Why Gen Z and Athleisure Are Reshaping Fashion as We Know It
Why Gen Z and Athleisure Are Reshaping Fashion as We Know It
It doesn’t take a fashion forecaster to let you know that athleisure has taken over. If you walk into college classrooms, high school cafeterias, any summer camps, and even college bars, you’ll notice the generation that owns more athleisure than anyone else: Gen Z.
It seems like the generation that loves self-expression has allowed leggings to creep into every aspect of their lives. And if you’re sitting, scratching your head, wondering how we got here, it’s not coming from TikTok trends.
Last week, we surveyed our Youthtellers (ages 15-27) to find out why they’re picking up athleisure and putting away micro-trends. And the answers might surprise you.
When Does Gen Z Wear Athleisure?
The short answer? Almost always.
While 76% wear athletic wear to work out, that isn’t the only function. 63% are also wearing it to run errands, 59% wear it when they’re relaxing at home, 43% put it on as a go-to outfit, and 24% claim it’s the only thing they wear to class.
But the reason that Gen Z and athleisure go hand in hand is not because they see it as fashionable, but rather because it’s practical. This isn’t about impressing anyone.
“It’s easy to pop on and go throughout your day without worrying about what outfit to wear.” Said one 26 Y/O from Minnesota.
Why Gen Z Chooses Athleisure
Like we mentioned earlier, this isn’t because everyone else is wearing it. When asked why athleisure is so popular, 87% responded that it's " comfortable.”
Nothing else.
And because athleisure brands are so focused on catering to their growing market, they’ve not only made sure that comfort doesn’t equate to sloppy, with athletic sets going viral for small ‘fun’ details, they’ve also included everyone.
We’ve already told you that Gen Z’s biggest pet peeve with fashion brands is the fact that size inclusivity is often shoved to the back of the to-do list. But for athleisure brands, it’s front and center. The fact that it fits a wide range of body types is why 48% of Gen Zers are also picking it up.
Athleisure and the “Effortlessly Cool” Aesthetic
One of the main reasons that Gen Z adores athleisure as much as they do is because they share a core personality trait: wanting to look like they tried without doing too much. Compared with past surveys about goals and this survey on athleisure, it tracks. What are the core reasons that they’re selecting the athletic wear they do? That the items give:
“Chill/low-maintenance” (54%)
“Wellness/clean girl” (48%)
“Effortless cool” (37%)
The Social Psychology of a Matching Set
When asked about brand preferences, 72% said they didn’t feel any social pressure to purchase athleisure from the ‘right’ brand. Instead, the practicality of these clothes plays a much bigger role.
One Youthteller, a 27 Y/O in Arizona, attempted to explain this to us by saying, “Athlesiure gives women freedom and empowerment. It’s changed the game for body image, too, with size and inclusivity.”
57% of respondents agreed, saying that athleisure is easier and more freeing because it takes off the pressure of needing to ‘dress up.’
Now the focus isn’t on fashion rules but on functionality.
What the Fashionistas are Saying
Despite the popularity of athleisure with Gen Z, not everyone likes it. Those who haven’t gotten on board are the ones who prioritize and praise the way fashion embraces individuality and creativity.
“Now, fashion is getting boring. I love seeing people’s unique style. Having everyone in the same leggings and sports bra is tiring IMO.” One 22 Y/O teller based in Iowa told us.
It’s true, athletic sets lack the creativity Gen Z craves, but it also makes sense because this subsection of the fashion industry fills in the gaps that creative, fashionable brands don’t.
Is Athleisure Here to Stay?
Honestly, probably. For Gen Z, it seems like athleisure isn’t a trend, but a baseline. It’s affordable, comfortable, and easy in a way that other fashion brands just aren’t. Some of it might be related to the popularity of wellness or even the clean girl aesthetic. But for most, it’s all about ease. And at the end of the day, 92% of Gen Z are wearing athleisure sets multiple times a month, and not just at the gym.