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The Best Activewear Brands According To Fashion Insiders
This is the year you finally throw away those threadbare leggings...
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Finding the best activewear brands is no mean feat. In recent years, it feels like every fashion label has jumped on the athleisure trend, while technical gymwear brands have strived to fuse aesthetics and functionality. And who can blame them? With our increasingly smart/casual lifestyles, WFH schedules and the current wellness boom (the industry is estimated to hit £30.6 billion in the UK alone this year), the demand is real.
Whether you’re an F45-head, avid marathon runner, or take things low and slow at reformer pilates and yoga, you’ll need the right kit. But in 2024 the best activewear brands are even catering to those who aren’t breaking a sweat. Now the lines between smart and casual have been well and truly blurred, luxury brands’ ready-to-wear collections have been heavily influenced by sports (for SS24 we've seen luxe tracksuits at Celine, windbreakers at Gucci, and jogging shorts at Casablanca).
So, although we’ve admittedly been wearing our Lululemon leggings to brunch for years, now the best activewear brands make it officially acceptable to wear gym kit outside a spin class too. If you need to see it to believe it, look Stateside to the queen of sporty looks Hailey Bieber – she’s always channelling Princess Diana’s iconic cycling shorts and baggy tee vibe. We're also partial to a unitard on nights out, layered with an oversized bomber jacket or black blazer, if you want to take the look further.
But if you're here for the hardcore stuff – as in, running leggings and sports bras – fret not. In 2024, activewear brands are also investing in new-gen tech to solve all our previous gym-kit woes: Girlfriend Collective is recycling water bottles and fishing nets to create size-inclusive kit, while Adidas x Stella McCartney is crafting its statement sportswear from plant-based plastics.
Here, see the activewear brands you'll find ELLE editors wearing from pilates to the pub (but never the other way around).
The Activewear Brands To Know Now
On
It’s rare that an activewear brand gets as much respect from professional sportspeople as it does admiration from the style set. Founded by duathlon athlete Olivier Bernhard, On’s purist approach to running has placed it at the fore of performance and design.
Coveted for its signature trainers made with the brand’s CloudTec cushioning – which absorbs impact while adapting to your unique running style – On has expanded into sportswear for tennis, yoga, and hiking since launching in 2010.
With Zendaya as a brand ambassador, a co-created collection with Roger Federer, and an ongoing collaboration with Loewe, On isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Varley
When wife-and-husband team Lara and Ben Mead co-founded Varley in 2015, they created a fashion-focused brand that is thoughtfully designed for movement.
Understated knits, outerwear, sweats, and gym kits are cut from premium cotton, shell, and jersey, and seamlessly transition from a pilates class to lunch with friends. The new Club collection for summer 2024 combines tenniscore with casual, collegiate style.
Sporty & Rich
We’re not surprised that Princess Diana was on Sporty & Rich's mood board when the brand first launched, since its whole aesthetic gives 1980s Sloane Ranger vibes.
Founded in 2015 by Canadian-born, LA-based Emily Oberg, the brand's logo-adorned, matching tracksuits are the It items to be seen in for 2024 – both Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Hailey Bieber have been spotted in a set. But we're also very into the label's signature preppy tennis dresses and Ivy League style baseball caps.
Goldbergh
As soon as the snowy season comes around, you can count on your timeline to be filled with celebrities and tastemakers kitted out in head-to-toe Goldbergh.
A pioneer in functional and fashionable skiwear for the slopes and après-ski, Goldberg's offering now extends to swimwear, gym kits, and specialist training gear. Maximalists will love the bold leopard prints, metallic and ombré fabrics, and brightly-hues pieces.
Perfect Moment
Perfect Moment has quickly become a fashion set favourite for high-performance, luxury ski wear. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Reese Witherspoon and the Princess of Wales have all been spotted in the brand’s iconic houndstooth print jackets and turtleneck chevron knits.
The French brand was founded in the mountains of Chamonix back in 1984 – but fast forward 40 years, and PM has now branched out into swim. Expect sporty long-sleeve wetsuits and high-waisted bikinis, all infused with the same signature bold prints, vivid colour palette and recognisable retro aesthetic.
Vuori
Loved by the likes of Harry Styles, Kaia Gerber and Gwyneth Paltrow, Vuori is the activewear brand to know in 2024. Founded back in 2014 by Joe Kudla, the label is inspired by the laidback, outdoorsy Californian lifestyle we all dream about.
