Activewear - Differences between activewear and sportswear

by Sonam Tripathi Fashion

We all have made this mistake some time or the other confusing activewear with sportswear when there is a big difference between the two. In a broad sense, sportswear includes clothes you wear specifically while playing a sport while activewear includes clothes that can double up as exercise wear and casual wear both. Let’s get into the finer details for you to get an idea of the differences between both.

· Functionality

If you are actively involved in a sports activity like tennis, swimming or hockey to be specific, you need sportswear because the functionality of sportswear differs from that of activewear. A swimming costume, for instance, has water-resisting properties and is made out of spandex so that the material stretches to fit the body like a second skin. Some sports require sportswear with thermal properties to keep the athletes cool or warm, depending on the climate. Activewear, on the other hand, does not need to be of any specific type of material and you can pick one according to your style or comfort. There are no set rules or guidelines about what you can or should wear to your gym or your Zumba class.

· Variety

Activewear offers more choices than sportswear and you can always experiment with it but not so much with sportswear. If you are pursuing a form of martial arts you would need to wear the dress specific to that kind of martial arts. On the other hand, you can wear a t-shirt with shorts, skirts, yoga pants, tights or even track pants as your activewear. Throw over a jacket over your gym clothes and you get a different look.

· Flexibility

Sportswear is not as flexible as activewear for the stress is more on comfort and keeping moisture at bay.

· Accessories

Your sportswear generally comes in a full set that has your outfit as well as the accessories and protective gear that you need with the outfit depending on the sport. The accessories include gloves, helmet, foot guard, head guard, and shoes to name a few. Activewear, on the other hand, does not follow any such dictum and you can create your own activewear ensemble. You can check out the gorgeous activewear collection at Clovia and Victoria’s Secret which will help you create some amazing looks for yourself.

· Dual role

Activewear is meant to give you an easy transition from your workout wear to casual wear, unlike sportswear which is meant to be worn only while you are playing that sport. You can easily step out for a lunch with friends in your crop top and yoga pants from the gym but wouldn’t dare do that in your tennis outfit. This is why activewear is also termed as athleisure as you can wear it both during exercise as well as your everyday clothing. You would have spotted several celebrities slaying the airport look by wearing athleisure clothes as they are perfect for traveling. So you can wear a parka, Capri or even a crew neck sweater both at your gym and outside the gym. Thirdlove has some gorgeous t-shirt sets that you can wear activewear and for your lunch date with girlfriends.

· Fashion statement

Wearing activewear is a fashion statement with designers working every day to create trendier and savvier looks. There are runway shows dedicated to activewear collections showcasing newer trends. Sportswear too has taken a giant leap from being just functional to becoming chic, thanks to new-age sports celebrities like the Williams sisters.

It’s time to go shopping now for some activewear that will give you a runway look, right?