The Role of Athleisure in the Future of Fashion

Athleisure is no longer a trend. It has become a permanent clothing category, the way denim did decades ago. What is changing is the direction: better fabrics, more relaxed cuts, quieter branding, and clothing designed for specific climates rather than a global average. In the Gulf, heat performance is becoming the deciding feature.

Is athleisure still a trend?

Calling athleisure a trend is now out of date. Trends peak and fade. Athleisure has done something different: it changed what people expect clothing to feel like.

Once you have worn stretch fabric to work, rigid clothing feels like a step backwards. That shift in expectation is what makes the category permanent. It is the same path denim took, moving from workwear to a fashion staple that never left.

The category is still growing, and industry analysts consistently forecast continued expansion over the coming years. What is changing is not whether people wear it, but which version they buy.

Is athleisure in style in 2026?

Yes, but the look has moved on considerably from where it started.

The tight, sculpted, logo-heavy style that defined the late 2010s has given way to something more relaxed. Wide-leg trousers, oversized tops, longline sports bras and matching sets in muted colours are what people are actually buying now.

Colour has calmed down too. Neutrals dominate: black, grey, stone, olive, off-white. Bright technical colours have moved back to performance kit where they came from.

Branding has shrunk. Large chest logos read as dated to a lot of shoppers, and quieter labelling signals quality instead. If you want the practical version of this, our guide to styling your activewear covers how to wear the current look.

Five forces shaping where athleisure goes next

1. Fabric is becoming the real differentiator

For years the competition was about fit and branding. It is shifting towards what the fabric does: how fast it dries, whether it resists odour, how it handles heat, whether it holds its shape after fifty washes.

This favours brands that invest in material technology over those competing on logo recognition alone. Shoppers have become noticeably better at telling the difference.

2. Workwear and activewear keep merging

Offices have relaxed permanently. The result is a growing category of clothing that is technically activewear but designed to look like tailoring: structured joggers, knit polos, stretch trousers with a clean drape.

This is where a lot of growth is heading, because it serves a genuine daily need rather than an occasional gym session.

3. Climate-specific design

Most global activewear is designed for temperate climates and then sold everywhere. That is starting to look like a gap.

Clothing built for 45C and high humidity is a genuinely different product from clothing built for a London autumn. Lighter weights, better ventilation, UV protection and faster drying all matter more here. Regional brands have a real advantage in understanding this.

4. Longevity over volume

Shoppers are increasingly judging value over the life of a garment rather than at the till. A piece that holds its shape for three years is better value than three cheap pieces that pill in two months.

This pushes brands towards better construction and clearer care guidance. It also makes proper garment care part of the product experience, which is why our gym clothes care guide matters as much as the clothing itself.

5. Sport-specific ranges

Generic gym clothing is giving way to kit designed around particular activities. Padel, cycling, running and lifting all place different demands on a garment.

Padel is a good regional example. Its rapid growth across Saudi Arabia and the UAE has created demand for court-specific clothing that barely existed here five years ago.

What Gen Z is wearing

Younger shoppers are driving most of the change, and their preferences are fairly consistent.

• Relaxed over tight. Baggy shorts, wide joggers and oversized tops, usually mixed with one fitted piece.
• Muted colours. Neutral palettes that work outside the gym as well as in it.
• Small or no logos. Subtle branding reads as more considered.
• Matching sets. Co-ords remove the styling decision entirely.
• Genuine performance. Fabric claims are checked, not taken at face value.

The underlying logic is that clothing should work in more than one setting. A piece that only functions inside a gym is poor value when the same money buys something that also works for coffee, errands and travel.

The Gulf market specifically

Almost every forecast about athleisure is written from a European or North American view. The Gulf picture differs in ways that matter.

Climate is the obvious one. For roughly five months a year, outdoor exercise is limited to early mornings and evenings, and clothing has to cope with extreme heat and, on the coast, heavy humidity. Fabric weight, breathability and drying speed are not nice-to-haves here. They decide whether a garment is usable.

