Konstantin Grcic has teamed up with clothing brand Aeance on a sustainable fashion collection he describes as "an industrial designer's take on clothing".
The German designer created the nine-piece 03 collection for Munich-based Aeance using 96 per cent recycled, natural or biodegradable materials.
Bekah Davies is the founder of BEKIBO London, a luxury online Health and Wellness brand which launched in 2017.
The English born entrepreneur founded BEKIBO after an inspiring trip to Sydney, Australia where her passion for living a healthy lifestyle evolved. After returning back to the UK in 2015, Bekah noticed that the wellness space had not even scratched the surface in the UK. Identifying a gap in the market for premium activewear and wellness brands, and the potential to market through Instagram and upcoming influencers, the idea for BEKIBO was born. Bekah began extensively researching the market and decided “Athleisure” was going to be the next big thing in the wellness space.
Working out isn’t always fun (unless you’re into that sort of thing, of course), but buying chic new workout clothes? Always a good time. Whether you’re looking to get more active in 2019 or simply want to upgrade your basic sports bra and leggings, there are plenty of stylish brands to help you do so. To give you some extra motivation to hit the gym (or at least to dress like it), we rounded up 15 lesser-known activewear brands that will have you sweating in style.
Available now online at Beyond Yoga and Bandier, as well as at select Bandier stores, the collection covers fives pieces that are designed to be comfortable while encouraging self-confidence during every activity. Plus, the range, which covers a sports bra, high-waisted legging, pullover, duster and scarf, comes in an all-inclusive size range of XS-3X. “All Woman Project is changing the mindset of society and leaders in the body positive movement, and we are so excited to be collaborating with such an inspiring group of women,” said CEO and Co-Founder of Beyond Yoga, Michelle Wahler.
No excuses, now—we’ve done the legwork to bring you not only the very latest and most stylish of workout gear, but also the best new workout classes and studios where you can flaunt these new threads. Spring, we are ready for you. Bring it on.
WHY WE LOVE: Founders Erin Chiamulon and actor Eric Balfour launched Electric & Rose to reflect their Venice Beach yoga and surf lifestyle. We love the happy tie-dye prints, washed-out color palette, and super-soft feel.
Although Filippa K may not be the best-known Swedish brand, it is one of the fashion brands that helped establish the iconic, Scandinavian look of the early 90s. Best known for its high-quality, tight and sustainable styles, Filippa K has expanded throughout northern Europe in the last 25 years, establishing stores in cities such as Stockholm, Amsterdam and Berlin. Now, with the return of its founder, Filippa Knutsson, as its creative director, the brand intends to continue its success story by becoming "the most relevant Scandinavian brand on the world stage".
American fashion brand Free People has agreed terms to open its first permanent store outside the US in London’s Covent Garden.
It will join a small pop-up store on London’s King’s Road next to its sister brand Anthropologie, and Free People’s collections are also stocked in select retailers such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser.
Calling all you get-fit fanatics, couch-to-5Ks and once-a-year-yogis. Here at Marie Claire HQ we’re all about having the right gear – even if we have no idea – so we like to make sure our kit is on-point and up-to-date. So whether you’re looking for the latest printed two-pieces going or just something comfy you can do the school run in – we’ve got it sorted with our pick of the best sportswear brands. If you want to complete your kit, jump over to our best trainers edit to finish off your look.
Laain is one of the chicest sportswear companies around. Launched by fashion designer Sheila McKain-Waid and stylist Tamara Rothstein, this brand has a set of extremely creative hands behind it. This season, the high-end fashion-sportswear collection is made up of crop tops, vests, leggings and knitwear in the form of hoodies and jumpers; all in a rich, warm-blood colour palette.
We talk wellness, yoga and building a brand
As the founder of activewear brand Live The Process, Robyn Berkley does just that. The former fashion PR manager changed pace when she started practicing yoga, and decided to create a brand with a 360 attitude to fitness. Her chic collection of workout gear is now available at Boutique 1, so we had a quick chat with her about wellness, yoga and building a brand.
HB: What inspired you to launch Live The Process? RB: I have been intrigued by nutrition and overall wellness for most of my life. I always said that if I didn’t work in the fashion business I would have worked in nutrition and healing.
