Best luxury sportswear brands 2019
From California-cool to ethically sourced material, these lesser-known brands will help you stick to your New Year's resolutions in style
Best luxury sportswear brands 2019
Best for the ethical gym-goer: Sports Philosophy
Sports Philosophy believes in using its platform to help to redress some of the abuses of the garment industry. The founders are committed to fighting child labour, and have set up The Freedom for Children Foundation, which receives at least 10% of profits.
Premium Italian fabrics are used to create stylish patterned leggings, bras, and vests. There's also a good menswear range, which can't be said for all sportswear brands.
1. Black Prism Leggings, £85. Buy them here. 2. Volcanic Tank Top, £62. Buy it here. 3. Magenta Prism Laser Sports Bra, £52. Buy it here.
Best for the multi-tasker: Varley
Varley's website states that its clothes can be worn 'from the school-run to the office, from the ballet barre to the boxing ring'. Put this claim to the test by ordering some of their pieces.
Coming in a number of styles, Varley's clothes feature pastel tones, mesh details, and pretty patterns - wear them to your post-gym coffee date and no-one will notice that you haven't changed.
1. Bedford Legging, £78. Buy them here. 2. Feliz Bra, £52. Buy it here. 3. Johnston Tee, £54. Buy it here.
Best for the water baby: LNDR
Born and bred in East London, LNDR produces stylish, elegant gym clothes featuring lots of marl fabrics. The brand's USP, however, is its gym-to-swim range, pieces that can be worn as sportswear or swimwear. Perfect for the triathletes among you.
1. Gym-to-swim Swell Sports Bra, £125. Buy it here. 2. A-Team Sports Bra, £55. Buy it here. 3. Spectrum Legging, £95. Buy it here.
Best for the influencer: PE Nation
If you love those pictures of celebrities coming out the gym, then it's likely that you will have heard of PE Nation. Sported by Gigi Hadid, Elle Fanning, Kourtney Kardashian and more, it's a true status symbol. With its bold logos, bright colours and striking zebra print, it's certainly not one for the low-key gym-goer.
1. Crash Back Legging, £112.45. Buy it here. 2. Tuck Shot Crop, £74.72. Buy it here. 3. Element Tank, £67.17. Buy it here.
Best for the next Serena Williams: L'Etoile Sport
Founder Yesim Philip created L'Etoile Sport out of her frustration at the lack of attractive tennis clothes that could be worn on and off the court. The result is a line of elegant, feminine pieces, always offered in Wimbledon white in honour of the sport's sartorial history. The brand also offers an equally chic golfing range, as well as regular activewear.
1. Racerback Lace Dress, £220. Buy it here. 2. Pleated Lace Skort, £125. Buy it here. 3. Short Sleeve Stripe Polo, £200. Buy it here.
Best for the serious lifter: Gymshark
Anyone who follows fitness bloggers will have seen Gymshark's distinctive pieces adorning many an Instagram. They are best known for their squat-proof leggings which accentuate the rear (in a good way), but their affordable range is huge, and includes supportive sports bras and comfy lounge-wear.
1. Energy Seamless Sports Bra, £19.60. Buy it here. 2. Flex Leggings, £32. Buy them here. 3. Long Sleeve Ribbon Crop Top, £18.20. Buy it here.
Best for the slopes: Perfect Moment
Looking chic on a ski holiday shouldn't be reserved for après. Perfect Moment produces stylish yet functional (and warm) pieces in bright, eye-catching colours to ensure you never get separated from your ski group. It also offers gym clothes and swimwear – a one-stop shop for all athletic holidaymakers.
1. Vale Jacket, £475. Buy it here. 2. Nordic One-Piece, £120. Buy it here. 3. Allos One-Piece, £595. Buy it here.
Best for the long-distance runner: Koral
Koral prides itself on its high-tech fabrics, specially engineered to optimise different sorts of workout. The fabrics are all anti-pilling to keep the garments smooth, colour absolute, and chlorine resistant to retain colour even through washes and workouts.
Some pieces are moisture wicking, quick-drying, odour-controlling, and some even offer UV protection. The clothes themselves are fun and stylish, particularly the lustrous-high rise leggings, which resemble the iconic American Apparel disco pants.
