The explosion of Athleisure, a new concept of fashion as global mass movement, is been undergoing for 5-10 years now. Much like in the 1980's consumers are back into fitness and wellbeing but now instead of Jane Fonda's VHS tapes there is a whole World Wide Web to learn, post and share.
Fashion itself is an element of this holistic movement and no longer clings to seasonal trending but rather the whole lifestyle of its adopters. Designers are meeting modern women's concerns, activities and needs with new pieces of clothing that are form-fitting, comfortable and allow freedom of movement so women can feel good wherever they wear them. At the centre of the athleisure movement there's a new clothing item in every modern woman wardrobe- leggings, yet the most polarizing piece of clothing in the fashion industry and now in the media.
Likewise, previous symbols of modern femininity and female emancipation, the miniskirt and women’s pants had their share of controversy before being widely accepted. Just last year jeans declined 6% in sales from the rise of athleisure. Once a symbol of rebellion without a cause, they became the widely accepted uniform of the baby-boomer generation.
Why do women love their leggings? Well…leggings are comfortable, practical and stylish. It’s that simple! Leggings are made from super comfortable textile fibres, machine washable and demand little or no iron at all. In view of the increasing offer of high quality leggings, like seamless second skin, they soon will become a wardrobe staple. Wardrobe style staples have always been fashion statements, and leggings might as well be the next revolution in women's power dressing.