Gym leggings at brunch. Sports bras in selfies. Sneakers with sarees. Welcome to India’s athleisure revolution, where fitness meets fashion—and refuses to change clothes.
Gone are the days when gymwear was limited to dark tights and oversized tees. Today, India’s Gen Z and millennial crowd are rocking active wear as everyday wear, blurring the lines between comfort and couture. Athleisure isn’t just a wardrobe choice—it’s a lifestyle statement, and it’s reshaping everything from Bollywood wardrobes to startup boardrooms.
With celebrity launches, homegrown fashion brands, and rising health consciousness, athleisure in India has morphed from niche to mainstream—and the market is booming.
Numbers That Speak Volumes
According to a 2024 report by Technopak Advisors, India’s athleisure market is expected to cross ₹54,000 crore by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 11%. Fueled by urban fitness trends, social media, and remote work culture, athleisure is now worn in gyms, offices, airports—and even weddings.
From Gym to Glam: How Bollywood Sparked the Trend
Kareena Kapoor Khan
From yoga studio pap shots to her staple black tights and neon sneakers, Bebo has always been athleisure royalty. Her casual-chic workout looks have inspired brands to create maternity-friendly, gym-to-glam lines.
Janhvi Kapoor & Malaika Arora
Almost daily features on fashion pages of Bombay Times, their gym looks are dissected like runway appearances. Janhvi’s neon co-ord sets and Malaika’s sports bras paired with luxury bags have redefined airport looks.
“Their Insta feeds made leggings aspirational,” says Reena Paul, a Delhi-based college student who now owns 8 sets of color-coded gymwear—for casual outings too.
Homegrown Brands Riding the Athleisure Wave
- HRX – Hrithik Roshan
India’s first celebrity fitness wear brand, HRX is now a ₹500 crore label with Myntra, offering jackets, joggers, and training shoes for both gym rats and couch champions.
- Prolixr, BlissClub, & Athflex
Focused on the Indian female body type, these brands offer high-waisted, sweat-wicking leggings, sports bras, and plus-size activewear.
- BlissClub founder Minu Margeret was recently awarded the Women Entrepreneur Award (ET Startup Awards 2024).
- Clovia ACTIVE & Zivame MOVE
Bridging lingerie and activewear, these brands cater to a growing demand for comfortable-yet-bold fitness fashion for women in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Influencer Culture: Reels That Sell
Reel after reel of “What I wore to yoga” or “Pilates OOTD” (Outfit of the Day) are driving sales. Influencers like:
- Juhi Godambe (fashion x fitness content)
- Shivesh Bhatia (the baking influencer now endorsing lifestyle fitness brands)
- Nidhi Mohan Kamal (yoga coach & nutritionist with athleisure collabs)
…have given rise to the “athleisure influencer” category.
“People want to look like they’re headed to yoga—even if they’re headed to Starbucks,” says Juhi in a Vogue India interview.
Real-Life Success Story: Sarees to Sneakers
Meet: Shalini Rawat – Udaipur’s “Fit Boutique Queen”
A boutique designer, Shalini began customizing lehengas with sneaker-friendly hems after customers requested “dancing-friendly outfits” post-Zumba. Her bridal lehenga collection now includes pockets and stretch linings.
- Featured in India Today Rajasthan Icons 2023
- Collaborated with Clovia ACTIVE for a fitness-meets-festive capsule collection
Men’s Athleisure: No Longer Just Shorts & Stringers
- Virat Kohli’s Wrogn ACTIVE line caters to performance + airport looks
- Tiger Shroff’s PROWL features breathable hoodies and joggers for street workouts and music videos alike
- Decathlon’s Quechua & Kalenji now have influencer collabs with desi athletes and dancers
“Guys want fitted joggers that show off their quads but also work at brunch,” laughs Raghav Arora, a Chandigarh-based dance instructor featured in The Tribune Lifestyle.
Athleisure on the Runway
Designers are embracing the trend, with shows like:
- Lakme Fashion Week 2024: Featured sportswear-inspired collections from Masaba Gupta and Falguni Shane Peacock
- FDCI x Adidas collab: A heritage-inspired line combining yoga motifs with breathable fabrics
The Business of Being Comfortable
Why is India Obsessed?
- Work-from-home boom: Style without sacrificing comfort
- Fitness awareness: More people gymming, walking, doing yoga
- Social media flex: Gym selfies are the new status symbol
- Gender-neutral options: Brands catering to all bodies and identities
Awards & Accolades
- BlissClub: Startup of the Year – Femina Fit Awards 2024
- HRX: Best Activewear Label – GQ India Awards 2023
- Wrogn ACTIVE: Gen Z’s Most Trusted Brand – Mint Fashion Index 2024
Final Word: Stretch It Till You Make It
Athleisure is no longer just a trend—it’s a cultural shift. In a country juggling ancient yoga traditions and futuristic wearables, activewear has become India’s sartorial middle ground.
Whether you’re on a treadmill or a team call, stretching into a lunge or stretching deadlines—you might as well look good doing it.
Because in today’s India, if you’re not sweating in style, are you even trending?
