How Athleisure Wear TOOK OVER America 

Thats why I work out at home. There I can work out in my underwear.

They became like pickup trucks. People use them for anything but the purpose they are made for.

Clothes are clothes. If you want to wear athleisure the whole day, be my guest. Just don't go running to replace your wardrobe just because it's trendy (and nice and comfortable). Lower consumption is the key.

Its the same old “how many of x do we really need”

The problem is that synthetics actually serve a purpose in active wear. I used to work out in old cotton tees and it's really uncomfortable to wear them once they're soaked in sweat. Maybe something like merino wool would be a good alternative but so far I haven't seen anything affordable in that material. And I'd just like to point out that athletic wear can be bought second hand if you don't want to support fast fashion and inflated pricing. The main problem with this trend is over consumption and no one should be judged for just wanting to be comfortable while they work out.

I go to the gym every day, I prefer to wear cotton because it's more comfortable and doesn't stink like synthetic athletic wear does

Every time i go clothes shopping, I always leave the store, or web site, saying to my self, “I need to learn how to sow. I am paying hundreds of dollars for bare threads with pockets that are designed for looks, rather than function. And the cut is so generic, nothing fits right.”

I hate how polyester is now even in expensive clothing. Never mind workout clothes, I can't find one decent pair of pants for my office job that isn't 30% to 70% polyester. And people might not be aware of it, but wearing plastic pants contributes to developing recurring genital yeast infections in woman. Yaay! (/s)

An obvious extension would be a video on Bang energy, these 2 are the worst companies in the fitness space, pushing their below average products using fake natties.

Trendy gym clothes tend to leave random patches of skin exposed and gym equipment is disgusting. I had to get a prescription cream to treat a rash I got from a yoga mat. Cover up and wipe down your gym equipment!

Do a video on car tires. It's crazy how environmentally bad they are.

Oh so this is why I looked different at the gym 😅 I just wear the cloth I feel okay to sweat in the most.

As a runner I would argue alot of the clothes and especially shoes actually do help you perform better

As a woman who regularly goes to the gym, I can comfortably say that Lululemon and similar brands are absolute shit. I bought a pair of leggings back in 2020 and after about 2 months of regular usage the material had holes at the seams where the thighs rub. In contrast the Gymshark shorts I got at around the same time are still holding up fine 4 years later. So even if I don’t agree with their choice of influencer advertising, their products are definitely worth the money

always an informative, depressing watch. thanks future proof!

YUP! as a D1 athlete who grew up playing sports, it’s so much harder to find good quality activewear now as it’s all “athleisure” and doesn’t hold up well in high intensity training anymore.

microplastics scare me since writing my dissertation on my own microplastic research and I dont know why we do this to ourselves (collective us). I tried going to the gym and all these people in athletic wear actually made me feel uncomfortable about myself and then I never went back to the gym. I do have some athletic wear, but I didnt go for specific brands and I got them for a purpose, and I only own a pair of jeggings and shorts that ensures my thighs dont rub.

Your reasoning about synthetics is the reason why I only really wear 100% cotton shirts to the gym, my shorts are synthetic but I'm not really sweating in them as much as I'm sweating in my shirt 😂. As others told me, cotton is good material, while polyester is super cheap material

I agree that overconsumption is an issue and no one needs to update their gymwear every season but I completely disagree with "wear anything you want to the gym" point. First, it's important to consider that athletic clothes is more functional. Working out in cotton sucks (hot, heavy, and sweaty), and you cannot just workout is a regular bra, it's extremely uncomfortable. Second, we know clothes affect how you feel, so it's important to wear whatever makes you feel confident and good about yourself at the gym, just like in everyday life. Personally, I have way better workouts when I feel confident in what I wear, and I don't really care that it's problematic or I shouldn't need clothes for validation. Third, if buying a cute workout set motivates someone to workout more or be healthier, let them be.

Here in Florida you see folks in fancy workout gear year round & it's pretty obvious most never get near a gym. But that guy in the faded shorts & the ripped, stained T-shirt? He's likely ripped.

As someone who dabbles in watching fashion history videos (like Abby Cox), while the term is newer, the start of this trend of athleisure is actually goes farther back than what is described here.

Sports clothes SUCK nowadays...and Levi is so dreamyyyyy

Well this was really interesting, thanks team. Especially the ending when you discuss the chemicals in some of these clothing products. I didn’t know anything of this.