Vuori's bestsellers include lightweight running leggings and cashmere-soft tracksuits in an array of calming hues (think: soft olive green, grey marl and versatile burgundy), but its latest drop of strappy tennis dresses and square-neck swimwear are also worthy investments.
Ref Active
Reformation – the celeb-approved, LA-based brand loved for its coveted maxi dresses and signature floral prints – launched its own activewear line Ref Active back in 2021.
On a mission to make sportswear more sustainable, the collection features fitted tennis dresses, 1980s-inspired unitards and versatile co-ords, all crafted from recycled plastic bottles. Ref Active products are split into two categories: Ecomove which is a weightier stretch knit for cardio sessions, and Ecostretch, a softer jersey fabrication that's ideal for those post-workout brunches.
P.E Nation
P.E Nation is the female-founded and led activewear brand launched by Aussie duo Pip Edwards and Claire Tergoning. Known for its logo-trimmed kit, the sports label infuses retro designs (think: cycling shorts and bomber jackets) with a cool streetwear edge. Branching out from it's bestselling camo prints and grungy colour palette, expect nostalgic tie-dyes and baby-blue hues this season.
Adanola
During lockdown you couldn't scroll social media without spotting new-brand-to-know Adanola – the label's perfectly cut (think blouson joggers and oversized sweatshirts) tracksuits and retro Nineties logos proved Instagram catnip.
Now, the British-based activewear brand has launched an edit with forever style icon Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Expect easy athleisurewear fits, like boyfriend-fit tees layered over high-rise cycling shorts, in the model's beloved neutral colour palette.
Girlfriend Collective
Cool-girl brand to know Girlfriend Collective is spearheading the sustainable activewear revolution. Founded in 2016 by couple Ellie and Quang Dinh, the sports label uses recycled plastic waste like old water bottles and fishing nets to create its buttery-soft unitards and everyday tanks. If the brand's eco-credentials haven't convinced you, the impressive inclusive sizing just might – all its workout gear ranges from XXS to 6XL.
Adidas x Stella McCartney
Although Adidas’ partnership with prolific British fashion designer Stella McCartney began in 2004, the collaboration made it to the mainstream in 2012 when McCartney became Team GB’s Creative Director for London's Olympic Games. Combining fashion and function, the sports line uses recycled materials to create unique cuts and surprising silhouettes. This season expect bold prints, bright neons and technical swimwear with a directional twist.
Tory Sport
Tory Sport launched in 2015 and revamped activewear in the process. The sports line, from renowned American fashion designer Tory Burch, takes inspiration from its ready-to-wear looks with preppy, feminine designs that are almost too good to sweat in. The brand focusses on skiwear in the winter with logo-adorned puffer jackets and fair isle knits, and in summer it's all about retro chevrons, tennis dress and traditional games skirts.
H&M Move
With a focus on making activewear more accessible to every body no matter what shape or ability, H&M Move offers stylish yet functional sports gear in sizes XXS to XXL. The brand has definitely nailed affordable sporty essentials with its range of lightweight jackets, adjustable sports bras and everyday leggings, while the latest collection is inspired by Paris and modelled by none other than Irina Shayk. All products are available in H&M Move's signature DryMove fabric (designed to wick away moisture from the skin) or SoftMove, a lightweight jersey crafted with low-key stretching sessions in mind.
Sweaty Betty
British activewear brand Sweaty Betty hardly needs an introduction – the sportswear label literally sells a pair of its iconic Power Leggings every 60 seconds. Back in 1998, husband and wife duo Tamara and Simon Hill-Norton founded their first boutique in Notting Hill, offering yoga classes and running clubs. Fast forward to 2024 and the brand is a global success with over 150 stores. This season it's all about highlighter hues, with a limited collection of hot pink gym kit and 1980s-inspired nylon sets.
M&S Goodmove
Trust M&S to create a range of activewear that delivers on quality while still being majorly affordable. The iconic British department store launched Goodmove back in January 2020, producing sports staples such as cycling shorts, tracksuits and zip-up running jackets.
Fast forward three years and the activewear brand has gone from strength to strength. In fact, it was reported that 5,000 pairs of Goodmove's black "Go Move" squat-proof leggings are sold every month. This season, M&S Goodmove has tapped into the athleisure trend with longline parkas and cropped tank tops.
