“Athleisure” has become a trendy fashion term in recent years, but it’s nothing new: as far back as the 1890s shoes designed to give better traction on the tennis court became wearable every day as “tennis shoes”, while in the 1920s the breathable collared shirts originally designed for tennis players were co-opted by polo players and later became that men’s die-hard wardrobe staple; the polo shirt. But it wasn’t until the late ‘70s that the term “athleisure” wear was coined in reference to the popular sports clothing (think silky tracksuits in gaudy primary colours with matching sweatbands) that became the everyday wear of star athletes and celebrity gym-bunnies like Jane Fonda and, in turn, their legions of fans.
History lesson aside; what’s happened in the past few years to resurrect athleisure wear from the discotheque-fuelled fashion of the ‘70s to one of the fastest growing fashion trends worldwide?
Two words: Covid-19 pandemic.
How Covid Turbo-boosted The Athleisure Fashion Trend
Direct Commerce, which analyses data from 17,000 brands, reports that athleisure orders jumped 84% after the start of the pandemic, while Statista noted that athleisure wear sales in the US market alone leaped from $105.1 billion in 2020 to $113.4 billion in 2021.
Coincidence? We think not!
A year or more at home clearly taught us that life’s too short for zips, belts and buckles – or what we call “hard” clothes! And that thinking has carried beyond lockdowns, with men and women across the globe now demanding versatile clothing that is stylish enough to be worn to work and social gatherings, yet comfortable and functional enough for a workout.
The athleisure wear trend is big, and shows no signs of slowing down. How big is “big”? Consider this: Allied Market Research estimates the global athleisure market will almost double from $411 billion in 2021 to $793 billion in 2028.
South Africa, however, only makes up a tiny fraction of this market, probably because we have very few true athleisure wear ranges, especially for men. This is exactly why we decided to launch PLAY Everydaywear in 2021; a proudly South African range of men’s athleisure wear that is stylish, comfortable and versatile enough for all occasions. Because why should men in the United States and Europe have all the fun, style and comfort?
What Is Real Athleisure Wear?
Let’s get this out of the way first: athleisure wear is not sportswear or active wear! Would you wear cycling shorts as casual wear to work, or wear your netted tank top for sweating it out at the gym to an after-work social event? Obviously not! Herein lies the key difference: any clothing item that cannot be worn outside of working out is sportswear or active wear, not athleisure wear.
So, what qualifies as real athleisure wear?
Athleisure wear comes in many styles and with as many price tags, from high-end designers like Gucci and Stella McCartney to off-the-rack clothing from the usual sportswear brands. But what ultimately classifies any clothing item as athleisure is that it is a hybrid design which bridges the gap between fashion and functionality. So, to qualify as athleisure wear, clothing must be designed to be worn for athletic activities (think lightweight, durable and breathable fabrics) but also be smart and stylish enough to be worn to work or socially (fashionable, good cuts, high quality material).
3 Athleisure Wear Basics You Need To Own
The fundamental concept of athleisure wear is that you only need a few, versatile clothing items that you can mix and match, and dress up or down for any occasion. A true athleisure wear wardrobe starts with the following basics:
1 | Functional, Fitted Bottoms For Smart/Casual Wear
High quality, versatile leggings are a must-have essential for women, while stylish track pants are the bottom-basics for men.
PLAY has two pants options: the PRESS PLAY PANT for a smart/casual fit and the FAST FORWARD JOGGER for athletic fit and flex. And, for hotter days, we have the POWER SHORT in a range of colours.
2 | Adaptable Tops To Dress Up Or Down
The basic t-shirt is ground zero for any serious athleisure wearer. These can be worn as is for sports or lounging, or dress up your Tee with a jacket for work or smart/casual events.
PLAY has three basic men’s t-shirt styles for everyday wear: V-neck, round-neck and the classic polo t-shirt, all of which can be dressed up (preferably with one of our men’s jackets). Plus we have a long-sleeved tee and the ultimate all-weather men’s hoodies to layer-up on chilly days.
3 | Athleisure Accessories and Add-Ons
You should also be able to accessorise your basic athleisure wear wardrobe with anything from sneakers (AKA “takkies”) to sunglasses or peak caps, and you should be able to easily add-on layers for warmth and/or style.
PLAY currently has a classic style Peak Cap to accessorise, as well as a hoodie, soft shell jacket and suave sports jacket to add on layers for warmth and/or style.
Premium Athleisure Wear For Men in South Africa
And there you have it: a brief history of athleisure wear; why it’s become a hot men’s fashion trend; and the basics you need for a day-to-day athleisure wardrobe.
A parting note: we designed PLAY to provide men in South Africa with a high quality, stylish and functional range of athleisure wear. Moreover, we wanted to make getting dressed for any occasion as simple as pressing the buttons on your remote control: Press PAUSE for smart/casual clothing that you can wear to work; REWIND for clothing you can kick-back in; FAST FORWARD for clothing to get you into gear; and PLAY for clothing you can wear every day, for any occasion. Shop the range online now.