You know clothes are doing it right when they can make you feel good, help you exercise with ease and always ensure optimal comfort. Made with fashion, practicality and comfort in mind, athleisure wear brands take the cake in the fitness world. We’ve identified four SA boutique activewear brands that will make you feel invincible while making you look incredible.
Move Pretty
Just like the name suggests, the brand aims to help women look and feel beautiful when training. “We believe that all women are beautiful, strong and dynamic, and can be their own best friend – it is just about understanding your true worth. We hope that we can instil that sense of beauty by making them feel appreciated and valued by wearing our beautiful clothes,” says co-founder Annelize Kotze. Her partner Mari Rabie is also a professional South African triathlete, having taken part in the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
What makes it special? Move Pretty is unique in its attention to detail, with thorough consideration for the challenges women face trying to get fit. “It is important to us that each ‘pretty move’ has a touch of delight – that small surprise that makes the woman wearing it feel special and pretty,” says Annelize. Examples include pocket detail, subtle rose-gold foil print and pretty stitching on the inside of the garment.
Visit www.movepretty.co.za for more.
Boost Gymwear
Anthea Rozen-Zindel realised there was a gap in the functional and fashionable fitness apparel market, so she started her label Boost Gymwear in 2003 with a very limited range made from local fabrics. Today Boost imports 90% of their fabrics from all over the world because they believe that fabric is key in the fitness wear world. Importing their fabrics lends them an advantage in the market, allowing them to be the only fitness apparel brand worldwide that custom fits and custom colours online. “Our clients can order any style in any colour and any fit. There is a big trend for ‘implants’ in sports bras and generally, you cannot find sexy fashionable gym wear in bra sizing,” says Anthea.
Visit www.boostgymwear.co.za for more.
Chloe & Jane
Chloe & Jane is another brand bonded by blood, comprised of a mother-daughter team. They launched their brand in June 2015. Chloe really wanted to start an activewear brand, which was affordable and was not your normal monochromatic type of activewear. Hence, the range includes activewear bursting with colour and patterns. www.chloejaneboutique.com.
SpiritGirl
Rochele le Roux and Leigh Sarembrock are the two active women behind Spiritgirl, with a sense of adventure and an eco-awareness for the world that they love to play in. They had grown tired of the thick, hot exercise pants that prevailed in the market, so they found an alternative. Through their research they realised that different, breathable eco-friendly fabrics were out there: “We decided to bring in PET (post-consumer recycled plastic bottles) woven with spandex to create the ultimate yoga pants: breathable, comfortable, moisture wicking and quick drying,” says co-founder, Rochele. The I Am Water leggings are suitable for yoga and salt-water adventures, with 10% of the proceeds going towards I AM WATER Ocean Conservation.
Visit www.spiritgirl.co.za for more.