Athleisure – a New Genre of Fashion

Embrace `athleisure’ — the latest buzzword, a completely new genre of fashion. Athleisure is a huge trend globally. Designers and retailers are obsessed with clothes sturdy to withstand vigorous routines, yet they are trendy and versatile to be worn everywhere. The fashion needs of millennials have changed in last one decade where comfort wear has permeated in routine life. Youth in India today wants to dress down in everyday wear which is casual yet chic.

It’s fairly clear that athleisure is becoming bigger than a trend, looking at the number of companies that have since announced they are getting into the game, with clothes that are described as “après sport” or “gym-to-the-office.”

abof.com has announced the launch of India’s first athleisure fashion brand, SKULT, which stands for Shahid + Cult. SKULT’s athleisure collection is unconventional, highly voguish, yet easy to carry and more importantly reminds consumer something about Shahid’s personality. This brand is in partnership with actor Shahid Kapoor, who has built an iconic reputation amongst India’s youth through movies such as Udta Punjab, Haider, and Jab We Met.

Another brand to join the bandwagon, Numero Uno Jeanswear’s new Autumn-Winter’16 collection is inspired by high-on-fitness lifestyle, a combination of trendy casual clothing. The collection came with two new themes- ‘Offbeat’ and ‘Artisan’ featuring trendy formal and casual wears.  Athletic and leisure wear a shift away from traditional leisure clothes and toward comfort and no-frills looks. The collection offers a perfect wardrobe for the ones who play multiple roles in every day like fitness conscious in morning, a working professional in the day, a party hopper by the evening and a responsible parent by the night.

Athleisure represents a bigger, and permanent, a sea change in fashion. It has even started to appear on designer runways, Anand Bhushan interprets the trend and says sportswear went mainstream in Bollywood in the late 1990s, with Shah Rukh Khan in hugging shirts with Polo Sport emblazoned on them and Karisma Kapoor in tank-tops. But the immense popularity and cheap imitations trickled down to the masses. The challenge now was in bridging the gap and making sportswear fashionable again. The use of neoprene and scuba fabrics with innovative embellishments lent a new silhouette, which also made sportswear covetable as casual clothing, said Bhushan, who used these materials for his collection titled Deuce for Spring/Summer 2016.

Another designer Dhruv Kapoor experimented with scuba fabric. He used the material to create oversized, relaxed fit cocoon coats, army-style jackets, hybrid long coats with woollen-collar detailing and tailored track pants for men.

Indian designers like Vinita Adhikari and Shikha Goel presented interesting renditions of soft grunge track pants. Ilk, the label had track pants with chameleon cord embroidery and elasticated hem detailing. Think double-ribbed cotton track pants, ankle-length pants with leather-block paneling, and jumpsuits in stretchable velvet and snug jackets.

Anamika Khanna at the Amazon India Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2016, showcased an ethnic take on athleisure. Her collection made of luxurious cotton, silk and chiffon, inspired by sportswear and the three stripes from Adidas, which she reinterpreted across dupattas and pajama pants.  Chikankari was a subtle detailing added and her collection was re-imagined in a modern, refined and relaxed silhouette.

The reasons for athleisure’s craze are many, but the most obvious cause stems from people who are embracing healthier lifestyles, while also demanding more functionality from their wardrobes — leisure and sports clothes that are designed well and stylish. The need for everyday comfort, too, plays a role, especially for anyone trying to work fitness into an already overtaxed schedule.  Clothing for a comfortably confident life.