That's why I use my most worn down casual T-shirts when I am going for a run ;)

This summer I'm working outdoors and want a good pair of boots, I'm not even considering any brands because I can't tell bark from bite. I'm going right to army surplus. If the boots can work in a war zone, they'll work for me.

i’ve been watching your channel for so long finally subscribed lol. i love stuff like this it helps with my shopping addiction 😂

Thank you for explaining why I can no longer find durable workout clothes. I don't go to the gym, so I'm not performing, I need function and stuff just falls apart too soon.

Not me wearing the same pair of BKE jeans for the past 7 years lol. I'm 26 year old dude that wear jean and Under Armour t-shirts everywhere like a 46 year old dad lol. When it's crazy hot, I'll put on my UA golf khaki shorts, but I'm not the basketball shorts or sweatpants kind of guy. I do wear sweat shirts everywhere I can too, AC is cold inside. I just wear things, until things wear out and then buy pretty much the same thing again. I've even learned how to sew my sweatshirts and jeans so they last even longer.

Always love a video on a topic that lets me feel smug because of some harm I'm not participating in. Not through any principled moral fortitude of my own but because I just had no interest in the thing to begin with.

Think about all the synthetic race t-shirts that are distributed at road races. This goes to my suggestion of the sustainability of the road racing industry (e.g. medals, tote bags, t-shirts, food), etc.

Something else that I think people sometimes forget about most people turning more and more to social media relationships is that it's sometimes because there can be something they may be missing in IRL that they're trying to fill in that need with social media. Some people have relationships IRL that are unhealthy or they're not close, or they have other personal issues going on that helps with turning to social media addiction. Have heard that there's various people that struggle to find jobs (despite media coverage and stats saying that we have the highest amount of employment in a long time), and I wouldn't be surprised if the discouragement for struggling to find a job can lead to social media addiction... 0_0

PLEASE do a video on PopFlex!! I see their videos all the time for athleisure clothes and they’ve always been advertised as sustainable and customer forward, and would like to see if it’s actually true

Great video. My athletic shorts and sweats are about 5-15 years old. Half of them are hand me downs. I have only 2 pairs that are newer only because they were gifted to me.

who buys clothes with branding all over? Ive seen it in social media, but in real life, most people are looking for clothing with as little branding as possible, Ive never seen people rocking giant nike logos in public, people wear normal clothes with little to no branding. Athleisure wear is way more than the designer stuf that no one likes and wears beside influencer, its also all the other gym clothing that is actually more functional for the gym (keeps you fresh, doesnt stain with sweat, etc) People like fashion, people like finding outfits that look nice in their bodies for any situation, theres nothing harmfull about that

8:07 I agree, my wife always curses that there aren’t non see through sport leggings available anymore. She also complains that she doesn’t want to enhance the shape of her butt in the gym wear cause the pants are less comfortable according to her

Try clothing made from merino/alpaca wool, linen, and lyocel for natural performance.

It’s not an ideal solution, but I would also add the buying this specific type of clothing secondhand also is something that could mitigate the waste and pollution. For some reason, workout clothing really is saturated in the secondhand market. I don’t know why, the volume of it being mass produced, and maybe just because there’s less tolerance for any type of wear or sign of aging. Or maybe because it ages more visibly than other clothing. There’s a lot of really good clothing on eBay or at Goodwill, that’s really affordable, and that’s all sort of stuff that’s in the pipeline to go to the landfill otherwise. And in fact, I’m sure a lot of really good clothing gets thrown out by people who just don’t have the energy to put it on eBay or drive to Goodwill.

Great watch as always 👊🏿

Why do people wear Athelisure for daily task. Im not going to do gym presses while sleeping in my couch.

Thank goodness, I thought you were coming for my hoodie and comfy pants >_< And I do go to the gym in whatever I have, cause comfy.

As a woman that does sport I also want to add that I absolutely hate that it's almost impossible to get baggy sportswear. Every thing is tight and needs to show ever curve you have. Men's sportwear is better but not always well fitted for women (shirts are okay, pants can be a real hassle to get them right). On the same note; sport shoes. I got big feet, and for some reason they barely don't make shoes anymore that are also wide. I find it difficult to find shoes that are actually okay to exercise in. And also here are a lot that are made to look cool, for daily wear, but not to exercise in. I still wear my 7 year old sport shoes that really start to wear down now and need to be replaced, because I have so much trouble finding good new sport shoes. Also heard recently there is some synthetic kind of cotton, which explains why every time I found 100% cotton shirts, it's still felt really synthetic and it just became harder to figure materials out and if it's practical for what you need it for. I never buy anything new anymore since it's such a hellscape to get actual good clothes, fit and material wise.

