How Athleisure Wear TOOK OVER America
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- čas přidán 7. 05. 2024
- Nowadays, the athletic wear industry is worth billions and billions of dollars and how the brands leading this industry have created this demand is equal parts impressive… and disturbing.
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Script: Holly Maley
Editor: Sam Askew
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand
Want to work with Future Proof? Suggestions? Hate mail? Get in touch with the project manager, Lu: contact@befutureproof.ca
Thats why I work out at home. There I can work out in my underwear.
Omg, twinsies! Popping on a peloton class and just working out in my boxers is peak comfy.
Nude and let it all swing around
I tried that during lockdown, and it was just too uncomfortable - physically.
Getting carpet burn 💀
@@CybertroninfiniteOfficial oh, a yoga mat investment is a must for sure.
They became like pickup trucks. People use them for anything but the purpose they are made for.
i see a local woman cake on the fakeup, grease herself into the 3 sizes too small athletic wear and jump into the raised pickup to take the kids to school. Never fails to amuse me
@@rhetorical1488and let's not forget the "workouts" she does include 2 sets of air squats and a resistance band
@@swedishhousemfia followed by heavy thumbing of tick tock for cardio😁
The purpose is to wear them daily and buy often. How or for what a person does so doesn't matter.
Clothes are clothes. If you want to wear athleisure the whole day, be my guest. Just don't go running to replace your wardrobe just because it's trendy (and nice and comfortable). Lower consumption is the key.
It's not very nice, it looks like you don't know how to dress.
I work out at home, and all my weights are outdoors, so my workout clothes are just the more worn down version of my regular clothes. I'm not looking to impress anyone, CZcams is as close to social media as I get, and my opinion is the only one that matters to me. If whatever I'm wearing wicks sweat away and keeps my most sensitive bits away from moving weights and bug bites, I don't really care about much else.
The idea of building an entire wardrobe around my sweatiest and most rugged moments sounds absurd to me.
I'd only stick to keeping a trend if it's nice/comfy enough to continue long after everyone else grows tired of the fad. Iit being a fad doesn't mean much since it could always come back, like Crocs has.
@@RevShifty
Very true! I limit my personal social media accounts as well (just CZcams and Discord - the latter I use very rarely and just to schedule talks to friends). The only problem is that, as an artist IRL, there can be a lot of pressure for artists to create accounts and post online (and have mentally flip-flopped a lot in my head on whether or not to post art through CZcams)... 0_0
How about I'll do whatever the fuck I want with my own money and wardrobe?
The problem is that synthetics actually serve a purpose in active wear. I used to work out in old cotton tees and it's really uncomfortable to wear them once they're soaked in sweat. Maybe something like merino wool would be a good alternative but so far I haven't seen anything affordable in that material.
And I'd just like to point out that athletic wear can be bought second hand if you don't want to support fast fashion and inflated pricing. The main problem with this trend is over consumption and no one should be judged for just wanting to be comfortable while they work out.
Wool is more expensive but it lasts forever. Those plastic shirts don’t last more than a year or two.
@@McDLT999999999999999I've had shirts and shorts literally last over 6 years and still going. And that's with hard use.
@@McDLT999999999999999 lasts forever? IME any wool garment light enough to feasibly work out in basically falls apart when you look at it. OK maybe slight exaggeration, but it's definitely not up to heavy gym use if you ask me, and when you consider the increased cost and frequency to replace (again, ime) it makes synthetics looks pretty good.
Agreed! I love working out in comfortable athleisure. It makes exercise way more enjoyable and doubles as loungewear. BUT I buy almost everything second hand. Almost all of my clothes are still going strong after years of regular use and washing. A few holes here and there aren't an issue for me.
Glad someone said it, Wicking materials are essential for comfort, Merino wool is great in colder conditions however it still absorbs sweat, It can roughly absorb it's weight in moisture before you feel it against the skin however a sweaty bloke running it's gonna last about 10 minutes before it gets uncomfortable. Synthetics are hydrophobic and repel the water and sweat making you much more comfortable.
The only natural material that might perform in this way is bamboo but I don't have much experience with that one!
Its the same old “how many of x do we really need”
"guys look, the influencers are marketing to you on the internet, trying to get you to buy stuff" wow. amazing.
If that phrase worked we wouldn't need to make any of our videos lol
That’s all this channel is… “here’s an industry that’s responsive to market demands! Woah! Isn’t consumerism bad?”
@@jakeseraphin7143you miss the entire point. Why are you even here? Besides just to complain about the points you missed
@TS_Mind_Swept ... Yeah, @@jakeseraphin7143 has completely missed the point, but the pro-capitalist crowd generally do.
These industries spend Billions (maybe even Trillions) of dollars annually inducing demand (and bragging about it), then as soon as it becomes problematic it's all "we're just responding to market demand. See ain't capitalism great!"
The grossest part about it all too, is that in a world with rampant mental health issues, where advanced psychological science is out of the reach of most people, these industries are more or less able to monopolize that psychology and use it an industrial scale to manipulate us into demanding more or newer things we don't actually need. The gross part of it is that this demand-inducing manipulation works best on a population with bad mental health (Depressed? We've got a product for that. Low confidence? Buy this. Etc), and so there's a multi-billion/trillion dollar industry invested in us not being mentally healthy; in order to keep the lines on the charts going up.