Castore
Precision sportswear brand Castore kits some of the world's leading athletes – including British professional tennis player Emma Raducanu.
Combining sleek, minimal design with highly technical fabrics, the SS24 capsule features tank tops, leggings, sports bras, and running jackets created for intense and low-impact training. The wider collection also includes tennis dresses, skorts, polos, and accessories in a muted palette of white, grey, black, and chocolate brown.
Lululemon
Lululemon is legendary amongst the fitness and fashion set alike – everyone from Emma Chamberlain to the Princess of Wales has been seen sporting the Canadian activewear brand. Known for its best-selling Align pants, the sports label that started as a yoga studio in 1998 has turned into a whole athleisurewear movement. While Lulu leggings are a must, we're also lusting after the new asymmetric crop tops this season.
Alo Yoga
Founded in 2007, Alo Yoga is the LA-based activewear brand with an impressive celebrity fan base. Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner have all styled the label’s gym leggings with matching crop tops, band tees and leather jackets.
The self-titled studio-to-street label is made with die-hard yogis in mind and creates versatile athleisurewear with signature fabrics including the silky lightweight airlift and smoothing and sculpting airbrush. Wide leg knit pants, 1990s-inspired cropped cardigans and crochet tanks are on the menu for summer 2024.
FP Movement
FP Movement specialises in performance-ready activewear as well as streetwear-inspired basics that will see you way beyond the gym. Taking cues from Free People's ready-to-wear line that nods to bohemian fashion trends, the sports wear has developed collections focussed on yoga, dance, running, surfing, skiing and hiking. Expect harem track pants, quilted gym bags and borg fleeces for autumn/winter.
Nike
One of the most established activewear brands out there, Nike was founded back in 1964 by track athlete Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman. You'll have spotted many pros in the label's iconic swoosh logo, but Nike is also no stranger to high fashion collaborations. For spring 2024, a partnership with French designer Jacquemus reimagined the brand's training accessories with the first-ever Le Swoosh bag – Nike's iconic logo turned into a handbag. Last year, the sports brand teamed with Tiffany & Co. to celebrate the Air Force 1's 40th Birthday.
Rosie Davenport is an Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK and Red Online, covering fashion, beauty and travel reviews, as well as major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Rosie has reviewed everything from Reformation dresses to the latest massage guns and knows the new brands to bookmark as well as the latest trends to follow. Before this role, Rosie was a Fashion Ecommerce Writer on publications including ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping for nearly two years, and gained a MA from Central Saint Martins in Fashion Journalism in 2021, focussing on the rise (and rise) of fashion podcasting. Rosie has also worked at The Times, been a sub editor at The Mail on Sunday’s weekly YOU magazine and produced in-depth retail reports for the trend forecasting agency WGSN. Her career highlight? Previewing Prada’s AW21 menswear show in the depths of lockdown and interviewing Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons from her bedroom. Outside of work, Rosie can be found rummaging through vintage shops or getting lost in one of London’s iconic department stores. You can follow Rosie on Instagram @rosie.davenport
Kara is the Ecommerce Editor, Women’s Lifestyle at Hearst UK. Leading Cosmopolitan’s digital shopping strategy, she shares style advice for life’s big moments, reports on the latest fashion collaborations, and creates beauty reviews across skincare, makeup, and haircare.
Kara’s most popular guides include ‘Affordable Jewellery Brands to Shop’, ‘Ski Wear to Shop, According to an Editor’, and ‘The Best High Street Wedding Dress Brands’, while covering deals events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. When she’s not behind a laptop screen, she’s hosting shopping videos and livestreams for Cosmo’s TikTok Shop. Kara also creates shopping content for Red and Prima, and was previously contributing Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Editor at ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar.
Since starting her career as a journalist in 2018, she has held the role of Fashion Content Editor at NET-A-PORTER’s Porter Magazine, Associate Editor at PopSugar, and written for Refinery29 and LOVE Magazine, where she covered fashion and beauty news, trends, and features. An experienced interviewer, Kara has spoken to Zendaya, Alicia Keys, Simone Biles, and Tyla about life, work, and style. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Kara lived in Toronto, Canada before moving to London.
Follow Kara on Instagram @kara.kia
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