Product Code Database
Athleisure is a hybrid style of athletic clothing typically worn as everyday wear. The word is a portmanteau combining the words 'athletic' and 'leisure'. Athleisure outfits can include , , hoodies, yoga pants, tights, sneakers, Ballet flats, , Ugg boots, leggings and shorts that look like athletic wear or pair well with it. Characterized as "fashionable, dressed-up sweatpants and exercise clothing," athleisure grew during the mid-2010s, from the popularity of yoga pants that emerged throughout the mid to late 2000s. The athleisure trend entails casual clothing options that give North American women the option to incorporate athletic clothing as part of their everyday attire, irrespective of their actual engagement in physical activities.
Athleisure is a contemporary fashion industry movement, enabled by scientific development and growth of advanced and cutting-edge textile materials and technical fabrics and fibers which allow modern activewear to be more durable, breathable, lightweight, stretch fabric, versatile, comfortable, and fashionable. Since the mid 2010s, it is also recognized as a retail clothing category.
By some accounts, the growth of the modern athleisure trend took root and became more pronounced during the mid-2010s, which itself grew out of the popularity of yoga pants that emerged throughout the mid to late 2000s. Springing from the convenience of wearing clothes allowed North American women to casually wear yoga pants for multiple occasions without having to frequently change. Its popularity may have also stemmed from its ability to fill a gap in the sportswear market, when athletic apparel was once merely utilitarian rather than for cosmetic and fashionably stylistic purposes. Another account suggests that the cyclical nature of Jeans sales has allowed athleisure apparel to supplant denim as casual wear. Activewear that had been worn exclusively in gyms is now being casually worn elsewhere by young adults and fitness-conscious consumers and has been accompanied by a relaxation in dress codes. The styles, colors, and fabrics of athleisure postulate a broader emphasis on being fashionable as opposed to functionality. Technological advances in textiles innovation have brought improvements in functionality, such that modern garments and footwear have become more breathable, lightweight, stretch fabric, versatile, comfortable, fashionable, durable, and waterproof. Contemporary garments are performance enhancing and allow wearers to carry out everyday activities easily.
The concept of athlingerie grew alongside the broader athleisure movement, which blurred the lines between activewear and everyday fashion. Athlingerie takes this a step further, integrating delicate fabrics, lace, and form-fitting silhouettes traditionally associated with lingerie into the technical and performance-driven designs of athletic wear. The term first began appearing in print around 2016. Designers like Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, and Yotam Solomon incorporated similar elements in their early explorations of functional luxury, blending style with wearability.
The trend reflects shifts in consumer behavior toward adaptable, body-positive fashion that transitions seamlessly from fitness routines to casual or intimate settings. By the early 2020s, the concept gained traction as brands sought to create apparel that fused utility and sensuality in response to evolving market demands with major influencer based brands such as Skims and Savage X Fenty launching products in the athlingerie space.
Athlingerie gained mainstream attention as a logical evolution of athleisure. The style became popularized through collections by brands like Victoria's Secret and indie labels focusing on inclusivity and performance. The merging of intimate apparel with activewear highlights consumer preferences for garments that support diverse body types and activities.
Despite its appeal, athlingerie also reflects broader industry challenges. Major fashion players like Nike, known for its innovations in activewear, faced criticism for failing to meet market expectations for adaptability and inclusivity. The rise of athlingerie underscores a demand for clothing that combines innovation, aesthetic appeal, and practicality, areas where both small and large brands have had varying degrees of success.
The athleisure market has experienced a surge in competition due to the influx of such as Walmart and Target, as well as fast fashion brands offering similar products at more affordable prices. A market analyst estimated that the athleisure market was not slowing down, with much competition and pressure on various retail outlets including sporting goods stores.
Athleisure has been promoted by celebrities such as Beyoncé and Rihanna. It has been criticized because of the way it displays the feminine form. In a 2019 article in the New York Times which focused specifically on leggings, the question was asked, "When did leggings make the leap from garment to cultural lightning rod?" In a letter to the editor of The Observer, school newspaper at the University of Notre Dame, reported the Times, a woman wrote, "it was for their own as well as the greater good for in part because leggings made it hard for men to control themselves."
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