Look Good While You Work Out: Five Local Activewear Brands

In a country known for loving the outdoors, it’s only fitting our active wear designers are some of the best.

The athleisure trend isn’t fading away anytime soon. And whether you love it or roll your eyes at it, a trend that promotes looking good and being incredibly comfortable probably deserves to be timeless. These five Australian brands are fashion-forward with fitness-friendly function.

Nimble
The Nimble brand is a product of its surroundings. Founders Katia Santilli and Vera Yan were inspired by the health-conscious community of Bondi Beach to create affordable, long-lasting activewear that will see you through many soft-sand runs. “Having the design team based in Bondi is a huge source of inspiration for us. We are constantly getting feedback from the local community on what women want from their activewear,” says Yan. The latest collection is inspired by the four elements of earth, water, wind, and fire; prints include feminine florals, a sophisticated smoke print and a blue ocean.
nimbleactivewear.com

The Upside
Jodhi Meares launched The Upside in 2013, around the time “luxury activewear” was becoming a trend. Plenty of fun has been poked at those who wear their yoga clothes outside of yoga, but The Upside made it clear from the start that was its intention. The bold tights (with prints such as palm fronds) and linen tanks are sleek enough to be worn to the gym or to a lunchtime meeting.
theupsidesport.com

L’urv
Melbourne-based label L’urv targets sporty fashion lovers. Designs are print-heavy, ranging from floral to intergalactic. In the latest Super Nova collection, the high-waisted Men Are From Mars leggings and crop top have a black lacquered finish that could pass for leather, albeit much more comfortable and form fitting. The designs stand out in the gym, and are totally acceptable to wear on the street.
lurv.com.au

Tully Lou
Tully Humphrey is a yoga instructor and health and wellness writer, so she had a clear picture of what she wanted when she designed her Tully Lou collections. She launched her fun, flattering activewear to inspire women to workout. The rest of the world is on board, too; Tully Lou is stocked in China, the UK and at Urban Outfitters in the US. Humphrey says, “being healthy is always going to be trendy [in Australia]. Integrating activewear into our daily attire has now become acceptable. It’s like a modern-Aussie girl’s streetwear.”
tullylou.com.au

Vie Active
Vie Active was founded by Sydney-based triathlete, marathon runner and personal trainer, Noa Ries. High performance, technical fabrics are at the label’s core. Much of the range is made of 100 per cent Australian superfine merino wool, a breathable, natural fabric designed to keep you cool when it’s hot, and warm when it’s cold. It’s also quick-dry, so you can get on with your day post-workout. The designs are elegant and minimal, favouring cream and blue.
vieactivewear.com

Originally published on Broadsheet