J
ust a couple of weeks ago, I was telling a friend at hot yoga how much I liked
her new pants. ey were from a brand known for its comfortable fabrics; and
for silhouettes that straddle the line between lifestyle apparel and perfor-mance
activewear. It was her first time wearing the leggings, which she hoped would get
her from class to her daughter's event at school, starting right aer. Fast-forward
to the drama at the end of class, where she was confronted with watermarks in
all the wrong places. Her pants had failed, and it was time to go home and change, making
her late for the event.
With performance wear expanding into everyday wear, choices are being made in terms
of functionality. Brands attempt to strike the right balance between what works on the mat,
what looks great for grabbing coffee and what will get their customer through a full, rigorous
day of activities. Sometimes fashion and comfort are winning over technology and durability
(plus, consumers are pushing the boundaries of what are considered "performance" pieces),
which makes for a head-scratching conundrum in the category.
MODERN
PERFORMANCE
textileinsight.com Summer 2024 ~ Textile Insight • 19
COMFORT & FASHION
ARE DRIVING THE
FUTURE OF ACTIVEWEAR.
BY SUZANNE BLECHER
