At one point, wearing athletic clothing was the trend, and everyone wanted to be involved, even if they had zero interest in taking part in any type of physical ac...
At one point, wearing athletic clothing was the trend, and everyone wanted to be involved, even if they had zero interest in taking part in any type of physical activity.
Athletic clothing was stylish and comfortable; some of it actually looked good and allowed you to work out at full performance.
However, this trend quickly faded away in favor of other products like recovery wear. People started shifting from sporty and athletic to stylish and sophisticated—all while still maintaining their healthy lifestyle.
But why did this happen?
This guide discusses the key answers to why recovery wear is replacing athleisure.
Without further ado, let’s dive right into it!
The Rise of Athleisure Wear
Athleisure, or “athletic leisure” wear, is a fashion style of gym wear that is worn as your everyday clothes. This clothing style was popular in the early 2010s when the trend was all about athleticism and sports vibes, and women especially endorsed it.
“Looking cool” at the time meant that you were taking care of your body and either coming from or going to the gym. Accordingly, designers were all over that trend, producing styles that look good and are comfortable to use during workouts.
The idea here is to “look” athletic even if you’re not. Some brands even produced clothes that weren’t suitable for working out but only looked like it. That’s how strong the demand was back in the day. After all, it did mix athleticism, comfort, and style perception.
The Fall of Athleisure Wear
Athleisure wear was that have-it-all clothing. So, what went wrong?
While it’s still fairly common to see athleisure wear nowadays, it’s nowhere near as popular as before. That’s due to three main reasons: sustainability, functional suitability, and shifting trends.
Sustainability
People are becoming more and more aware of the concept of sustainability, and the fashion industry is one of the most destructive ones in that regard.
To give you some statistics, around 92 million tonnes of textile waste ends up in landfills. That’s a garbage truck dumping a full load of clothes every second. This number is expected to rise to 50% by 2030.
Still, what difference will it make? Even if we stop athleisure wear production altogether, we’re still producing other clothing products, right?
However, we’ll still have a positive effect on the environment. Most athleisure clothing is made from fibers like spandex and polyester to create that stretchy feeling we enjoy.
If we minimize the use of synthetic fabrics or at least limit them to sportswear, we can reduce the impact of athleisure wear products on the planet.
Functional Suitability
People have enjoyed the one-stop-shop approach athleisure offers, but it’s not always cost-efficient. Athletic wear is a lot more susceptible to wear and tear because of the fabrics used.
Such fabrics favor comfort and breathability over durability and longevity. Add to that, athletic wear gets washed a lot more frequently to remove any unpleasant smells. That’s not to mention the accidental tears associated with workout equipment.
Eventually, you’ll end up buying more clothes than you would have if you had specific outfits for workouts and for simply “looking athletic.”
Shifting Trends
Fashion is a pendulum. What’s trendy this year can quickly become outdated in the following year.
Even if the previous two reasons weren’t the primary driving force for every person, many people stopped buying athleisure just because it fell out of trend.
People still take care of and value their health. In fact, studies show that younger generations are more likely to focus on their health and wellness.
And so, the trend of “looking athletic” by constantly wearing athleisure is no longer a thing.
What Is Recovery Wear and How Is it Replacing Athleisure?
Recovery wear is a new concept in sports; it’s a set of garments that you can wear after you finish your workouts to help your body recover from the rigorous exercise.
These garments come in the form of sleeves that can cover any major joint of your body, like your elbows, knees, ankles, shoulders, and neck.
Typically, these garments shouldn’t be worn during exercise. They’re not braces, and they don’t support your muscles and tendons like braces would.
However, garments that apply the latest weave design technology can be worn during light exercises like jogging or speed walking. Thermo Recovery Wear is a good example of manufacturers that actually use such technology instead of just claiming so.
Why Is Recovery Wear Replacing Athleisure?
Athleisure prioritizes style and then moves to functionality. On the other hand, recovery wear prioritizes functionality.
In other words, what you wear after working out matters.
If you don’t allow your muscles to relax enough between workouts, you risk falling into the under-recovery trap. According to studies, this can negatively affect both your physical and mental recovery.
People are becoming more educated about realistic body image instead of what they’re shown in videos. They’re also becoming aware of the importance of recovery to prevent injury and reap the benefits of exercise.
Both of these factors are making people shift from “looking” athletic by wearing athleisure to “being” athletic by practicing and recovering properly.
How Does Recovery Wear Work?
In addition to comfort and elasticity materials like polyester and spandex, quality recovery wear is made primarily from germanium carbon fabric. Some brands add more premium materials like bamboo charcoal, also known as Black Diamond.