1. Sweeper Versatility Bra, £31. Buy it here. 2. Lustrous Regular Rise Leggings, £78. Buy them here. 3. Size Up Tee, £74. Buy it here.
Sports Philosophy believes in using its platform to help to redress some of the abuses of the garment industry. The founders are committed to fighting child labour, and have set up The Freedom for Children Foundation, which receives at least 10% of profits.
Premium Italian fabrics are used to create stylish patterned leggings, bras, and vests. There's also a good menswear range, which can't be said for all sportswear brands.
1. Black Prism Leggings, £85. Buy them here. 2. Volcanic Tank Top, £62. Buy it here. 3. Magenta Prism Laser Sports Bra, £52. Buy it here.
Best for the multi-tasker: Varley
Varley's website states that its clothes can be worn 'from the school-run to the office, from the ballet barre to the boxing ring'. Put this claim to the test by ordering some of their pieces.
Coming in a number of styles, Varley's clothes feature pastel tones, mesh details, and pretty patterns - wear them to your post-gym coffee date and no-one will notice that you haven't changed.
1. Bedford Legging, £78. Buy them here. 2. Feliz Bra, £52. Buy it here. 3. Johnston Tee, £54. Buy it here.
Best for the water baby: LNDR
Born and bred in East London, LNDR produces stylish, elegant gym clothes featuring lots of marl fabrics. The brand's USP, however, is its gym-to-swim range, pieces that can be worn as sportswear or swimwear. Perfect for the triathletes among you.
1. Gym-to-swim Swell Sports Bra, £125. Buy it here. 2. A-Team Sports Bra, £55. Buy it here. 3. Spectrum Legging, £95. Buy it here.
Best for the influencer: PE Nation
If you love those pictures of celebrities coming out the gym, then it's likely that you will have heard of PE Nation. Sported by Gigi Hadid, Elle Fanning, Kourtney Kardashian and more, it's a true status symbol. With its bold logos, bright colours and striking zebra print, it's certainly not one for the low-key gym-goer.
1. Crash Back Legging, £112.45. Buy it here. 2. Tuck Shot Crop, £74.72. Buy it here. 3. Element Tank, £67.17. Buy it here.
Best for the next Serena Williams: L'Etoile Sport
Founder Yesim Philip created L'Etoile Sport out of her frustration at the lack of attractive tennis clothes that could be worn on and off the court. The result is a line of elegant, feminine pieces, always offered in Wimbledon white in honour of the sport's sartorial history. The brand also offers an equally chic golfing range, as well as regular activewear.
1. Racerback Lace Dress, £220. Buy it here. 2. Pleated Lace Skort, £125. Buy it here. 3. Short Sleeve Stripe Polo, £200. Buy it here.
Best for the serious lifter: Gymshark
Anyone who follows fitness bloggers will have seen Gymshark's distinctive pieces adorning many an Instagram. They are best known for their squat-proof leggings which accentuate the rear (in a good way), but their affordable range is huge, and includes supportive sports bras and comfy lounge-wear.
1. Energy Seamless Sports Bra, £19.60. Buy it here. 2. Flex Leggings, £32. Buy them here. 3. Long Sleeve Ribbon Crop Top, £18.20. Buy it here.
Best for the slopes: Perfect Moment
Looking chic on a ski holiday shouldn't be reserved for après. Perfect Moment produces stylish yet functional (and warm) pieces in bright, eye-catching colours to ensure you never get separated from your ski group. It also offers gym clothes and swimwear – a one-stop shop for all athletic holidaymakers.
1. Vale Jacket, £475. Buy it here. 2. Nordic One-Piece, £120. Buy it here. 3. Allos One-Piece, £595. Buy it here.
Best for the long-distance runner: Koral
Koral prides itself on its high-tech fabrics, specially engineered to optimise different sorts of workout. The fabrics are all anti-pilling to keep the garments smooth, colour absolute, and chlorine resistant to retain colour even through washes and workouts.
Some pieces are moisture wicking, quick-drying, odour-controlling, and some even offer UV protection. The clothes themselves are fun and stylish, particularly the lustrous-high rise leggings, which resemble the iconic American Apparel disco pants.
1. Sweeper Versatility Bra, £31. Buy it here. 2. Lustrous Regular Rise Leggings, £78. Buy them here. 3. Size Up Tee, £74. Buy it here.
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