Sportswear takes on a more structured and colorful look

The sportswear world is getting a little more formal.

Gone are the days of wearing leggings with a crop top and sandals.

Today's activewear wardrobe is moving in a versatile direction, where ultra-luxe fabrics and the more structured pieces take people from a morning yoga session to a casual afternoon gathering and then home.

That was the word at Active Collective, a biannual sportswear show in Huntington Beach, NL. California, with an East Coast version held twice a year in New York.

The recent West Coast Show, held August 23-24 at the edge of la mer Paséa Hotel just steps from the Pacific Ocean showcased 60 brands in the active, athleisure and active accessories categories, said Devon Ranger, associate director of the show. Some of these brands included Sweaty Betty, Spiritual Gangster, Volcom, LNA Clothing and Frankies Bikinis Active.

We are still far from the pre-pandemic days of the show where more than 200 brands participated in the show organized at the Anaheim's much larger convention center. Active Collective and its sister lounge Swim Collective are owned and organized by Emerald Expositions based in San Juan Capistrano, California.

Some 400 mostly California retailers registered for the show, Ranger said, but there were visitors from Colorado, Hawaii, Florida, Canada and as far away as Australia. They represented all kinds of activewear businesses, such as sporting goods stores, yoga and Pilates studios, gyms, resorts, and online businesses.

The showroom was filled with looks incorporating knit varsity jackets, stretch leg pants wider, knit blazers, dresses with sewn-in shorts and skorts.

More luxurious and heavier fabrics were also appearing with standouts such as ribbed fabrics and eyelet fabrics. Patterns printed on knitted fabric were among the latest trends seen at the show as consumers weary of basic solid colors. Colorblocking was also a new look, and bright colors were a must.

"Things have changed over the past two years," said Angi Hart, sales representative at Z Supply, a Southern California brand known for its mild salad dressing. It just entered the sportswear market this season. "It's more fashionable."

Hart highlighted two-tone women's knit varsity jacket that looks like a softer version of the traditional leather way. There is also a quilted paneled jacket with a printed pattern to match a ribbed bra.

Another popular Z Supply pattern is an indigo and navy plaid print that comes in a matching tank top and leggings. On the floral side, there are floral shorts with a bra top that can be paired with a pink sweatshirt.

Z Supply's debut activewear collection features 60 styles, which complement the selection of t- shirts, tank tops, sweaters, pants and joggers.

Dressier looks were seen at Koral, a Los Angeles sportswear company with more lavish creations. The brand is known for its f...