11:27 and actually anything past “How We Wash them” section, as much as I love natural fibers they don’t hold up well to not just physical activities but also to body shapes/areas. My pants are made out of synthetic materials because they’re the only type that doesn’t succumb to the wear and tear of the inner tigh area. I had to throw many pants because that area was so easily prone to pilling/thinning out, holes were forming. I still have synthetic pants that lasted me for many years, and has survived the inner thigh area. I have tops made out of natural fibers, but thats it. While yes I know synthetic fibers is not good for the environment, neither was constantly throwing out clothes that kept being worn out.

Good stuff 👍👍👍

I live in the Mojave Desert. It is nice to have some moisture-wicking and UV-blocking materials when working outside. However, cotton is breathable, and unless I need to wear that sort of clothing, I don't even wear bike shorts when biking since I mostly do it for fun.

I go to the gym every day, and this video is the first time I’ve ever heard of Gym Shark 😂

13:02 I was really hoping to see a picture of RFK Jr. working out in jeans lol

Dryfit stuff is amazing. I can go run in the rain, or go swim, blast the heater in my car, or just be in the sun for a bit, and be dry when I walk into a store 15 minutes later.

I can't stand sportswear because it just smells awful and just feels like plastic to me. I'm not the target, I'm not an athelete, I'm not the gym, but I hike. And I really like to hike. I tried a couple of highly suggested clothes basically made of plastic. They were expensive, they felt terrible, they smelled awful after a few hikes, with washes inbetween. Meanwhile, cotton I wash, smell is gone. Comfortable, still great at wicking away moisture. 100% cotton is, for me, the end all be all.

You really missed out on Lululemon and the invention of athleisure. It's not just about looking good at the gym but athletic clothing becoming leisurely (e.g. women wearing leggings out and about) and preceded the influencer boom. There was also a lot of thought put into it if you look at any Chip Wilson interviews. The influencer boom may be more a result of social media than athleisure. People want to look good now mostly for get social media content

I discovered that there is such a thing as Mushroom Leather. thanks, exploring that further next

I’ll definitely agree it’s made it over here in the uk I would say because I can put on a set and it matches didn’t have to think too much about what I’m gonna wear and it’s comfortable.

That's the only thing I wear when not forced to be formal. Bite me.

I bought a few under armour gym outfits and they are waaay more comfortable to work out in then the random old shirt + sweatpants I used to wear. But I agree, when fashion starts to become more important then working out, it's a problem.

06:46 it reminds me of a manhwa I read recently called "secrets of fitness" the boss in said admitted to hiring people based on aesthetics instead of qualifications

This is a great video.

Great video, if I may add one thing , if you are talking about athletic apparel companies that push the message of causal usage it is definitely worth noting Young LA is a big player in that space.

I think we should use Merino wool over polyester. Also I worked at Gore as an intern and they don’t like Levi 🤣

Glad someone else is also wondering about what I've always wondered. How did synthetic fabrics make a comeback, when as a Gen X, I grew up learning that natural fabrics were the go-to's for health, comfort and fashion?

Funniest thing is GymShark stuff always looked cheap to me. LOL

I personally find most athletic wear uncomfortable….tight fitting doesn’t breathe like cotton. I really like to be active without having camel toes, and my thighs encased in whatever. I am not a large person too, very fit swimmer but maybe why I like the water so much….so freeing.

Literally got a Gymshark ad while watching this😂

07:57 Ah come on man! I was eating and watching this. 😢

can't tell you how hard it is just to find a plain cotton t-shirt these days... 30 years ago, they were everywhere / easy to find.

i live in a city, and many of us, including me, wear athleisure. We walk everywhere, and we all walk fast, 15 min/mile or faster, even in the hot humid summers. we need light breathable polyester clothing for comfort and drying just to do our daily errands and commuting

Thank you very much for the video! I was actually looking for sportswear on my smartphone when I saw the video. (I've started working out more and more in the last few weeks because of summer). I'm a bit shocked at how clothing brands just have these potentially toxic fabrics everywhere. I'm going to a slightly more expensive shop next week to get some advice. My health is more important to me than saving a bit of money. Thanks for the information!

