Editorial

1. What's your story? Where do you come from and what's your trayectory?
I'm a Dutch girl from the big city of Amsterdam. After spending 22 years in The Netherlands, my life turned upside down when I got the opportunity to make my job out of my biggest passion: handball. I moved to Norway to professionally play handball every day. Last summer I have moved to Germany to continue my journey as a professional handball player.

2. What do you think about the wellness/healthy lifestyle trend in Europe?
The focus on being fit and healthy have been developing more and more. People get more interested in health and fitness and realize how important it is for a long and happy life. Also there are so much more restaurants who serve healthy, vegetarian and even vegan dishes. For me it has been normal to train every day and watch what I eat for over 10 years. I am happy that many others now have the same kind of lifestyle.

3. Personal tips you recommend.
Mindset is the key for everything. Do the things that make you happy and realize that. Are you happier when you feel good in your skin and healthy? That's the perfect motivation to work out and eat healthy. Do you always regret it when you have eaten junk food? Then don't do it. Do you enjoy that ice cream during summer? Take it! Don't always say no to yourself. You don't have to be too strict to yourself, you can change your lifestyle and enjoy the journey. Not just the destination. It's all about balance!

4. How was your experience with Thy Halo?
I am so happy with every piece I have from Thy Halo. The quality of the items is amazing. It fits me perfectly and it looks so pretty!

1. What's your story? Where do you come from and what's your trayectory?
I was born in a family working in the fashion and art industry where appearances are really important. I am the eldest of 4 girls and we’ve always been taught to be the best in anything we do. Years passed and I met that guy, we stayed in each other's lives for 7 years. But love stories go hand in hand with heart breaks. And that’s where everything started, when we first broke up. I finally felt what sadness looked like, but also love. I finally connected to my own emotions, to myself. I came out of this period of life stronger, wiser and more authentic. I gave this relationship another try but once again, it ended up with a heart break. But a conscious heart break this time.

During our time together, I started my teacher training because I realized I wanted to do something for myself instead of working for my -back then- fiancé. We broke up and I decided to change my life, to live out of my passion and I finally felt alive. I found back that inner sunshine I was born with that faded away for too many months and years. I am working on my self love, on my self worth, on my own story. I am still afraid to open up my heart to someone else, but I am sharing and giving my love with my students, my friends and my family, and I’ve never felt more whole, more happy than now.

2. What do you think about the wellness/healthy lifestyle trend in Europe?
I love the fact that it’s becoming a trend. It’s a bit weird for me to say that, because I don’t like trends. I’ve never followed trends, I’ve always been too rebel to follow any trends, but I feel this healthy lifestyle is what I like. Also it will make people become a better version of themselves, it’s an amazing trend to follow.

3. Personal tips you recommend.
Go to bed with gratitude. Wake up with an intention.

4. How was your experience with Thy Halo?
Amazing ! I love your energy, your image, your brands, your qualitative products and content. I love the fact that Thy Halo is a real lifestyle and not just one more sportswear e-shop. I’m a huge fan !

Born in 2018 and established in the heart of Barcelona with an International perspective. An ecommerce that transmit a lifestyle with healthy habits and fashion. The name of the project comes from “Thy” that means “you” in ancient english and “Halo”, the energy that you transmit with the aurea that surrounds you. Meaning, the best version of yourself.

Behind the project is Carola Rubiralta whos background develops in the international fashion and beauty industry. She lived in New York and was studying a Master degree in Fashion Business at Parsons. Carola felt in love with the practicality of their lifestyle and how they combine comfort with the latest tendencies in fashion. She realized the demand, everyday increasing, in activewear that pursuits wellness without forgetting style and fashion trends. She moved to her hometown and decided to bring into life the athleisure trend in Europe.

A concept that goes beyond selling activewear clothes, it’s a life philosophy. The message was to take care of your body from a healthy lifestyle without having to sacrifice the personal style. In Europe, the main brands are Nike and Adidas, but there is not enough offer for high quality brands with that plus in fashion. Thy Halo is inspired by modern women to provide them with a curated selection of premium international brands.

Pioneers in seamless trend since 2008. Movement and change for an active and modern women. Each individual piece is carefully produced using BodyEngineered® seamless knitting technology by master designers with more than 20 years of expertise.

Nux has 3 compression levels:
LIGHT: Feels just like a comfortable second skin and fits true to size.

MODERATE: The perfect balance of comfort and support to enhance performance. The fit is snug and looks one size smaller on the hanger.

HIGH: Maximizes muscle support and oxygen delivery for the ultimate in hold performance. The fit hugs your figure and looks one to two sizes smaller on the hanger.

NUX recommends a level of compression according to your body type and what activity will you practice. Their ultra-stretchy, moisture-wicking microfiber nylon yarns deliver the compression you need and the body-contouring you deserve. NUX pieces move with you and offer both ventilation and muscle support during every activity.

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.’