Active wear or athleisure has caught on in a big way. It translates effortlessly from gym wear into street wear. The newest entrants in the active wear race are blurring the line between workout and one’s everyday wardrobe. Athleisure has replaced denim as the go-to for everyday casual looks for women.

Global active wear sales have leapt 42 per cent over the past seven years and could jump more than 30 per cent by 2020. So there may soon be 20-somethings who have never owned a pair of jeans. Women are shopping for items that are both fashionable and functional as the athleisure trend complements the busy modern woman’s lifestyle.

Athleisure is a hybrid of business casual and athletic wear, which has essentially created an entirely new category of clothing. Many of the clothes that people now consider work-appropriate incorporate sports-inspired materials like spandex, Lycra, and other synthetic fibers.

While athletic wear was created for a specific use - sports or athletics- athleisure clothing isn't. And it's this versatility that has attracted many consumers to the category. It can be worn in most offices and social situations. It's also generally more durable, with properties like wrinkle and odor resistance incorporated into its tech-infused fibers.