I go to the gym every day, I prefer to wear cotton because it's more comfortable and doesn't stink like synthetic athletic wear does
Why don't more people talk about the STENCH that can come from wearing synthetic fibres hahahhaa
I have a few synthetic Fila T-shirts. They were on sale. They smell EXACTLY like vomit.
If u tend to sweat heavily then definitely the synthetic fibers are better as they bring the sweat away from the skin to the outer layer of fabric, if I wear cotton I am freezing and I will be totally wet.
the water sponge that is cotton? you know you can wash synthetic right?
@@rhetorical1488why'd you think towels are made of cotton?
Every time i go clothes shopping, I always leave the store, or web site, saying to my self, “I need to learn how to sow. I am paying hundreds of dollars for bare threads with pockets that are designed for looks, rather than function. And the cut is so generic, nothing fits right.”
lol @ “sow”
Learn to sow and you shall reap!
@@danieldaniels7571 while you may be confortable by just sewing your own clothing, he wants to go aaaall the way to sowing his own cotton and linen
@@drillerdev4624 a real life modern day renaissance man
I hate how polyester is now even in expensive clothing. Never mind workout clothes, I can't find one decent pair of pants for my office job that isn't 30% to 70% polyester. And people might not be aware of it, but wearing plastic pants contributes to developing recurring genital yeast infections in woman. Yaay! (/s)
Cotton underwear
An obvious extension would be a video on Bang energy, these 2 are the worst companies in the fitness space, pushing their below average products using fake natties.
So many brands to consider! Thanks for sharing this though so people can avoid them 👍🏻
Gymshark has really a unethical marketing strategy and youngla too !
Josh Brett has more in-depth vids on both Gymshark as mentioned in this vid, but also another on Bang Energy
Bang? Aren't they owned by Pepsi?
@@lainiwakura1776 no
Do a video on car tires. It's crazy how environmentally bad they are.
oooh this is actually super interesting, thanks for the suggestion!
@@FutureProofTV yeah it's pretty crazy. They contain insanely bad chemicals, account for a good amount of micro plastics, when on car or trucks they create a ton of noise. We can't really destroy them. And unfortunately we need them. It's a crazy situation we are stuck with. Like no way we can't live without them but they are slowly killing us.
He can probably add in the development of the new tire that doesn't require air. Are these any more eco-friendly?
@@sirbbq2403 Probably not as you'd have to have a kind of super-rubber that can hold shape, isn't too rough on the passengers, and doesn't bend when turning the vehicle.
@@DatamanTheGreat And performs well with lots of friction and heat
Trendy gym clothes tend to leave random patches of skin exposed and gym equipment is disgusting. I had to get a prescription cream to treat a rash I got from a yoga mat. Cover up and wipe down your gym equipment!
As a runner I would argue alot of the clothes and especially shoes actually do help you perform better
Dry fit especially is amazing
true, though the average person probably doesn't actually NEED to perform better, they just need to be more comfortable while doing their regular exercises
The perfect example of this is the bike outfit, the bib shorts that people love to make fun of and call you a Lance Armstrong wannabe. As if it’s purely a pose.
OK, then go and do a 100K bike ride in regular shorts and cotton T-shirt, and then do it a few days later in $200 Rapha bib shorts and see how you feel about the difference.
@@rosiepone A good lightweight moisture wicking tech tee will get me to run farther and longer on a hot day. Comfort and performance go hand in hand.
@@rosiepone if you work out hard, often and you're a very sweaty person, you definitely need your clothes to perform well. Trust me! You don't even need to spend a lot of money. I indulge in Lululemons because they perform well, but I also have a lot of Old Navy items that are pretty great too.
Oh so this is why I looked different at the gym 😅
I just wear the cloth I feel okay to sweat in the most.
As a woman who regularly goes to the gym, I can comfortably say that Lululemon and similar brands are absolute shit. I bought a pair of leggings back in 2020 and after about 2 months of regular usage the material had holes at the seams where the thighs rub. In contrast the Gymshark shorts I got at around the same time are still holding up fine 4 years later. So even if I don’t agree with their choice of influencer advertising, their products are definitely worth the money
Weird. People online really seem to like Lululemon
@@antonhelsgaun I wore Lululemon leggings for years. For me, they last so long.
And since they can be pricey, I often buy them second hand. The quality is still there.
I second the Gymshark bump. I'm sure there are low-quality products that they sell, but I get my gym shorts from them and they're so comfortable and durable. Won't buy from any other brand going forward after getting a couple pairs and seeing how much better they last. With gym clothes, although they're mostly poly / plastic fabrics, the quality of the specific knit is super important and IMO Gymshark does it well.
I'm gonna assume you're from the US, so sorry if I'm wrong, but you guys are just missing BIG on Decathlon. Cheap, reliable and pretty enough for the regular folks for pretty much any sport practice or outdoor activity.
YUP! as a D1 athlete who grew up playing sports, it’s so much harder to find good quality activewear now as it’s all “athleisure” and doesn’t hold up well in high intensity training anymore.
always an informative, depressing watch. thanks future proof!