Working out can seem daunting when you lead a hectic lifestyle, but the right activewear can give you the motivation you need. Besides giving you a mental boost, wearing gym pieces that are functional and stylish can also help to improve focus and performance – which will lead to bigger gains. If you’re ready to stock up and beat the fitness slump, we’ve selected some of our favourite items from luxury activewear brands turning fitness wear into everyday fashion.
LNDR BRAND: This UK-based brand has a variety of pieces that are designed with temperature regulating technology. Along with printed sports bras, shorts and workout leggings, the brand also has some stylish waterproof coats.
Michi's Canadian-made sportswear is making its French debut with an exclusive launch at Parisian department store Le Bon Marché where it will run a concession until November. Outside of Ireland and the United Kingdom, it's the label's first incursion into Europe, as the brand aims to gauge its reception on the continent before expanding into other markets or investing in a permanent location in the French capital.
Explaining the brand's style, the designer told FashionNetwork.com that she wanted to "apply an haute-couture aesthetic to sportswear through innovative use of inlays on the fabrics and sports bras with adjustable straps".
The award is the latest accolade for the up-and-coming ath-leisure brand from Sydney, which boasts over 100 stockists and has done collaborations with Reebok and SoulCycle.
The announcement was made at the Bourke Street, Melbourne flagship of Australian department store chain David Jones on Wednesday morning Melbourne time, on the first day of the 2018 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival.
“It’s a huge honour to win this award — the opportunities it will give us are substantial and we hope to further push our growing brand into the U.S. market,” said Tregoning. Added Edwards, “The past year has been about business growth. Going from a start up to a fully fledged business. Winning this award will allow us to continue this momentum and widen our customer base across the world.”
Free morning yoga anyone??
Wolf & Badger, together with activewear brand Pepper & Mayne, is offering free morning yoga classes with three prestigious instructors.
Jan 21 with Isa Welly
A former Professional Dancer, Isa has worked with some of the biggest pop stars in the business including, Take That, Kylie Minogue and Madonna. Her dynamic Pilates class is the kind of class that leaves you feeling strong.
Jan 23 with Josephine McGrail
Josephine has a wealth of experience as a dancer and choreographer, working in stage, film, television and music productions ranging from Christian Louboutin, Elvis Costello and Kanye West stage shows.
When you make fitness a weekly priority, there are usually a few major brands you keep in your activewear rotation. While I love popular athleisure brands as much as the next gym goer, there are so many underrated brands that are producing athleisure looks that are stylish, functional, and flat-out really cool. Before you reach for your trusty high-impact bra or tried-and-true leggings, check out pieces from indie brands. Warning: After picking up a piece from one of these innovative and under-the-radar brands you may feel the need to shout about it from the rooftop.
Olympia Activewear: This brand's modern and refined approach to activewear make it one to watch. Whether you're attending a yoga class or throwing a few punches during kickboxing, Olympia Activewear's gear will ensure you stay comfortable while looking fresh. Available in sizes P-L.
Whether you were first choice for the relay or last in the discus lineup, this season is all about embracing that sports day style.
From technical staples to relaxed loungewear, this summer’s athleisure is inspired by our favourite retro athletic styles. Expect chunky colour from Reebok, varsity panels from LNDR, stripes galore from Splits59 and matching twin sets from Koral.
Ok, we admit track and field style was never THIS sophisticated. Splits59 take all the highlights of sports day nostalgia and bring it right up to speed. Take your pick from sleek crop tops with go-faster stripes and sprint-ready leggings in flattering fabrics. Best of all, these PE styles are stylish enough to perform on and off the field.
Calling all you get-fit fanatics, couch-to-5Ks and once-a-year-yogis. Here at Marie Claire HQ we’re all about having the right gear – even if we have no idea – so we like to make sure our kit is on-point and up-to-date. So whether you’re looking for the latest printed two-pieces going or just something comfy you can do the school run in – we’ve got it sorted with our pick of the best sportswear brands.
As founder Lara Mead puts it, Varley is all about high performance tech as well as style, ‘From the school-run to the office, from the ballet barre to the boxing ring, the modern woman’s routine has a changeable nature which demands high performance activewear with a high-fashion aesthetic. The same goes for our skincare. Our collection consists of cutting-edge formulations that address real, modern-day concerns such as environmental and tech-generated stressors and pollutants, and aims to change the beauty conversation. We blend London’s cosmopolitan elegance with L.A.’s active lifestyle.’