The process used to synthesize such recovery wear utilizes the far infrared therapy concept. Infrared does have its risks, but the beauty of recovery wear is that it uses your own body heat to apply the healing effects of such therapy without the risks.
But how can a piece of fabric do that?
Naturally, our bodies’ temperature increases during workouts because of the increased blood supply to our muscles. This warmth is maintained for a short while after you work out, typically for 30-60 minutes, depending on the intensity of the exercise.
Upon exposure to this heat, recovery wear releases healing elements that penetrate your skin. These elements can improve blood supply and, in turn, reduce inflammation and the pain associated with it.
How to Select the Ideal Recovery Wear?
With how the concept of recovery wear is rising, many brands are claiming to have the best recovery garments to make sales.
For example, Incrediwear uses high-quality germanium carbon fabric, the same as Thermo Recovery Wear. However, they don’t use Black Diamond, which can reduce the effectiveness of their garments.
The presence of Black Diamond makes the fabric thinner and more comfortable to wear, allowing Thermo Recovery Wear products to be lighter, cooler, and more breathable.
Plus, Incrediwear hasn’t changed its fabric in over a decade.
Incrediwear also claims they’re using the latest weave technology. While they’re undoubtedly using impressive technology, Thermo Recovery Wear went the extra mile and applied weave technology invented in the last few years.
That being said, both Incrediwear and Thermo Recovery Wear currently have the strongest presence in the recovery market. But if you’re looking for the “ideal” recovery wear, here’s why you should go for Thermo Recovery Wear:
1. Black Diamond
Bamboo charcoal or Black Diamond isn’t just a fancy name; it plays a major role in how a recovery garment can increase blood flow to the affected area.
This increased blood flow helps deliver more nutrients and oxygen, which is why Thermo Recovery Wear can reduce inflammation and pain by up to 62%.
2. Durability
A purchase has much more value if the product you’re buying is set to last.
That doesn’t only mean superior tear resistance; it also means it is safe to machine wash many times without deformation or warping.
Thermo Recovery Wear products aren’t only machine-washable; they also get softer with each wash.
3. Comfort
A non-comfortable sleeve is a sleeve that nobody wears. Remember that recovery garments are meant to be worn for long hours.
If they’re uncomfortable, or if they cause a numbing or tingling sensation, the material could be of bad quality, or the sizing may be too small.
So you don’t just choose Thermo Recovery Wear; you’re also choosing comfort in the most suitable size.
4. Moisture Regulation
A recovery sleeve placed on a joint for long periods can cause enough heat to induce sweating, especially in hot environments.
Thermo’s quality recovery wear has adequate moisture-wicking or deodorizing properties to prevent the build-up of unpleasant smells.
5. Ease of Use
An ideal recovery garment has minimum usage requirements. All you need to worry about is to keep it clean and put it on.
Thermo’s light and breathable recovery wear are also comfortable enough to be worn throughout the day, even while sleeping.
FAQs
Can I Wear Thermo Recovery Wear Even If I Don’t Work Out?
Yes, Thermo Recovery Wear can be worn whenever healing is needed, whether the cause is exercise, injury, or inflammation of the joints.
Can I Wear More Than One Sleeve Simultaneously?
Yes. Thermo Recover Wear doesn’t restrict blood circulation in any way. You can wear multiple sleeves on different joints (as long as you don’t wear more than one sleeve around the same joint).
Is It Okay if I Wear Recovery Garments While Working Out?
Thermo Recovery Wear won’t hurt your joints in any way while working out. However, it won’t provide any value either, as they are non-compressive sleeves and won’t brace your joints.
Thermo Recovery Is the Future
Thermo Recovery Wear fulfills all the requirements mentioned above, plus some more. In addition to its comfort and natural healing properties, it also has antibacterial and anti-pilling properties.
It’s also safe to wear with many physical conditions, like arthritis, dislocations, bursitis, and even fractures.
You can also enjoy affordable prices regardless of inflation. For example, Incrediwear’s Knee Sleeve sets you back $55, while the Thermo™ Lite Recovery Knee Sleeve costs only $39.99.
If any of your major body joints are in pain, try the most natural way to recover and improve blood supply. Browse our storefront to find the product you need, and contact us if you have any questions.
References
- 10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics | Earth.org
- Study Shows Younger Generations Are More Likely To Prioritize Health and Wellness | Texas Health Resources
- The “Under Recovery Trap”: When Physical Fatigue Impairs the Physical and Mental Recovery Process | APA PsycNet
- Infrared Therapy: Health Benefits and Risks | News Medical
- Control of Body Temperature during Physical Exercise | NCBI