😅😅 it's what we're here for!
Your reasoning about synthetics is the reason why I only really wear 100% cotton shirts to the gym, my shorts are synthetic but I'm not really sweating in them as much as I'm sweating in my shirt 😂. As others told me, cotton is good material, while polyester is super cheap material
Yup. And polyester is terrible for you and the planet.
lol the farming of cotton is an environmental disaster. if you are going to pretend to care then try linen
Guess what, cotton is terrible for the environment too. It uses a lot of water and being ons of the world's largest crops, it contributes significantly to the greenhouse emissions and erodes the soil
The issue is that we consume more than what we need. Just use what you have until it's no longer usable, then buy secondhand where possible
@@VGMO17 well yes, but with that reasoning, human existence is just terrible for the earth. We have a whole era of "dramatic catatonic change" labeled after us
@@CybertroninfiniteOfficial it is, we've already past the tipping point in sustainability, thousands of years ago, the very moment we started agriculture. Now we're just realizing that can't escape the entropy we created, and that's only recent. There's a whole field that explores that idea, ecological economics.
Sustainability is an utopia, it doesn't exist, can't be achieved, we damaged trophic chains the moment our ancestors modified the environments they lived in. We're cashing the rewards
I agree that overconsumption is an issue and no one needs to update their gymwear every season but I completely disagree with "wear anything you want to the gym" point. First, it's important to consider that athletic clothes is more functional. Working out in cotton sucks (hot, heavy, and sweaty), and you cannot just workout is a regular bra, it's extremely uncomfortable. Second, we know clothes affect how you feel, so it's important to wear whatever makes you feel confident and good about yourself at the gym, just like in everyday life. Personally, I have way better workouts when I feel confident in what I wear, and I don't really care that it's problematic or I shouldn't need clothes for validation. Third, if buying a cute workout set motivates someone to workout more or be healthier, let them be.
Yup, as long as they are engaging in it responsibly.
IF that workout wear is for the gym and not every single other activity.
I believe this is capp, no one cares what you wear to the gym unless you want attention. If your pants need to be eating your ass then that's a you problem
This but also: I'm wearing workout wear for what it does, not who's on the tag. The Versace can go f*** itself, but there's a lot of more affordable athletic wear that isn't trying to gouge you and can actually get the job done. By conflating the two in the video the message gets jumbled, imo.
@@SheenaMalfoy True. Two of the reasons I buy Gymshark is the price (cheaper than Nike, Adidas) and the material.
microplastics scare me since writing my dissertation on my own microplastic research and I dont know why we do this to ourselves (collective us). I tried going to the gym and all these people in athletic wear actually made me feel uncomfortable about myself and then I never went back to the gym. I do have some athletic wear, but I didnt go for specific brands and I got them for a purpose, and I only own a pair of jeggings and shorts that ensures my thighs dont rub.
When I tried out a "women's only" gym I felt like I needed to invest in a whole new gym wardrobe to fit in there and not get judging looks... ironically, I'm feeling a lot better in my regular gym now, the one that isn't branded as a "save space" for women ...
please teach me more about microplastics in everyday life
Sports clothes SUCK nowadays...and Levi is so dreamyyyyy
Okaaaaaaaayyyyy i see what you did there 😅
As someone who dabbles in watching fashion history videos (like Abby Cox), while the term is newer, the start of this trend of athleisure is actually goes farther back than what is described here.
Yeah, I don't even know what this video was about. He talked extensively about Gymshark then switched to the chemicals in the clothing. I thought it would be more about the history of where, how and why this trend all started and "took over" like it said in the title, and it certainly did not start with Gymshark or flabletics. He didn't even differentiate between athletic wear and athleisure.
I was a teen in the 80's and we did Jazzercise and "aerobics" videos, there was a look and style to that but it was still a workout even if it was in a metallic g-sting unitard, and you certainly wouldn't wear it anywhere but exercising unless you were of the Venice beach rollerblading around type. Then in the 90's I worked in a gym and there was definitely a look, and there was quality and in the workout clothes, thngs were getting more technical. This is where athleisure started to take off I think. By the early 2000's athleisure was an established category of clothing even in very high end stores. Now here we are and no on knows how to wear a shirt with buttons or pants with a belt.
This summer I'm working outdoors and want a good pair of boots, I'm not even considering any brands because I can't tell bark from bite. I'm going right to army surplus. If the boots can work in a war zone, they'll work for me.
this is so smart, why didn't i think of this
There’s actually a guy who tears boots apart on CZcams and will tell you what’s junk and what’s not. His name is Rose Anvil. But you really do get what you pay for when it comes to boots as long as you know the difference between fashion brands and actual work boot brands. Look up “whites” and “nicks” they’re the best boots you can buy.
tbh might not be a bad idea 👀
Yep I get mine from a police supply retailer.
Keep in mind that army boots are often designed to be cheap to issue to literally every single solider, so they might not always be the best for you personally. I can attest to Redback steel-toe boots, though of course if that's not the type of shoe you're looking into I don't know if everything they make is also good.
Here in Florida you see folks in fancy workout gear year round & it's pretty obvious most never get near a gym. But that guy in the faded shorts & the ripped, stained T-shirt? He's likely ripped.
