Best women's activewear brands UK 2023

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From luxe athleisure to gym-ready co-ords, these are the activewear brands worth shopping this season

Activewear is a saturated market in 2023. From luxury buys to high street classics, there’s a huge range of fitness apparel on offer that can be overwhelming to even the most seasoned of gym-goers. And, with a large proportion of our shopping occurring online, it’s often difficult to gauge the true quality of gear, despite how it may look on-screen.

Fabric is a key indicator that sets great fitness gear apart from the second-rate. The best activewear brands use brushed modal blends of purpose-made materials that are soft and smooth to the touch, while still wicking sweat effectively and allowing for stretch.

Scratchy polyesters and thin nylons are firmly not on the cards if you want something comfortable that won’t show everyone else in the gym your underwear or just how much you’re sweating.

The cut, seam placement, technical details and useful features like drop-in pockets are other factors that elevate the best activewear brands, along with the versatility of athleisure styles, allowing for both studio and street wear.

Despite the sheer volume of fit kit out there, it’s not as common as you’d think to find activewear brands that truly deliver on all fronts: comfort, performance and aesthetics. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut once you find a brand you like — a tad limiting if you want a functional fitness wardrobe that feels fresh.

Which is why our deputy health and wellness editor, Hattie Parish, has rounded up the activewear brands she keeps returning to that promise on style and substance. With the latest trends, muted hues and cashmere-soft fabrics firmly front of mind, these are the best activewear brands to help build your new season fitness wardrobe.

Canadian brand lululemon is legendary among fitness circles, with its famous Align leggings both a yogi staple and cementing them as a tour de force for studio-based apparel. However, in recent years the range has expanded to include top-rate gym trainers, cosy loungewear and technical outdoor gear.

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The latest fabric innovation from lululemon is Softstreme, a deliciously smooth, peachy-soft Modal blend now gracing many of the brand’s lounge pants and sweats.

Standouts for me are the Perfectly Oversized Cropped Crew — it drapes beautifully, is the perfect length to pair with leggings and is hands down the softest item of clothing I own (and that includes some pretty luxe cashmere) — and the Ribbed Cropped Tank Top, which, while not as stretchy as some tanks is incredibly comfortable and non-restrictive (which admittedly I was initially worried about). Flattering panels hold you in, so there’s no need to wear a sports bra with it and it’s an ideal transition piece from work to workout.

Like everyone else who’s tried them, I’m a big fan of the Align High-Rise Pant — the softest wear-everywhere leggings out there that still manage to sculpt while remaining a lounge day favourite.

One of the most popular activewear brands out there, high street street favourite Sweaty Betty sells a pair of its iconic Power Leggings every minute. With an empowering ethos of inclusivity and embracing everything that comes with exercise, the label makes a large range of supportive and technical fitness wear, plus swimwear and lounge pieces.

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Workout tops are often an afterthought for me, but the Swifty Gym Vest has changed my stance. It’s more stretchy than it looks and with enough shoulder coverage for barbell squats, it’s my new go-to training top. It’s super light, dries fast and thanks to the vented peekaboo back is great for running too.

Any Sweaty Betty haul is incomplete without the Power Leggings, my favourite iteration of which is the Power UltraSculpt High-Waisted Gym Leggings. These are the highest waist I’ve found in leggings, offering incredible sculpting and support and are seamless at the front, with no waistband seam to bisect your body — a blessing if you’re shorter like me.

The Mindful Seamless Yoga Bra is my go-to yoga, Pilates and travel bra; the stretchy Modal material hugs your figure so there are no loose areas, the back design is beautifully understated and, because of the V-neck design, it can be worn with all sorts of tops.

I was introduced to Alo Yoga by my friend out in LA — it’s all she wears when working from home and working out, and I’m fast becoming as obsessed as she is now that it’s available in the UK. The brand creates California-cool technical yoga gear and versatile athleisure crafted from signature silky fabrics and counts both Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber among its fans.

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Easily my favourite Alo piece is the brand’s wildly popular Airbrush High-Waist Bootcut Legging. A pair of stretchy, thigh-hugging flares, they have a high, wide waistband and are made from the label’s stretchy, sculpting Airbrush fabric for a comfortable fit both at the studio and on the sofa. Also available in 7/8 length.

The Seamless Ribbed Low Back Bra is stretchy and soft, with a wide supportive band and straps that sit off the shoulder blades for full range of motion, while the Airbrush Physique Onesie has the same qualities as the flared leggings but with a zipped-up silhouette, ideal for inversions.

Initially solely a menswear brand, Vuori now thankfully serves women too and is yet another California import bringing its premium performance apparel to our shores. Beautiful colour palettes, lightweight construction and super soft fabrics set its capsule clothing ranges apart, plus they do a brilliant line of swimwear and travel-ready pieces.

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BlissBlend is the brand’s most recent fabric line, characterised by its weightless quality and peach-fuzz feel. The AllTheFeels Legging that sport this material are a dreamy pair of yoga leggings; non-restrictive sculpting, all the stretch and a large high waistband.

Other Vuori favourites include the Halo Performance Crop — a comfortable longline low-impact sports bra — and the Clementine Short 2.0, supremely light running shorts with a comfortable ruched waist and handy zipped key pocket.

The brainchild of fitness entrepreneur Grace Beverley, TALA is known for its eco-conscious approach to production, using sustainable and durable fabrics for activewear pieces that last at competitive prices. Fan front-runners include Dayflex — a second-skin, super light yoga collection — and Skinluxe, a more performance-focused line and a favourite of mine. You’d be hard-pressed to find more functional and flattering pieces in the same price range.

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TALA’s Skinluxe High Waisted Leggings are among the best gym leggings out there. Available in a constantly turning carousel of on-trend colours, they feel like a yoga legging but perform like technical tights, with a wide waistband to help you feel held-in and flattering seam placement.

Plus, they’re surprisingly durable given how soft they are — barbell grazes are not a problem. I’ve never had to pull these up mid-workout, and they’re totally squat proof, even in lighter colours.

The matching Skinluxe Tank Sports Bra is supportive thanks to the generous under band and effective compression — size up if you’re between sizes. Meanwhile TALA’s 365 Sculpting Lounge Cami Jumpsuit is the loungewear of dreams; comfortable, soft and made with stretchy, clings-to-your-curves Modal blend, it’s double-lined for a smooth silhouette and pairs well with a chunky sweatshirt for extra cosy points.

Known for studio staples and preppy tennis wear, Varley has its roots firmly in the luxe athleisure space. London-based but LA-inspired, the influence of both cities can be seen through the brand’s collection; soft Californian styles married with chic London practicality. Stocked at Net-a-Porter, Selfridges, Matches and The Sports Edit, Varley specialises in versatile pieces that deserve a spot in both casual and fitness wardrobes.

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The brand’s signature Let’s Move High Waisted Leggings are stretchier than the lululemon Align leggings and just as comfortable, favouring a smooth finish over a soft, downy style. Made for studio classes they’re totally opaque and have a handy hidden pocket in the front of the waistband.

Athleisure is the other area where Varley shines, and I’m a big fan of its chunky pullovers, the latest of which is the Vine Half-Zip Pullover, a practical chuck-on layer that will see you from yoga to brunch.

Sweatshirt fabric shorts are having a welcome renaissance — they’re perfect for transitional lounging — and the Alder Shorts bridge the gap between sofa-day wear and a light stretching companion. Soft, high-waisted and with a flattering cut, wear for next-level comfort, however you choose to move.

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