The Evolution of Activewear Series

From the court to the street, the evolution of activewear has shown us just how much sport has influenced the frequency of usage of sneakers and clothing in our daily lives. Fashion has evolved to having few rules dictating what to wear and when we can wear it. People want comfortable fashion that’s both functional and versatile. Essentially we want to wear what we want, when we want, and how we want - it’s less about rules and more about our freedom to do as we please. Whether you call it activewear or athleisure, the high end design and fabrications both compensate for and accentuate our bodies features whilst allowing us to wear them all day or night, long. 

Today's casual clothing is no longer single purpose designed. Athleisure has evolved, in part, due to the A-listers on social media. These influencers have huge followings - to the point that trends are no longer created on the ramp but on Instagram. Athleisure was commonly worn to exude a sporty, casual and streetwear style, but it seems the trend and market have shifted towards fitness-inspired fashion — closing the gap between sportswear and fashion. 

To track this journey and the huge influence sports have played in sneakers and other gear, we are featuring a dedicated blog series to feature Brands in The Evolution of Activewear series.

The Evolution of Activewear

The Evolution of Activewear series will take you through the history of leading brands adidas, Nike and Puma. We’ll explore the innovation of each brand, from its early origins to the gear we know and love today. These iconic brands' legacies are deeply rooted in sport. From tennis to basketball, running, snow skiing, football, and motorsport have had a leading influence on the evolution of sneakers and apparel. With their conceptualisation and origin design being aimed at enhancing the athletes performance, these sneakers and clothing have evolved into everyday wear, making comfort that much more stylish.

Before we kick off with the series highlighting some of the most popular Brands, let’s take a look at why the athleisure and street style movement has continued to stay on trend throughout the last few decades. 

The demand for comfortable clothing and footwear is, without a doubt, a major player in the rise of athleisure. With the discovery of synthetic fibers like Nylon after the end of the Second World War, the writing was on the wall for future developments in fashion. Some say that sportswear fashion was probably one of the main contributors to the history of fashion design. The first industry to introduce new styles, to open discussions on gender rights and to empower women in many different ways.

Activewear is not about wearing hoodies or leggings to the gym anymore, most of us choose to wear this type of clothing as everyday wear. It’s comfortable and it looks good. Activewear is here to stay, and one of the main reasons for this is it’s versatility. Truth be told, we have not even scraped the bottom of the barrel when it comes to potential developments.

Clothing made for performance activities, when adapted for everyday wear, both translates and provides more comfort than the clothing designed purely for aesthetics. Sneakers fit better. They have cushioned soles, structured inners and other features designed to make athletes perform better and give you day-long comfort. Clothing fabrics are designed to enhance high level performance which is both breathable and comfortable due to fabrications which also enhances the fit. 

So on the fun side, since the early Def Jam era, we’ve seen loyal fans rocking the athleisure, ranging from RUN-DMC to Pharell Williams and many others in the music industry. Tracksuits, sneakers and accessories made their way onto music stages, with performers choosing to do their thing in clothing they wear everyday. Legendary tennis shoes such as the adidas Stan Smith have gained a cult following that never seems to fade with time. Puma tracksuits have gained equal popularity thanks to classic films such as Stan Lathan’s 1984 Beat Street. 

Follow the Side Step blog as we take you on a walk through history with The Evolution of Activewear. Side Step is on trend - order your Activewear online or shop at one of our stores near you.