Think about all the synthetic race t-shirts that are distributed at road races. This goes to my suggestion of the sustainability of the road racing industry (e.g. medals, tote bags, t-shirts, food), etc.
nearly always you pay for them and they are made to order....
Well this was really interesting, thanks team. Especially the ending when you discuss the chemicals in some of these clothing products. I didn’t know anything of this.
i’ve been watching your channel for so long finally subscribed lol. i love stuff like this it helps with my shopping addiction 😂
That's why I use my most worn down casual T-shirts when I am going for a run ;)
PLEASE do a video on PopFlex!! I see their videos all the time for athleisure clothes and they’ve always been advertised as sustainable and customer forward, and would like to see if it’s actually true
Great watch as always 👊🏿
Much appreciated!!!
Not me wearing the same pair of BKE jeans for the past 7 years lol. I'm 26 year old dude that wear jean and Under Armour t-shirts everywhere like a 46 year old dad lol. When it's crazy hot, I'll put on my UA golf khaki shorts, but I'm not the basketball shorts or sweatpants kind of guy. I do wear sweat shirts everywhere I can too, AC is cold inside. I just wear things, until things wear out and then buy pretty much the same thing again. I've even learned how to sew my sweatshirts and jeans so they last even longer.
Thank you for explaining why I can no longer find durable workout clothes. I don't go to the gym, so I'm not performing, I need function and stuff just falls apart too soon.
who buys clothes with branding all over? Ive seen it in social media, but in real life, most people are looking for clothing with as little branding as possible, Ive never seen people rocking giant nike logos in public, people wear normal clothes with little to no branding.
Athleisure wear is way more than the designer stuf that no one likes and wears beside influencer, its also all the other gym clothing that is actually more functional for the gym (keeps you fresh, doesnt stain with sweat, etc)
People like fashion, people like finding outfits that look nice in their bodies for any situation, theres nothing harmfull about that
Good stuff 👍👍👍
It’s not an ideal solution, but I would also add the buying this specific type of clothing secondhand also is something that could mitigate the waste and pollution.
For some reason, workout clothing really is saturated in the secondhand market. I don’t know why, the volume of it being mass produced, and maybe just because there’s less tolerance for any type of wear or sign of aging. Or maybe because it ages more visibly than other clothing.
There’s a lot of really good clothing on eBay or at Goodwill, that’s really affordable, and that’s all sort of stuff that’s in the pipeline to go to the landfill otherwise.
And in fact, I’m sure a lot of really good clothing gets thrown out by people who just don’t have the energy to put it on eBay or drive to Goodwill.
It's true, ive gotten some great stuff in good condition second hand.
I would be a little iffy on buying work out clothes secondhand just because the sweat gets transformed to the clothing. I feel its a bit too intimate the same as you wouldn't wear secondhand underwear and I say this because some clothing clings tightly to the body like the armpits and groin area that the oils and sweat stays on the fabric not matter how much you wash it. Jackets sweaters sweatpants are ok though
Buying second hand clothes that have been drenched in sweat repeatedly, no thanks 😬
Theres a reason why the second hand market for it is massive, who would want it over some regular clothes that most likely haven't been abused and filled up with stench
@@isk8atparks washing machines exist.
Something else that I think people sometimes forget about most people turning more and more to social media relationships is that it's sometimes because there can be something they may be missing in IRL that they're trying to fill in that need with social media. Some people have relationships IRL that are unhealthy or they're not close, or they have other personal issues going on that helps with turning to social media addiction.
Have heard that there's various people that struggle to find jobs (despite media coverage and stats saying that we have the highest amount of employment in a long time), and I wouldn't be surprised if the discouragement for struggling to find a job can lead to social media addiction... 0_0
11:27 and actually anything past “How We Wash them” section, as much as I love natural fibers they don’t hold up well to not just physical activities but also to body shapes/areas.
My pants are made out of synthetic materials because they’re the only type that doesn’t succumb to the wear and tear of the inner tigh area.
I had to throw many pants because that area was so easily prone to pilling/thinning out, holes were forming.
I still have synthetic pants that lasted me for many years, and has survived the inner thigh area.
I have tops made out of natural fibers, but thats it. While yes I know synthetic fibers is not good for the environment, neither was constantly throwing out clothes that kept being worn out.
Why do people wear Athelisure for daily task. Im not going to do gym presses while sleeping in my couch.
Because jeans aren’t comfortable
Because athleisure is, generally speaking, comfortable for daily wearing but not so sloppy that you can't be seen in public.
Its extremely comfortable. Pretty much all I wear unless Im going out for a social thing.
For myself, 100% because it’s more comfortable. I have digestive and stomach issues, and sweatpants are 100% more comfortable for my stomach than pants/jeans/slacks that have a fitted hem waist and buckle belt, etc.
@@lalakass9041 I was about to say this and agree. Jeans are uncomfortable. I personally prefer leggings or sweatpants to go out and to stay at home. Work out clothes surprisingly can be very comfy with butter soft fabric and wick away sweat which imo is leagues better than jeans
As a woman that does sport I also want to add that I absolutely hate that it's almost impossible to get baggy sportswear. Every thing is tight and needs to show ever curve you have. Men's sportwear is better but not always well fitted for women (shirts are okay, pants can be a real hassle to get them right).
