Active wear, no longer exercise-specific, has become a versatile fashion style. Jude Hathaway reports.
Cast a look back to the 1970s and early '80s.
Things were happening on every front, including the spawning of a fitness era that would go on to grow and diversify to where today it is a thriving industry embracing equipment, footwear and apparel.
This was, indeed, when the notion became a reality that exercise could be taken seriously even by those who also wanted to bring a modicum of fashion nous to workouts.
And into the fitness centres, gyms and studios they sauntered in their French-cut or the ever-so-more daring thong leotards.
These were teamed with fluoro tights over which hand-knitted legwarmers added a cutesy, although still practical edge and towelling sweatbands topped things off nicely.
Sweeping low across the forehead, keeping the voluminous hairstyles in check, these were the ultimate perspiration-catchers.
It was an attitudinal style, ripe for later caricature, ideally matched to aerobic workouts and the new Jazzercise craze.
And it was made possible by Lycra, the technical stretch fabric perfected by Du Pont in the 1960s and first worn by high-performance athletes.
The technical fibre brought comfort and panache to workout gear, went on to define the look of the '80s and continues to impact on today's fashion wear.
But changes were inevitable, a major one being that back then what was worn in the gym stayed in the gym.
Never was even a glimpse of a leotard and tights-clad figure seen in the street, let alone in cafes or at informal social gatherings.
But today, as the result of designers and manufacturers responding to women's changing and time-poor lifestyles, and maybe the degree of status surrounding fitness, the apparel is now built to be seen.
This is active wear as opposed to gym gear and it is not only performance brands creating versatile styles that can readily transition from workouts to the street, but top designer labels and main-street brands are also joining the party. Just check the latest northern hemisphere runway shows.
Today's active wear embraces garments or clothes which provide style along with comfort and function, are made up of sustainable high-performance materials and can include parkas, hoodies, pants and sweaters, accessories and footwear.
It is designed first as exercise wear and secondly to be very comfortably and stylishly transitioned to casual attire to hang out in.
The US-designed Olympia active wear epitomises this approach, prompting New Zealander Nicky Lynch to select it for her Plumeria online boutique which specialises in active and swimwear.
''Olympia bridges the gap between your daily routines with its ability to take you from your exercise routine to the rest of the day,'' she says.
''I think it is the most functional and fashionable brand I have seen. And it looks and feels amazing on! The lightweight poly/Spandex and micromesh fabrics are fast drying and breathable and designed for a wide range of activities including running, yoga, spinning, dancing and more.
''The main trend we are seeing in active wear is it being able to transition effortlessly from gym gear to day and weekend wear. A lot of the collections are meant for both in and outside of the gym, the fabrics needing to move and breathe as well as be comfortable and flattering.''
Nicky also predicts more technology being used in high-performance fabrics in the future.
''Right now we are seeing the beginnings of `wearable tech' with ... [smartwatches] and I think this idea is going to explode.''
Another popular brand is Lululemon athletica which also has its roots across the Pacific.
The brand was first established over two decades ago by Canadian Chip Wilson, who after many years in the surf, skate and snowboard business, discovered the exhilaration of yoga.
He set up a studio to specialise in the design of yoga apparel using technical fabric blends and design details.
Today it is a global entity, its distinctive apparel designed for a number of pursuits including yoga and walking, running and cross-training, sold in stores in many countries as well as online. Six stores operate in New Zealand, one of these in Queenstown.
Lululemon continues to push the envelope in both design and fibre technology.
Included among the latest developments are Silverescent products which use X-STATIC (TM), a fibre made with 99.9% pure metallic silver, to provide permanent odour protection by naturally inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
The Queenstown store manager, Naomi Richard, and her staff, see a marvellous mix of customers.
''Guests to our store come from right here in Queenstown, across New Zealand and Australia, as well as Canada, USA, Europe and Asia,'' she says.
Incidentally a popular feature of the store is ''Sweat Sunday'' sessions.
''Every Sunday from 8.30-9.30am we host `Sweat Sundays' in-store, pushing aside the racks and inviting guests to come try out a new type of fitness. We offer a new style of fitness every month,'' Naomi explains.
It was through her strong emphasis on research and technical development that here in Dunedin, designer Emily Cooper established the innovative Silkbody range of active wear back in 2002 in collaboration with her father David Cooper.
The high-performance hard- and soft-core clothing is produced in a range of silk-based fabrics including silk and merino plus silk, merino and cotton blends, and targets men and women who enjoy a range of pursuits including running, cycling, gym workouts and yoga.
It is sold throughout the world and is retailed in various outlets including the recently opened dedicated Silkbody store in Waikouaiti.
''These fabrics offer all the technical advantages of contemporary fabrics while retaining silk's natural elements of luxury and style,'' Emily explains.
''Garments are a perfect blend of form and function, as ideal for travellers as for those enjoying sporting and leisure pursuits.''
As well as the luxurious tactile feel of silk against the skin, garments can absorb 30% of body moisture without feeling damp and dry quickly with no residual odour.
And while the brand features a line-up of yoga garments which includes a scarf that can also be used as a blanket for winding-down time at the end of a session, they can readily transition to leisure wear.
Another illustration of Silkbody's versatility is seen in the lounge pants that are as popular in yoga studios as they are when taking the dog for a walk.
With all this versatility there is no reason not to forget the chilly winter, leave the comfy couch and indulge the body, both physically and aesthetically.
