4 Leading Sportswear Brands That Will Put A Spring In Your Step
Kick-starting a healthier, sportier you for 2024? Let us introduce you to the activewear brands that will help you go the distance
Whether you’re striving for a PB, looking to dial up your PT sessions or simply want to add a sportswear spin to your weekend look, curating the ultimate gym kit is key. Think luxe leggings, stylish sneakers and elevated workout tops that will effortlessly take you from boxercise to brunch with friends. Indeed, the athleisure aesthetic is a go-to for anyone coveting comfortable, hard-working staples, and there are four brands in particular that the NET-A-PORTER team believes are excelling in sportswear right now. From a flair for contemporary design to technical fabrications worthy of a medal – these are the labels setting the sartorial pace.
adidas Originals by Wales Bonner
Having launched her first adidas Originals’ collaboration in fall 2020, London-based designer Wales Bonner is a master at fusing sport and fashion. Thanks to a nostalgic sensibility and clever reference to soccer culture, the designer’s update on the brand’s signature ‘Samba’ sneaker has become legendary among industry insiders – and is now a cult street-style buy.
For the latest adidas Originals by Wales Bonner collection, we are transported back to the 1990s, with minimalist separates sporting simple cuts, an earthy color palette, and adidas’s signature three stripes. Highlights include an ice-blue tracksuit made from recycled shell, a white T-shirt with the brand’s iconic stripes crafted from black crochet trims, and a line of retro-inspired sneakers.
On
If you’ve signed up to a marathon or have just downloaded a Couch to 5K training plan, the running label On is well worth a browse. This Swiss performance label was founded by the triathlon champion Olivier Bernhard, and friends Caspar Coppetti and David Allemann. Their aim? To revolutionise the sensation of running and create a brand that is serious about innovation. Today, a team of dedicated scientists and technicians work in a lab in Zurich to design high-performance products and new fabrics that will help athletes achieve their best results – and the results speak for themselves. On’s training shorts, for example, are a comfortable, reliable choice for runners of any ability, while the ‘Cloudflow 4’ sneakers are designed to absorb impact so that you can run faster, for longer.
Lululemon
Enter any exercise studio and you’re likely to spot at least one pair of Lululemon leggings. The brand was originally founded in 1998, with a focus on yoga. However, it now caters to almost all pursuits, with functional pieces designed to help you through all intensities of workouts thanks to innovative, technical fabrics. The hero items in every collection are the core leggings and sports bras, and these ‘Align’ high-rise leggings are designed for low-impact workouts and made from a soft, four-way fabric that’s sweat-wicking and breathable. Indeed, the white tank top is so soft you’ll want to wear it off the yoga mat, while the lilac ‘Scuba’ hoodie adds a jolt of color to any gym look. It boasts clever design details that make it a practical option, too – the elastic on the zip doubles up as a hair tie, for example, and there is also a secret compartment for your phone.
adidas Originals
Sneaker trends come and go, but adidas Originals’ retro designs are classics that have remained the coolest thing to wear on your feet for decades. These heritage three-stripe sneakers have become a street-style staple, and you will regularly see fashion editors and buyers wearing ‘Stan Smiths’ or ‘Gazelles’ at fashion week. The ‘Samba’, however, has been the hero silhouette in recent seasons, worn by the likes of Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski. They were originally created in 1950 as a football training shoe – the name actually reflects the Fifa World Cup, which was held in Brazil in that year. The ‘Samba’ quickly became a hit off the pitch too, and an emblem of the Britpop scene in the ’90s. For 2024, we are particularly into the styles that use a rich ’70s-inspired color palette, such as the brown with mustard-yellow stripes and detailing. An It-girl sneaker if ever we saw one.
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