On the same note; sport shoes. I got big feet, and for some reason they barely don't make shoes anymore that are also wide. I find it difficult to find shoes that are actually okay to exercise in. And also here are a lot that are made to look cool, for daily wear, but not to exercise in. I still wear my 7 year old sport shoes that really start to wear down now and need to be replaced, because I have so much trouble finding good new sport shoes.
Also heard recently there is some synthetic kind of cotton, which explains why every time I found 100% cotton shirts, it's still felt really synthetic and it just became harder to figure materials out and if it's practical for what you need it for. I never buy anything new anymore since it's such a hellscape to get actual good clothes, fit and material wise.
8:07 I agree, my wife always curses that there aren’t non see through sport leggings available anymore. She also complains that she doesn’t want to enhance the shape of her butt in the gym wear cause the pants are less comfortable according to her
That was my experience with a pair of Lululemon leggings I got recently on sale. They're the famous Align ones, and the texture is as buttery smooth as the rumours say. But when I wore it I noticed that it's relatively thin compared to the cheaper ones I bought from Under Armour or Reebok, which was disappointing. Maybe they're meant more for yoga than weightlifting but I guess it still shows that more expensive doesn't mean better
Try clothing made from merino/alpaca wool, linen, and lyocel for natural performance.
yaaaa but how will they show their butts off than? all about the validation points
I can't stand sportswear because it just smells awful and just feels like plastic to me. I'm not the target, I'm not an athelete, I'm not the gym, but I hike. And I really like to hike. I tried a couple of highly suggested clothes basically made of plastic. They were expensive, they felt terrible, they smelled awful after a few hikes, with washes inbetween. Meanwhile, cotton I wash, smell is gone. Comfortable, still great at wicking away moisture. 100% cotton is, for me, the end all be all.
cotton's the worst for hikers. it's so heavy when soaked. Good luck hiking with all cotton.
Cotton can be great for a short walk, but wool and silk for hiking is much better than cotton as the moisture will not stay in the fibers as long as in cotton.
@@laifnow also, not all hikes are cold. wool isn't the end-all be-all material everyone's raving it to be.
Modern hiking gear uses paneling for stretchy bits, mesh for airflow and humidity control and even abrasion resistance. Materials vary with function, that's why it's called technical gear. My nylon, lycra and polyester stuff smells like absolutely nothing after I properly wash it. Which is what it should do, if it's not meant to retain oils and humidity.
I go to the gym every day, and this video is the first time I’ve ever heard of Gym Shark 😂
Right? I think under armor is the popular pick for gyms, among the adidasses and nike's, kappas and lottos.
Somehow, the guys that take scissors to their old streetwear t-shits and pants seem to be the most comfortable. But I'm old and grew up watching Rocky.
@@PaulSpades I’ll admit, I like to have clothes that I look good and feel good in at the gym.
But the main reason you should be going to the gym is to workout. If you’re properly working out, you’re not focused on what everyone is wearing at the gym.
I go to the gym and or run 5x a week, and I honestly love my lulu wardrobe. Also used to wear gymshark when I first started going to the gym, but the gymshark stuff had seems coming apart after one year of use. Every lulu item I own that I abuse in the gym day in and day out still looks and feels new so for me, it’s worth the price.
That's the only thing I wear when not forced to be formal. Bite me.
especially when so many people work from home nowadays.
Same. Wear it to the gym, at home, at the store. It's comfortable, easy to clean.
@@Ghost-sz7uo 💯
@@thebowandbullet and it doesnt look sloppy. You can sleep in it too and wake up to go to the store rq without ppl judging you just rolled out of bed and didn't swap out of your pj's 😂
The material also last forever compared to cotton, but just as comfortable. I’m wearing the same lululemon skort I had for 10+ years and it still looks fine, while Cotton shorts bought 3years ago have been worn out to the point of having holes.
Always love a video on a topic that lets me feel smug because of some harm I'm not participating in. Not through any principled moral fortitude of my own but because I just had no interest in the thing to begin with.
I think we should use Merino wool over polyester.
Also I worked at Gore as an intern and they don’t like Levi 🤣
Spill the tea 🍵 😅
Merino wool is a great solution here. While some merino wool clothing are still blended with polyester, you can find 100% merino wool too. It is a bit fragile and needs care to last.
@@TryRebooting Exactly. Finely woven wool like merino is not durable enough to be used for training multiple times a week. It would be worn through in less than a year.
You have to weigh the negatives of the materials against the negatives over frequent consumption.
@@HolybasilYT I use Merino wool running clothing
Not everyone, for example me, can stand Merino.
I sweat like crazy while on hikes for example, and wearing anything Merino means I look like I just walked hours in heavy rain and it at least doubles in weight.
+ somehow while I could wear it last year no problem, it's itchy now. Even Patagonia merino, that cost arm and a leg, I can't stand it.
Great video. My athletic shorts and sweats are about 5-15 years old. Half of them are hand me downs. I have only 2 pairs that are newer only because they were gifted to me.
It's cheap, it's comfortable, it's durable.
Eastern Europe tracksuit culture was not for the lack of options.
