Pilates, pickleball, and the fashionification of fitness

Somewhere between Pilates studios doubling as social clubs, matcha runs replacing coffee dates, and thoughtfully curated mirror selfies taking over the internet, activewear quietly overtook the workout itself. In 2026, what you wear to move matters just as much (if not more) than the movement. The cool girls aren’t just dressing for the gym anymore; they’re styling chic workout sets for a hot yoga session, the coffee run after, and even their airport fit checks.

This isn’t just about vanity or convenience. It’s about how fitness has dissolved into everyday life, and how clothes once designed for sweat now function as cultural shorthand. A pink skort signals discipline. A dri-fit suggests routine. A gym tote bag paired with cloudfoam trainers and a pastel sports bra sends a clear message: that you’re in motion, you’ve planned your day, and you’ve got your life together. 
 

The rise of padel courts in urban pockets, barre studios tucked into residential neighbourhoods, and long runs doubling as therapy sessions has blurred the lines between fitness and lifestyle. Traditional gyms still exist, of course, but they now share space with reformer Pilates rooms, pickleball courts, and sunlit yoga studios where the mirror placement is treated at par with the quality of workout (read: “pics or it didn't happen” culture). Dressing for these spaces has become an exercise in image-making. Athleisure isn’t just about performance metrics or sweat-wicking promises anymore–it’s about how seamlessly your look moves from one identity to another. From the workout to the caffeine fix post, from pickleball to pickup, and from running errands to running a 10k–the outfit is the main event.

That’s where coordinated sets come in. Leggings and sports bras, once strictly functional, now act as social currency. They signal effort, even when effort is minimal. They photograph well, layer easily, and suggest a kind of aspirational discipline. You might cancel hot yoga. You might skip the gym. But if you’re already dressed for it, you’re halfway there. Or at least you look like you are. Global brands like Lululemon and Alo have spent years shaping this visual language–soft neutrals, sculpting silhouettes, clothes that feel designed as much for the Gram as for movement. But in India, the conversation has shifted. As fitness culture diversifies, so do its wardrobes. Indian consumers aren’t just working out differently, they’re dressing differently too.

Homegrown brands like Cava Athleisure, Pace Active, and Bird Eye are tapping into this shift with an understanding that feels deeply local. They design for Indian bodies, Indian weather, and Indian routines–where movement doesn’t happen in isolation, but around work calls, social plans, and daily chaos. The clothes have to keep up. Cava’s appeal lies in its ability to feel global without being exclusionary–stretchy, sculpted, and soft, but priced for everyday wear, not precious treatment. Pace Active sits comfortably at the intersection of function and fashion, creating pieces that look intentional enough to style up or down. Bird Eye, now a staple amongst my spin class cohort, understands that minimal doesn’t mean boring. And the best part? These brands deliver the same sartorial and performance appeal as their global counterparts.

What these brands get right is the reality of modern fitness: it’s fragmented, flexible, and deeply aestheticised. A padel session might happen at 7 am, followed by work, followed by a late evening run. A hot yoga class might bleed into errands. A traditional gym workout might sit between two meetings. The clothes have to move through all of it–and look good doing so. This shift also reflects a bigger cultural change. Wellness is no longer private. It’s visible. Wearing activewear outside workout spaces suggests self-control, balance, and intention–even if the only thing you end up lifting is a smoothie. In a world obsessed with optimisation, activewear offers the illusion of productivity. You’re always one step away from movement. Always prepared for what might happen.

In 2026, fitness isn’t just something you do; it’s something you wear. The outfit is a reminder that movement is possible. And at least you’ll look good when you get around to it. 

Lead Image: Getty

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