As someone who is an aerial dance instructor I need VERY DURABLE clothes. My gymshark leggings were with me for 2 months lol. Most of the popular brands (nike, adidas) lasted no more than 6 months. There was one exception: in my country (central europe) there is a brand called 4F and 2 pairs of leggings I bought in 2021 are still in use and maybe they don't look like they used to but still do their job perfectly.

I go to the gym and or run 5x a week, and I honestly love my lulu wardrobe. Also used to wear gymshark when I first started going to the gym, but the gymshark stuff had seems coming apart after one year of use. Every lulu item I own that I abuse in the gym day in and day out still looks and feels new so for me, it’s worth the price.

For a topic that depressing thank you for not only showing the dark side but also how it is getting better and brands that are looking for solutions. The future is haunting but the present will determine the outcome :)

I once bought a tshirt made of very fine wool from REI almost 25 years ago. I loved it for the color and cute flower print on it, but it was the most comfortable shirt I had for years and it has lasted all this time. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer, it wicks away sweat and moisture and never gets damp. The wool was so fine, it looked like any ordinary cotton shirt, but it has a fine sheen if you looked closely at it. It's easy to care for since it's machine washable, though I dry it on a line. Went back later to see if I could find more colors but didn't see it again, though I wasn't surprised. That single t-shirt costed over forty dollars and I only bought it because I was intrigued by the idea of a tshirt made of wool.

I got a gym shark clothing add before the video started 😂

6:16 I started wearing Gymshark after a coworker told me to try them and I had extra encouragement when I noticed the brand logo and was unfamiliar with it in person Looked them up. Gave them a shot. And boom. My fave brand

I'm a runner, I run outside most of the time. When the roads are bad in the winter I have to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I wear running shorts I've had for like 7 years and a ratty t-shirt from some local road race. I kind of look like a bum, but I guarantee you I'm getting a better workout running 4-8 miles on the treadmill than the people in nice outfits who spend 5 minutes on the ellipticals then sit on the benches in front of the mirrors playing with their phones for 40 minutes.

Gymshark. For the gym-goer who prefers their juice... injected.

I got back into biking this year and have been biking every day to try to build up my endurance. Yknow what I'm wearing and riding? I'm wearing whatever the heck tshirt and jeans/shorts I was already wearing that day, riding the adult bike my parents got me when I outgrew my kid bike back in middleschool and the first helmet I saw at the big box store because my last helmet was lost several moves ago. Even better my bike's almost 20 years old and the only parts that have been replaced are a couple of random bolts that fell off and a shifter line that wore out.

I wear Russell Athletic at the gym. Have for over 20 years. I'm more concerned with gains than nice gym clothes. When you're in good shape, plain cotton tank tops look good.

I have started using wool from Smartwool for tennis. They have a lightweight line with 50% wool and 50% lyocell. It is so much more breathable than synthetic fibres. One extra advantage is that the clothes does not need washed that often, and only on a 30 degree delicate cycle. I had to wash all the synthetic clothing on 60 degrees on a cotton program to get rid of the smell. The 60 degree synthetic cycle did not do the job properly. As well, I have changed to a silk duvet instead of down. It makes a world of difference. I have recently returned from holiday and the synthetic duvets felt horrible. It felt as my body could not breathe and I got warm in a some kind of trapped way. I use a wooly duvet during winter and it is a game changer to down as well.

YES, finding simple, functional pair of sports trainers/shoes/footwear without elevation on the heel area, that are not overly cushioned and that allow you to perform multiple exercises is becoming hell I don't want to have to change footwear when I move from running to weight lifting to calisthenics. On fabrics I have less trouble because loose shorts and cotton tshirts are relatively easy to find

Athlete for life here. After many years of elite athletics i have found wool. Outdoor people are on to something. Genuinely better than any synthetics for working out. Give it a try people, and dont put plastic in our oceans

Both of my ads before the video started were for athleisure gym clothes 😂😅

Yes as a full time fitness instructor, aerialist, and personal trainer finding durable quality fitness wear especially onzies with pocket its like searching for the holy grail. if there's a company that finds a way to do this adding pockets to EVERY ITEM and with more natural fiber that would be an incredibly loyal market to be in.