It was conscientious decision for practical outwear.
Now I see the world is catching up.
You really missed out on Lululemon and the invention of athleisure. It's not just about looking good at the gym but athletic clothing becoming leisurely (e.g. women wearing leggings out and about) and preceded the influencer boom. There was also a lot of thought put into it if you look at any Chip Wilson interviews.
The influencer boom may be more a result of social media than athleisure. People want to look good now mostly for get social media content
I personally find most athletic wear uncomfortable….tight fitting doesn’t breathe like cotton. I really like to be active without having camel toes, and my thighs encased in whatever. I am not a large person too, very fit swimmer but maybe why I like the water so much….so freeing.
lmao. wet cotton does not breathe
This is a great video.
Dryfit stuff is amazing. I can go run in the rain, or go swim, blast the heater in my car, or just be in the sun for a bit, and be dry when I walk into a store 15 minutes later.
can't tell you how hard it is just to find a plain cotton t-shirt these days... 30 years ago, they were everywhere / easy to find.
Thank goodness, I thought you were coming for my hoodie and comfy pants >_<
And I do go to the gym in whatever I have, cause comfy.
I bought a few under armour gym outfits and they are waaay more comfortable to work out in then the random old shirt + sweatpants I used to wear. But I agree, when fashion starts to become more important then working out, it's a problem.
I've worn nothing but sporty clothes pretty much my whole life. Being a football (SOCCUR) player in my youth made me realise from a very young age that everything else is just supbar when it comes to comfort. I simply don't care enough to wear uncomfortable clothes.
this is exactly what drives me to athleisure. i specifically buy higher end stuff because it blends into a work wardrobe seamlessly. I wear my “tennis skort” to work as a smart casual option more than I wear them exercising. Girlfriend collective is my poison because the basics are so good but I understand the larger point about how unsustainable this clothing is.
@@mxandrew I really value durability and getting attached my clothes, I also have a very small wardrobe because I travel a lot. This has pushed me mostly to premium outdoor brands with good build quality and materials and/or long warranties.
Environmentally I can't really fully justify it compared to buying only second hand stuff, but there is something very nice about living in clothes that you like and serve you for a long time.
@@ChrisKerel exactly. like i understand that so much of these clothes are essentially plastic but I can also hold that me using specific clothes until they fall apart is very different from the people making giant haul orders off Shein.
@@mxandrew Exactly! (fuck those people)
I also got to a point with the guilt where I realised there's motherfuckers flying private every day so my vegan ass refuses to feel guilty about being wrapped in a nice pair of Arc'teryx. It's not like this whole shit isn't sliding off to nowhere anyways.
I live in the Mojave Desert. It is nice to have some moisture-wicking and UV-blocking materials when working outside. However, cotton is breathable, and unless I need to wear that sort of clothing, I don't even wear bike shorts when biking since I mostly do it for fun.
I'm so glad I go to a gym where people don't care what other people are wearing. At least I don't think they do because no one would have the gall to come up to me and say a damn thing about my attire! That being said, what clothes you wear do the gym DOES matter - to you, to your body and what kind of exercise you are doing. I gladly splurge on Lululemon pants - my Lulus are literally the most expensive clothing items I own (aside from winter coats). I'm willing to spend the money because they perform the best when I work out, and I work out intensely and often. My oldest pair of leggings is 11 years old. It's gone in the washer hundreds of times and it still looks good. My Lulus are the only workout pants I have that wick the sweat off my body without me looking like I just jumped in a pool. Luckily for me, I'm able to get away (ie perform well when at the gym or exercising outside) with wearing tops from Old Navy or The Gap. Those items are much more affordable, which is a good offset. I do think it's ridiculous for people to buy designer athleisure wear, but I find designer clothes ridiculous already. I think it's important to separate the clothing from the influencer. These people are just regular people who are not kinesiologists or certified personal trainers - they are just people who are fit by whatever means they chose to get there. Perhaps I can see that clearly since I'm a geriatric millennial who didn't grow up with social media bombarding me all the time.
I'm a runner, I run outside most of the time. When the roads are bad in the winter I have to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I wear running shorts I've had for like 7 years and a ratty t-shirt from some local road race. I kind of look like a bum, but I guarantee you I'm getting a better workout running 4-8 miles on the treadmill than the people in nice outfits who spend 5 minutes on the ellipticals then sit on the benches in front of the mirrors playing with their phones for 40 minutes.
13:02 I was really hoping to see a picture of RFK Jr. working out in jeans lol
I wear Russell Athletic at the gym. Have for over 20 years. I'm more concerned with gains than nice gym clothes. When you're in good shape, plain cotton tank tops look good.
Never heard of them. Googled. Check out products. 2 types of tee's for men. Both contain 40% polyester. Heh. Advertised as Cotton Tees.
For me it’s leggings… not only are the expensive ($100+) but they pill and tear in between the legs after a year or so of use. Even if I stitch it up it comes undone so despite wanting to buy less I have to buy leggings every 12-18 months. Oh and half of them are also sheer so if you bend over everyone can see where the sun don’t shine 🥲
Glad someone else is also wondering about what I've always wondered. How did synthetic fabrics make a comeback, when as a Gen X, I grew up learning that natural fabrics were the go-to's for health, comfort and fashion?