Participation is rising fast. Government-backed sport and wellbeing programmes across Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pushed gym membership and organised sport upwards, and padel in particular has grown from near-zero to a mainstream activity in a few years.

Modest activewear is a genuine and growing segment, and one that global brands have served inconsistently. Longer cuts, higher necklines and fuller coverage that still perform properly in heat are a real design challenge, not simply more fabric.

And the culture around wearing activewear casually is well established here, helped by a climate where lightweight, breathable clothing makes sense most of the year.

Where the growth is coming from

Area	What is driving it
Sport-specific kit	Padel, cycling and running participation rising sharply
Work-appropriate pieces	Permanently relaxed office dress codes
Heat-optimised fabric	Regional climate demands global ranges do not meet
Modest activewear	Underserved by international brands
Premium basics	Shift from volume buying to fewer, better pieces

What this means when you are buying

A few practical conclusions follow from all of this.

Buy for fabric first. In this climate, how a garment handles sweat and heat matters more than its cut or its label. Our guide to sportswear fabrics explains what to look for.

Choose neutral colours and modest branding if you want pieces to work beyond the gym, which is where most of their wear will happen.

Buy fewer, better items. A small set of well-made pieces outperforms a large wardrobe of cheap ones, and it is cheaper over time.

Match kit to the activity where it genuinely matters, particularly support level for women and padding for cycling. Browse the women’s and men’s ranges, or start with our essential activewear pieces guide to build a core wardrobe.

What to check on the label

Fabric claims vary a lot between brands. A few quick checks help.

• Elastane content. Around 10 to 20 percent gives good stretch and recovery.
• Fabric weight. Lighter weights breathe better. This matters most in summer.
• Flat seams. They prevent chafing on longer sessions.
• Care instructions. Cold wash and air dry is normal. Anything fussier is a hassle.
• UV protection. Worth having for outdoor sport in this region.

Read the label before you buy. It tells you more than the marketing does.

Three things unlikely to change

Styles shift every few years. Some things hold steady.

Comfort is the first. People will not go back to rigid clothing. That door is shut.

Fabric quality is the second. Good fabric wins over time. Cheap fabric shows its age fast, and shoppers have learned to spot it.

Climate fit is the third. The Gulf is hot for much of the year. Clothing has to cope with that. No trend changes the weather.

The bottom line

Athleisure has settled into a permanent category rather than a passing trend. The direction of travel is towards better fabric, relaxed cuts, quieter branding and clothing designed for specific climates and sports. In the Gulf, heat performance and modest options are where the real opportunity sits, and both are areas global ranges handle poorly. Buy for fabric and fit rather than logo, and choose pieces that work in more than one setting.

Frequently asked questions

Is athleisure still a trend?

It has moved past being a trend and become a permanent clothing category, much like denim. What changes now is the style within it rather than whether people wear it. Industry forecasts continue to project growth across the coming years.

Is athleisure in style in 2026?

Yes, though the look has shifted. Relaxed and oversized cuts, muted neutral colours, longline sports bras and matching sets have replaced the tight, logo-heavy style of the late 2010s. Quiet branding now signals quality.

What are Gen Z wearing to the gym?

Relaxed fits mixed with one fitted piece, in muted colours with small or no logos. Baggy shorts, wide joggers, oversized tees and matching co-ord sets are common. The priority is clothing that works outside the gym as well as inside it.

What is driving athleisure growth in the Gulf?

Rising sport participation, helped by national wellbeing programmes, plus the rapid growth of padel. Climate also plays a part, since lightweight breathable clothing suits the region year-round. Heat-optimised fabric and modest activewear are both underserved segments.

What should I look for when buying activewear now?

Fabric performance first, especially how it handles sweat and heat. Then fit, then colour. Neutral tones with modest branding give you the most wear. Buying fewer, better-made pieces works out cheaper than replacing cheap ones every few months.

Is athleisure suitable for the office?

Increasingly yes, in its smarter forms. Structured joggers, stretch trousers and knit polos read as workwear while using activewear fabric. Avoid obvious gym pieces and visible technical branding, and keep the palette neutral.