Athleisure Is The New Couture For Gen Z Fashionistas
From red carpets to runways, Gen Z’s obsession with comfort-led fashion is turning athleisure into a billion-dollar identity—and luxury houses are listening
What began as functional gymwear has now evolved into fashion’s favourite flex. For Gen Z, athleisure isn’t just a comfortable clothing category—it’s a lifestyle, a social media identity, and, more importantly, a rebellion against the tight binaries of high fashion and casualwear. Today’s 20-somethings are redefining the codes of dressing by pairing yoga pants with Balenciaga bags and Dior sneakers, while treating sweatshirts like statement pieces. In a world shaped by digital-native aesthetics and dopamine dressing, comfort is no longer a compromise—it’s the canvas.
Luxury athleisure, once an oxymoron, now sits comfortably on both the runways and the ‘For You’ pages of Instagram and TikTok. From Miu Miu’s cropped hoodies to Off-White’s logo tracksuits, what Gen Z wears to brunch could just as easily be worn to a fashion week afterparty. What’s remarkable isn’t just the blurring of fashion boundaries but how young consumers are dictating the tone.
From Gym to Glam
The roots of athleisure may trace back to the wellness wave of the 2010s, but Gen Z has taken the aesthetic into more fashion-forward territory. Take Alo Yoga, for instance—once favoured solely for studio-to-streetwear, the brand has exploded in popularity thanks to its viral influencer partnerships and red carpet-adjacent appearances. Bella Hadid has been seen in their cropped jackets, while Kendall Jenner’s preference for Lululemon Align leggings elevated the Canadian brand to cult status, further merging workout gear with wardrobe essentials.
Closer to home, Suhana Khan, who’s fast emerging as a Gen Z style icon, has been spotted in co-ord Nike sets paired with Chanel sling bags—turning a casual gym look into a luxury-statement moment. Similarly, Khushi Kapoor regularly steps out in Acne Studios and Aimé Leon Dore tracksuits, styled with statement sunglasses and Balenciaga sneakers. The fusion is effortless and aspirational—exactly what Gen Z thrives on.
The Rise of ‘Stealth Luxe’
Luxury labels are no longer shy about leaning into street style. Brands like The Row, Loewe, and Bottega Veneta have embraced the sleek, minimal side of athleisure, offering elevated basics—cashmere joggers, oversized cotton hoodies, neoprene jackets—that don’t scream for attention but radiate sophistication. It’s no coincidence that this “stealth luxe” aesthetic has won over not just Gen Z shoppers, but also celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Alia Bhatt, both known for mixing oversized sportswear with It-girl accessories.
At the more flamboyant end of the spectrum is Balenciaga, which has made the tracksuit its high-fashion trophy. Whether it’s oversized zip-ups, logomania sneakers, or rubberised outerwear, the brand has become a Gen Z staple for anyone who wants to make a maximalist athleisure statement. Rihanna’s maternity looks and Ranveer Singh’s erratic streetwear moments echo the same ethos: unapologetic comfort, layered with irony.
Athleisure As Identity
For Gen Z, clothes aren’t just worn—they’re performed. Athleisure plays a key role in that performance. It allows fluidity between workouts, work-from-cafes, airport travel, and even dinner parties. What makes this shift more radical is how young consumers are using fashion to reflect their values. Brands that incorporate sustainability, inclusivity, and cultural fluidity into their athleisure offerings find favour faster.
Case in point: Indian-born brand Wear Equal and luxury label NorBlack NorWhite, both of which infuse South Asian aesthetics into everyday comfortwear, offer a homegrown spin on global trends. Meanwhile, Adidas’ Y-3 collaboration with Yohji Yamamoto continues to seduce design-savvy Gen Z shoppers who want edge and engineering in their joggers.
The Future Is Fluid
In essence, Gen Z’s luxury athleisure isn’t about dressing down—it’s about rewriting the rules of dressing up. The power lies in its duality: the ability to serve both effortlessness and elevation. Whether it’s an oversized hoodie worn with leather boots or a mesh crop top paired with flared joggers, each look is curated with intention and attitude.
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As fashion continues to catch up with culture, it’s clear that comfort is no longer a pit stop on the way to luxury—it is the destination. And in the hands of Gen Z, athleisure isn’t a passing trend but a generational signature.