For me it’s leggings… not only are the expensive ($100+) but they pill and tear in between the legs after a year or so of use. Even if I stitch it up it comes undone so despite wanting to buy less I have to buy leggings every 12-18 months. Oh and half of them are also sheer so if you bend over everyone can see where the sun don’t shine 🥲

I'm so glad I go to a gym where people don't care what other people are wearing. At least I don't think they do because no one would have the gall to come up to me and say a damn thing about my attire! That being said, what clothes you wear do the gym DOES matter - to you, to your body and what kind of exercise you are doing. I gladly splurge on Lululemon pants - my Lulus are literally the most expensive clothing items I own (aside from winter coats). I'm willing to spend the money because they perform the best when I work out, and I work out intensely and often. My oldest pair of leggings is 11 years old. It's gone in the washer hundreds of times and it still looks good. My Lulus are the only workout pants I have that wick the sweat off my body without me looking like I just jumped in a pool. Luckily for me, I'm able to get away (ie perform well when at the gym or exercising outside) with wearing tops from Old Navy or The Gap. Those items are much more affordable, which is a good offset. I do think it's ridiculous for people to buy designer athleisure wear, but I find designer clothes ridiculous already. I think it's important to separate the clothing from the influencer. These people are just regular people who are not kinesiologists or certified personal trainers - they are just people who are fit by whatever means they chose to get there. Perhaps I can see that clearly since I'm a geriatric millennial who didn't grow up with social media bombarding me all the time.

i usually go to gym after work in my work clothes (khakis and cargo with polos), some of the gym bros looked at me like i just slapped their babies

I’m waiting for spray-on gym wear to arrive . Always a perfect fit and great to look at 😂 No to steroids!

As an former gym rat I will tell you that gym shark is a juicy as hell brand. Also the "fake natty" culture is so awful; I have so much more for guys who use (not abuse) and are upfront about it than a fake natty.

I've worn nothing but sporty clothes pretty much my whole life. Being a football (SOCCUR) player in my youth made me realise from a very young age that everything else is just supbar when it comes to comfort. I simply don't care enough to wear uncomfortable clothes.

Saw this phenomena back in the '90's to early 2000's, when everyone started wearing technical outerwear as every day dress. Was annoying, because I actually NEED high quality, effective outwear and thermal layers for insulation and protection against the elements (snowboarding and outdoor photography in often adverse conditions). The problem is that all the companies that USED to make quality technical gear started making mall fashion pieces instead. Since, then new companies have stepped up, thankfully, but there was a stretch where the pickings were thin!

I love Uniqlo's gym wear. Very comfy

And here I am at Goodwill, hell yea.

There used to be a running joke in some online fitness spaces that a gymshark sponsorship is a dead giveaway that someone is on steroids

I just work out in regular casual clothes, with the exception of the shoe, that I bought specifically for gym to not dirty it up.

Three sport stores here in my hometown, but none of them sells a reasonable pair of running shorts. Now I understand why.

I saw the video while at gym with my cheap ten years old simple clothes, the only new are the custom shirt that used all the day .

I only really wear workout clothes for running lol. Otherwise I wear denim and tee shirts. And I swear by tight bike shorts to avoid chub rub.

You should do a video on Ten Tree!

The brand of gym clothes I wear to workout is 'Goodwill'. They usually have my size and are always priced right.

Well, I'm still wearing my 15 year old sports clothes and working out at home. I just wish I had the budget for more Patagonia clothes, so far I have running shorts and they are the best! 😍

I didn't realize I was part of an elite crowd who didn't give a crap about what they wear to the gym. I have a few pairs of generic gym shorts and pants (most of which I got from Ross) and whatever shirt I happen to be wearing that day, and since I go straight form work to the gym, it's usually just my work polos.

Bro its crazy when I can buy branded jeans that I can wear to clubs and party out for years and years cost $25-$35 but the workout joggers with a stupid checkmark that are going to rip apart in a few months starts from $50 onwards. I guess people care more about looking better at the gym than when they're out partying. Its ridiculous this trend

The same is true for cold weather clothing - there used to be clothes specifically for mountaineering that were extremely high quality, but they are almost impossible to find these days - the few that still exist cost four figures. I turned to military cold weather clothing which is much higher quality but can be had for a few hundred, but you have to live with camo....