, streamlined activewear with a conscious approach to production. Made with 100% post-consumer water bottles, 100% recycled and recyclable packaging, compressive leggings and bras made from 79% recycled polyester, LITE leggings made from recycled fishing nets and other waste using ECONYL® yarn, tees and tanks made from 100% cupro, a delicate fiber made from waste the cotton industry leaves behind, it's hard to find a reason not to get behind Girlfriend Collective.
16. Stax
Close your eyes and imagine your perfect gym outfit. Now open them and head to Stax. Born in Perth and now based in Sydney, this label has it all; from lazy sweatpants to cropped tanks to seamless g-strings and tights aplenty. We'll take one in every colour, please.
17. Gymshark
The most millennial of brands by miles. Made famous by social media, Gymshark was conceived and launched by a teenager in his garage and has morphed into one of the fastest growing athletic brands in fitness.
18. Vegethreads
Melbourne based Vegethreads knows how to make responsible, comfortable clothing. Made 100% in Australia using organic and eco-friendly materials and dyes in limited numbers, it always feels nice to support home grown brands.
19. Everlane
Not exclusively activewear, but responsible for some very good activewear nonetheless. If you are looking for simple gear to move and breathe in, Everlane, as always, has what you're looking for.
20. Lorna Jane
Another age old classic. Australian based Lorna Jane is founded on empowering women to live an active life. With a range spanning activewear, outerwear and even swimwear, you’re sure to find anything between a simple pair of exercise pants and a jersey skirt.
21. Inhala Soulwear
Calling all yogis, this one's for you. Crafted using highly innovative eco-friendly materials through all its value chain, from the highest quality of regenerated nylon to rich Peruvian fair-trade organic cotton, you won't find comfier, or more thoughtful movement wear.
22. Hara the Label
Intimates label Hara has expanded to include a naturally dyed sportswear collection made entirely from its signature bamboo lyocell fabric. Each piece is responsibly made in Melbourne and the sizes range between extra small to a 5 XL.
23. Pansy Co.
Similarly to Hara the Label, Pansy Co. began as an intimates label and sought out new horizons by inching into the activewear market. All the cotton used to bring one of these Pansy Co. pieces to life is grown in Texas and milled in North Carolina before it finds its way to the San Leandro factory in California to be crafted. We love transparency!
24. Nimble Activewear
Forged from the belief that work outs should be free from picking, plucking and general outfit adjusting, Nimble create silky smooth pieces designed in Bondi that flow with you.
25. Recreational Habits
More heiress of the country club and weekend trips spent horse riding at Sandringham than what we commonly believe to be activewear. But nonetheless, this American leisurewear label is filling the gap in the market for accessible prep. Not that you'd think this was necessary until you remember that sports like tennis and polo have historically been exclusive to the upper echelons of society and Recreational Habits is here to change that.
26. Year of Ours
Everything from leggings, sports bras, sweatshirts to tees and cut and sewn on location at Years of Ours location in El Monte, California. Using the utmost comfortable fabric, this activewear brand is of the belief that working out is hard enough without your clothes working against you too.
27. The Upside
Activewear made with yoga in mind. Find an array of colours and patterns to break up the barrage of black on black on black.
28. Running Bare
An Australian activewear institution. Born in 1983, this family owned and operate brand prides itself on local production made in the heart of Sydney.
29. Boody
Organically grown bamboo takes centre stage at Boody. Favoured for its antibacterial properties and rep as a breathable fabric, take care of your body knowing that you're caring for the planet too.
30. Aje ATHLETICA
Iconic Australian fashion label Aje has branched out into the activewear space as of late, launching their new Aje ATHLETICA line and brick-and-mortar stores.
31. Sporty & Rich
The ultimate in preppy-chic sportswear, Sporty & Rich is the place to go for all your vintage-feel activewear – from tennis skirts to pullover sweaters. Somewhere in between Princess Diana's iconic 90s hoodie-and-biker-short combo, and Cher's tennis court fits in Clueless, these pieces are designed to be timeless additions to your sporting wardrobe.