Great video, if I may add one thing , if you are talking about athletic apparel companies that push the message of causal usage it is definitely worth noting Young LA is a big player in that space.
Athlete for life here. After many years of elite athletics i have found wool. Outdoor people are on to something. Genuinely better than any synthetics for working out. Give it a try people, and dont put plastic in our oceans
i live in a city, and many of us, including me, wear athleisure. We walk everywhere, and we all walk fast, 15 min/mile or faster, even in the hot humid summers. we need light breathable polyester clothing for comfort and drying just to do our daily errands and commuting
Funniest thing is GymShark stuff always looked cheap to me. LOL
I’m part of formal menswear gang. 😤😤😤
Thus, we can come together for this issue.
Bringing back the 1960s style aesthetic! 🔥
As someone who is an aerial dance instructor I need VERY DURABLE clothes. My gymshark leggings were with me for 2 months lol. Most of the popular brands (nike, adidas) lasted no more than 6 months. There was one exception: in my country (central europe) there is a brand called 4F and 2 pairs of leggings I bought in 2021 are still in use and maybe they don't look like they used to but still do their job perfectly.
For a topic that depressing thank you for not only showing the dark side but also how it is getting better and brands that are looking for solutions. The future is haunting but the present will determine the outcome :)
6:16 I started wearing Gymshark after a coworker told me to try them and I had extra encouragement when I noticed the brand logo and was unfamiliar with it in person
Looked them up. Gave them a shot. And boom. My fave brand
As an former gym rat I will tell you that gym shark is a juicy as hell brand. Also the "fake natty" culture is so awful; I have so much more for guys who use (not abuse) and are upfront about it than a fake natty.
I have started using wool from Smartwool for tennis. They have a lightweight line with 50% wool and 50% lyocell. It is so much more breathable than synthetic fibres. One extra advantage is that the clothes does not need washed that often, and only on a 30 degree delicate cycle. I had to wash all the synthetic clothing on 60 degrees on a cotton program to get rid of the smell. The 60 degree synthetic cycle did not do the job properly. As well, I have changed to a silk duvet instead of down. It makes a world of difference. I have recently returned from holiday and the synthetic duvets felt horrible. It felt as my body could not breathe and I got warm in a some kind of trapped way. I use a wooly duvet during winter and it is a game changer to down as well.
I once bought a tshirt made of very fine wool from REI almost 25 years ago. I loved it for the color and cute flower print on it, but it was the most comfortable shirt I had for years and it has lasted all this time. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer, it wicks away sweat and moisture and never gets damp. The wool was so fine, it looked like any ordinary cotton shirt, but it has a fine sheen if you looked closely at it. It's easy to care for since it's machine washable, though I dry it on a line. Went back later to see if I could find more colors but didn't see it again, though I wasn't surprised. That single t-shirt costed over forty dollars and I only bought it because I was intrigued by the idea of a tshirt made of wool.
07:57 Ah come on man! I was eating and watching this. 😢
Yes as a full time fitness instructor, aerialist, and personal trainer finding durable quality fitness wear especially onzies with pocket its like searching for the holy grail. if there's a company that finds a way to do this adding pockets to EVERY ITEM and with more natural fiber that would be an incredibly loyal market to be in.
Gymshark. For the gym-goer who prefers their juice... injected.
I work out and I'm a runner and I think the issue when someone buys something for fashion instead of it being functional for what you're actually doing. This athleisure wear just looks nice, but I would never actually wear it to the gym or on a run. Most of athletic clothing you can buy cheap and it's perfectly fine. I just get some Dry fit leggings and shorts and I wear crop top cotton shirts. If you buy high-quality the first time, you can keep athletic clothing for years. I've had the same Nike running shorts for 10+ years.
Yeah, but plastic has a lot of advantage. In summer it helps to keep you cool and let's face it damp cotton is really unpleasant. "technical" shirt that is fit is way more pleasant to wear when the weather is too hot and damp. And in winter if you commute by public transportation when it get hot/cold/hot/cold, having a technical underwear shirt make it more bearable. Those cloths have some advantage even if you don't workout.
I’ll definitely agree it’s made it over here in the uk I would say because I can put on a set and it matches didn’t have to think too much about what I’m gonna wear and it’s comfortable.
I discovered that there is such a thing as Mushroom Leather. thanks, exploring that further next
Saw this phenomena back in the '90's to early 2000's, when everyone started wearing technical outerwear as every day dress. Was annoying, because I actually NEED high quality, effective outwear and thermal layers for insulation and protection against the elements (snowboarding and outdoor photography in often adverse conditions). The problem is that all the companies that USED to make quality technical gear started making mall fashion pieces instead. Since, then new companies have stepped up, thankfully, but there was a stretch where the pickings were thin!
Bro its crazy when I can buy branded jeans that I can wear to clubs and party out for years and years cost $25-$35 but the workout joggers with a stupid checkmark that are going to rip apart in a few months starts from $50 onwards. I guess people care more about looking better at the gym than when they're out partying. Its ridiculous this trend
2:59 Gymshark genuinely makes great clothes, depending on the collection
Some are delicate and obviously more for fashion
Some are legit great performance
I love Uniqlo's gym wear. Very comfy
I loove athleisure. As a very active person I use to find myself having to change clothes about 4 times a day because of sweaty/stinky/muddy/uncomfortable clothes. Now my cozy home clothes, taking a walk-clothes, gym-clothes, city-clothes and base layers for winter is the exact same and I save so much time by washing less. It is also motivating to look at yourself in the mirror while doing your reps and feel confident.
