AnOther spotlights the cult sportswear brands to champion in 2016
Sportswear has come a long way since Olivia Newton-John gyrated her way around an exercise studio wearing a white bodysuit and terry towelling sweatband whilst belting out her 1981 hit, Let's Get Physical. Due, predominantly, to the frenetic demands of modern life – the need to balance a strenuous workload with social commitments and a suitably rigorous workout schedule, has become such that both athletic labels and high fashion houses have recognised the demand and responded accordingly. Thus, athleisure was born – a fashionably functional hybrid of ready-to-wear and active apparel, offering pieces that work seamlessly from ballet barre to brunch (or a perfectly good bar). Here, we champion five of the most coveted athleisure brands of 2016.
1: Outdoor Voices
About: This burgeoning New York-based brand is the brainchild of 27-year-old designer Taylor Haney, who felt that sportswear should celebrate "activity light-heartedly" rather than the "harder, faster approach" that a multitude of sportswear giants so frequently adopt. Though Haney’s collections are diligently constructed for high-performance sports, boasting technically advanced fabrications, her signature use of discreet fastenings, streamlined silhouettes and a typically muted palette make each piece the ideal underscore to say, a Vetements jacket, or a pair of Céline ballet pumps.
USP: Earthy, sports-luxe loungewear.
AnOther Loves: The Hi-Rise Warm-up Leggings, Steeplechase Sports Bra (the grey or navy colourways are preferable) and the enviably soft Catch-Me-If-You-Can hoodie.
2: Olympia Activewear
About: Relocating from the tropical island of Maui to the bustling San Francisco, where the majority of exercise classes are held indoors, prompted designer Kaili Lickle to address the need for understated but functional performance clothing for women who wish to lead an active lifestyle. The result? A smart-thinking, insouciantly chic line of apparel titled Olympia Activewear, dedicated to the core values of femininity, modernity and strength.
USP: Seamless, second-skin sports and swimwear with logo-stamped trims in an elegant Modigliani-esque palette.
AnOther Loves: The nude Athens bra, Jaya silk track pants and the putty-coloured Ruca bodysuit.
3: Live The Process
About: PR veteran Robyn Berkeley launched her own health and wellbeing website, Live The Process in 2013, and spurred on by its success, launched an "elevated activewear" line under the same moniker little than a year later. Comprised of super-stretch cotton fabrications and delicate, feminine shapes that work in harmony with the curvature of the body, it’s no surprise that the line was snapped by influential stores such as Barneys and The Apartment, faster than you can say "cacao and spirulina juice".
USP: Bohemian motifs, corseted bralets and slick mesh detailing (a recurring theme that runs through leggings, vests, jumpers and more).
AnOther loves: The Moonjuice cropped leggings and matching cross-strap bra, topped off with the classic white Linear tee.
4: Aeance
About: Aeance (a shrewd amalgamation of the brand's three pillars: aesthetics, athletics, and performance) made its sporting debut in November of last year, with a confident and slickly edited 19-piece collection of running wear. Founded by Nadine Isabelle Baier and Arendt van Deyk, Aeance offers two non-seasonal collections per year in order to ensure its offering remains as considered as its vested interest in sustainability. Its inaugural line, designed in collaboration with the buzzed-about German fashion designer Hien Le, is defined by clean cuts, less-is-more detailing and innovative fabrications that adhere to the socially responsible bluesign® and OEKO-TEX® certifications.
USP: Simple, beautifully executed silhouettes, invigorating colourways and ultra-soft, high-performance textiles.
AnOther Loves: The sleek 3/4 tights, bi-colour vests and the women's jersey top in fuchsia and red (an offbeat counterpart to Marni's cobalt neoprene and mesh sneakers).
5: District Vision
About: Whether you're a fervent runner or simply favour the steely, pragmatic construction of sportswear frames, District Vision – an innovative new line of running sunglasses – is sure to appeal. Conceived by Max Vallot and Tom Daly, alumni of Saint Laurent and Acne, the New York-based duo has articulated three technically agile designs which look resolutely modern, feel exceptionally comfortable and cast a cool shadow over of all their contemporaries.
USP: Meticulous craftsmanship – the three hero styles are constructed and tested in Japan, and boast hypoallergenic rubber nose pads, adjustable temple tips and sweat repellent frames.
AnOther Loves: The Keiichii performance lenses in ice-white.
District Vision launches in the UK today at Dover Street Market London.
