Activewear is the holy grail of the wardrobe. The perfect blend of style and function, slide into a crop and a pair of leggings and you’ll be living the good life, even if the only exercise you have planned is the walk from your car to the cafe.
From classic brands to newcomers with an ethical, sustainable spin, whatever your priorities, there's an activewear label for you. We've scoured high and low and found the full range.
Without further ado, here are 8 of the best activewear brands to shop in Aotearoa this year.
CLIQUE Fitness
146 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
Image credit: CLIQUE Fitness | Instagram
Created by local sisters, Bex and Carena West, ’ first ever shopfront, CLIQUE Studio, is as much a community wellness hub as it is an activewear store.
Back in the day they launched with just one pair of leggings. The styles that followed have been a conscious edit in every way. They do activewear (including maternity), streetwear and accessories but we’re especially enamoured with their performance range which has been created in three overarching edits: flex for the yoga and pilates girlies, power for strength and zone for support through even the most high intensity sessions, from running to HIIT. If you’d prefer to be fitted one-on-one, you can actually book a CLQ FIT consult with Carena or Bex where they’ll help you find the perfect pieces for the way you like to move.
Better still, CLIQUE Fitness leggings are closed loop activewear—each pant is made with recycled nylon (saving 26 plastic bottles from landfill) and can be recycled in store in collaboration with Impactex. Plus, you’ll receive 20% off your next purchase. Stoked.
Swing by on Saturday mornings for free coffee, every second Sunday for koha yoga or run down on Wednesday or Thursday mornings for free Pure Sports nutrition electrolyte drinks.
RÖEM
Online
Image credit: Röem | Instagram
If you’ve ever jumped into a class at The Cobalt Club, you’ll know it’s quite the experience (that hill run though—amiright?). We’ll have you know their Friday class used to be called Big Booty Cuties so it’s no surprise then that co-owner ’s new activewear range is all about making people feel snatched and sexy. Currently dropping in limited-edition edits (at the time of writing their first six-piece nylon-spandex drop was fresh on-site), head here for a fitted jacket, booty shorts, a tee, a multi-way sports bra, leggings and a cap all in a gorgeous ink hue which we suspect is a nod to The Cobalt Club’s signature colourway.
LSKD
21 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: LSKD | supplied
a.k.a. Loose Kid is an Aussie-owned brand that, as of December 2024, now has a permanent brick-and-mortar presence on our shores and that means goodbye to shipping costs and hello to try-before-you-buy and we’re stoked. Makers of activewear and streetwear, you’ll find leggings, tanks, tees, jackets, jumpers, hoodies, tracksuit, underwear, socks and bodysuits.
We caught up with LSKD ambassador Lilz aka CrossThick and got the lowdown on LSKD essentials.
WE-AR YOGA
112 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland (And Bali, just sayin’)
Image credit: Sam Kristine Murphy via We-Ar Yoga | Instagram
‘Sustainable activewear’ can be a bit of an oxymoron. Not so when it comes to We-Ar Yoga. They’re best known for lycra-free leggings, flowy tops and cute bralettes made from certified organic, eco-luxe cotton and bamboo in partnership with suppliers and craftspeople in Canggu, Bali. We also love their yoga mats which are made with 100% naturally sourced rubber embedded with jute (a plant fiber similar to hemp).
Do note that because their leggings are made from organic cotton they can become sheer so it’s worth getting your bend on in the changing rooms to make sure you’re comfortable with that vibe (and VPL). They do sell what they call ‘Down Dog knickers’ and matching bralettes which you might want to get amongst.
NISA
99 Willis Street, Wellington, Auckland
Image credit: Nisa | Instagram
Nisa is one of the most ethical brands in Aotearoa. Their garments are made by women from refugee and migrant backgrounds and they became a household name thanks to their underwear but now they do and reversible swimwear too. Better still, their , available in four colourways, was the label’s first zero waste garment. The rest of their range includes an Eliza sports crop (suitable for B-D cups), an Ashley active underwire bra (D-E cup), and a Beatrice zero waste active shorts (available up to 4XL). Nisa garments are mostly made-to-order.
Lululemon
Level 1/277 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland
239 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
Commercial Bay Shop 46/7 Queen Street, Auckland
18/20 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: Lululemon | Instagram
“No one was wearing Lululemon at the gym today,” said nobody, ever. A staple in gyms around the motu, has been fitting out gym bunnies in its signature nylon polyester blend for years. The international activewear powerhouse is massively active in the community, too, often partnering with gyms or running race prep and recovery pop-ups like Clubhouse Queenstown 2024.
SO Fitness
Lower Lobby, 2 Princes Street, Auckland
Image credit: SO Fitness | Instagram
Not only does serve a killer workout, they’ve also created their very own and it’s giving balletcore. Grippy on the underside with ties on the top that lace up your leg, you can live the full ballet dancer fantasy while you glide that carriage up and down and it’ll cost you a sweet $25. Available in black/grey or white/cream colourways.
dk active
Online
Image credit: dk.active | Instagram
Ok, so this one’s in Oz but it scores a ‘great rating’ on making it one of the most ethical and sustainable activewear labels around, so we couldn’t not add this to the list. Plus, it’s size-inclusive and manufactured using solar power. Saluting the sun in activewear powered by the sun? Say less.
Threads sussed? Time to do the mahi:
- Best Brunches In Auckland (pretty sure this has always been the primary purpose of activewear)
- Tāmaki's Best Run Clubs
- 21 Stunning Walks In Auckland To Take At Least Once
Main image credit: dk.active | Instagram.
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