Sport the look

Gone are the days of wearing ratty old T-shirts and threadbare shorts to the gym. The worlds of fitness and fashion are increasingly overlapping, with mainstream sports brands

continuing to offer items in more fashion-conscious prints and colours and designer labels featuring ever-increasing sportswear influences in their clothes.

Perhaps the biggest convergence of the two spheres is Net-A-Sporter, luxury e-tailer Net-A-Porter's foray into sportswear. The online fashion emporium launched a dedicated space for sportswear in July, with 37 brands offered across 11 sports disciplines.

"We know that fitness is an increasingly integral part of our customers' lives across all of our markets," says Net-A-Porter president Alison Loehnis, in a statement announcing the category's launch.

"If a woman is paying close attention to her shoes, bags and make-up, then she shouldn't have to compromise on her style while she's exercising."

The retailer had a launch event in Singapore last week, showcasing some of the niche brands it offers online, including Monreal London, L'Etoile Sport, Weargrace, Falke Sport and Laain.

Brands responding to a demand for chic and functional sportswear are not limited to the high-end fashion world.

Swedish fast fashion giant H&M opened a store in the new Kallang Wave Mall within the recently completed Singapore Sports Hub complex in June.

The 16,000 sq ft retail space is a sports-focused outlet, offering the biggest selection of the H&M Sport collection. Prices range from $19.90 for a tank top to $79.90 for a jacket.

The only other store to offer the H&M Sport collection is the Orchard flagship store, but in more limited quantities.

That same month, British high-street label Topman launched its first sportswear collection. The 20-piece capsule collection features items such as printed T-shirts and leggings in moisture-wicking and breathable nylon fabrics. Prices start at $33 for a T-shirt and go up to $99 for a jacket.

The next instalment of men's sportswear hits stores next month. The brand has yet to launch a dedicated sportswear collection for women.

Highlighting the growing intersection of sports and style, Urban rounds up some of the best looks from fitness brands here, such as Adidas, H&M, Lululemon, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Reebok and Under Armour.

llim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Sept 12, 2014.
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