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FASHION TRENDS TRANSCEND TO THE GYM
AND
ACTIVE/FITNESS INDUSTRY
By Karen Howard
There was a time, without revealing my age let's just say around 20 years ago, when dressing to stay in shape, maintain your health or step up one's active lifestyle was all about oversized cotton or poly/cotton tees, sweatshirts, jackets, pants and shorts. Colors were drab and silhouettes were loose and unflattering.
Well, in the last 7 or so years things have REALLY changed .... Fashionable styles, silhouettes and fabric trends have invaded the active/gym wear industry. With the huge surge of everyone, from 5 - 100 years, looking to maintain their health and fitness .... Top designers and active wear brands have transformed the industry attire to include more fashion forward fabrics like washable silk lycra blends, cotton lycra spandex, quilted broadcloth, quilted nylon, decorated/printed fleece, stretch fleece, lycra knits, poly lycra knits, nylon lycra swimwear, stretch velvet, cotton flannels as lining and stretch velour.
Silhouettes are following the current fashion trends ranging from tastefully fitted and revealing to loose, very fashionable less revealing looks, empire waist tops and leotards, short and long shorts, various pant lengths from extremely long yoga pants to extremely short running shorts.
Famous sports, movie and designer personalities are launching their own high-fashion active wear lines .... adding even more fashion flair and trends to the once drab apparel industry ...thus taking active wear apparel beyond the limits to carve out its own place in the fashion industry.
Now is the season for marathon training and running. Die-hard fitness enthusiasts never let the cold or the approaching holiday season keep them from accomplishing their fitness goals. Now they look forward to touting their physiques in fashionably layered, cold weather active attire highlighted in with layered, lined or accented as trim with quilted faux suede, faux fur / minky accents, spa minky and various unique trims.
Athletes and wannabe athletes are not only now inspired by the motivation to get and stay fit, but by the fashion inspired attire that now allow them to personalize and individualize their active persona.
Editor's Note: Check out our Jalie Patterns for your active fashion needs. I love the jogging suit!