I can not even wear cotton anymore. It gets sweat-stains and stinks right away.
I've been avoiding polyester like the plague. It produces so much static that it makes my hair frizz up. I didn't know it has a negative impact on the planet as well… The thing is, it's become so hard to find clothes that have no polyester at all!
06:46 it reminds me of a manhwa I read recently called "secrets of fitness" the boss in said admitted to hiring people based on aesthetics instead of qualifications
I got back into biking this year and have been biking every day to try to build up my endurance. Yknow what I'm wearing and riding? I'm wearing whatever the heck tshirt and jeans/shorts I was already wearing that day, riding the adult bike my parents got me when I outgrew my kid bike back in middleschool and the first helmet I saw at the big box store because my last helmet was lost several moves ago. Even better my bike's almost 20 years old and the only parts that have been replaced are a couple of random bolts that fell off and a shifter line that wore out.
What if workout wear really is better? If it's cold outside, cotton will chill you when it's sweaty. I used to wear the cotton clothes I already had to go to the gym, but the elastic shorts wore out pretty quickly. Lulu was great for crossfit because of the built in underwear. If I were skinny enough, I'd still be wearing the Lulu I got in 2008. And the tops were perfect for hot Hawaiian summers, with straps, built in bra, and made to sweat in. Now I buy workout gear at the thrift store.
I think in the beginning (especially with Lululemon) their quality was *chefs kiss* I have a pair of leggings from 10 years ago that still fit perfect and haven’t pilled. It’s their new stuff - last 5 years or so where it’s gone downhill
I’m waiting for spray-on gym wear to arrive . Always a perfect fit and great to look at 😂 No to steroids!
YES, finding simple, functional pair of sports trainers/shoes/footwear without elevation on the heel area, that are not overly cushioned and that allow you to perform multiple exercises is becoming hell
I don't want to have to change footwear when I move from running to weight lifting to calisthenics. On fabrics I have less trouble because loose shorts and cotton tshirts are relatively easy to find
Thank you very much for the video! I was actually looking for sportswear on my smartphone when I saw the video. (I've started working out more and more in the last few weeks because of summer). I'm a bit shocked at how clothing brands just have these potentially toxic fabrics everywhere. I'm going to a slightly more expensive shop next week to get some advice. My health is more important to me than saving a bit of money. Thanks for the information!
I bought a woollen peacoat. It's 100% wool. Very warm in winter, but as it's a natural fibre, it's good in spring and autumn also. A friend wanted to buy the same one. When I checked, the new version is now 74% wool, and 26% polyester, and the price has gone up. So they've cheapened the material, reduced it's utility (it won't be as warm ), and hiked the price. It's almost impossible to buy 100% cotton trousers or t-shirts. I get that some slim cuts use polyester to help maintain a garment's shape. But that amount doesn't need to be any more than 4-5%. Athelisure wear has accelerated the "barbell" notion of fashion .... it's either near disposable/ very cheap and made with synthetic fibres, or it's very expensive to get natural fibres that are well cut. There is no middle ground anymore. Even brands like Marks and Spencer in the UK where everyone bought their underwear now has underwear with a high percentage of synthetics and now my balls are sweaty. Nobody needs that ! And synthetic panties are no girl's best friend either
A nurse in a hospital told me your last line when I was hospitalized and my family brought my clothes to the hospital. Right now I'm wearing an LL Bean cotton shirt. Only their signature boots are still made in the US, but the cotton women's shirts are good quality. Avoid Old Navy and Kohl's!
@@naturalnashuan Definitely natural fibres on the downstairs is the way to go !
I go to the gym 5-6 times a week and run with my dogs nearly daily-- but I tend to wear merino wool since it's moisture wicking, cotton clothing since it doesn't stink like the polyester. my bikinis are from a company that uses recycled ocean plastics but honestly the best place to get athletic clothing is thrift stores , second hand from garage sales because the older stuff is better made than the new stuff I'm seeing on the shelves.
also merino socks are great for everyday or workout wear since it moisture wicks and keeps sweaty feet dry.
I didn't realize I was part of an elite crowd who didn't give a crap about what they wear to the gym. I have a few pairs of generic gym shorts and pants (most of which I got from Ross) and whatever shirt I happen to be wearing that day, and since I go straight form work to the gym, it's usually just my work polos.
Three sport stores here in my hometown, but none of them sells a reasonable pair of running shorts. Now I understand why.
Yeah, that's a bit of a problem. Seems like runners prefer lycra leggings/shorts nowadays.
Leisure sports wear has been leaning more towards competition equipment for a few decades now. If it's not ready for the Olympics, it's not in the sports shop.
You should do a video on Ten Tree!
And here I am at Goodwill, hell yea.
The brand of gym clothes I wear to workout is 'Goodwill'. They usually have my size and are always priced right.