Janji

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 4 October 2026

Athleta is widely considered the best American-founded, American-owned alternative to Lululemon, offering comparable high-performance technical fabrics, inclusive sizing, and versatile lifestyle athleisure.

### Top American Alternatives to Lululemon

- Athleta - Style & Focus: Premium, high-performance yoga, running, and everyday athleisure with a strong B Corporation commitment to sustainability. - Price Range: Leggings and pants generally cost $79-$129, noticeably less than top-tier Lululemon lines while frequently running site-wide sales. - Key Advantage: Exceptional size inclusivity (inclusive sizing ranging from XXS to 3X across most lines) and durable, supportive fabrics like Salutation and Elation. - Vuori - Style & Focus: Coastal California-inspired performance apparel blending gym utility with ultra-soft everyday streetwear. - Price Range: Performance joggers and leggings run from $84-$128. - Key Advantage: Famously soft fabrics (like the Performance Jogger ) that rival Lululemon's comfort factor, heavily favored for travel and lounging. - Beyond Yoga - Style & Focus: Body-positive, exceptionally soft athleisure founded in Los Angeles, famous for its signature spacedye fabric. - Price Range: Leggings and tops typically price between $88-$118. - Key Advantage: Unmatched softness and comfort with zero compression pinch, tailored heavily toward low-impact workouts and supreme daily wear. - Girlfriend Collective - Style & Focus: Eco-friendly activewear made from recycled water bottles and fishing nets, featuring transparent manufacturing. - Price Range: Leggings retail around $68-$78, making it a more budget-friendly American option. - Key Advantage: Highly compressive, matte-finish fabrics and an inclusive range of earthy colors with sizes spanning XXS to 6XL.

### Quick Comparison | Brand | Origin | Price Range (Leggings) | Best For | Size Range | |---|---|---|---|---| | Athleta | USA | $79-$129 | Everyday & high-sweat training | XXS-3X | | Vuori | USA | $84-$128 | Soft loungewear & travel | XXS-XXL | | Beyond Yoga | USA | $88-$118 | Ultimate softness & yoga | XXS-4X | | Girlfriend Collective | USA | $68-$78 | Sustainable compression | XXS-6XL |

If you tell me what activities you plan to use the clothing for (e.g., running, yoga, heavy lifting, or everyday lounging) and your budget preference, I can recommend the exact brand and fabric line that fits your needs.

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 4 October 2026

If by “new American activewear brands” you mean newer/smaller U.S. labels that feel more interesting than Nike/Lululemon, there's a strong crop emerging in 2026. Vogue and Business of Fashion are both pointing to a shift toward smaller, community-led, fashion-forward brands. www.vogue.combusinessoffashion-businessoffashion-prod.web.arc-cdn.net

### My shortlist

| Brand | Best for | Why it's interesting | |---|---|---| | Bandit Running | Running | Brooklyn-based, technical running gear with a strong run-club/community culture. | | Literary Sport | Elevated/luxury activewear | One of the freshest names: launched in 2024, with minimalist silhouettes, premium fabrics and a very fashion-editorial feel. www.vogue.com | | SET ACTIVE | Pilates / studio | Coordinated sets, distinctive fabric systems and a very polished LA aesthetic. | | 437 | Fashion-forward studio wear | One of the Gen-Z brands gaining traction through social media; particularly good for sculpted sets and statement colors. www.vogue.combusinessoffashion-businessoffashion-prod.web.arc-cdn.net | | Splits59 | Pilates + serious training | Sleeker and more performance-oriented than the typical “Pilates girl” brand. | | Year of Ours | Fashion/athleisure | LA cool-girl aesthetic with pieces that work outside the gym. | | Wolaco | Men's performance | NYC-born technical men's activewear, especially strong for running and training. | | Janji | Running/outdoor | Boston-based and genuinely performance-focused; particularly good if you actually run rather than just want the look. | | Ciele Athletics | Running | Technical running gear with a more independent, design-conscious identity. | | H-O-R-S-E | Fashion/experimental | A much more unusual take on activewear, deliberately pushing back against the standard synthetic-athleticwear look. |

A particularly interesting distinction: Bandit, Janji and Ciele are the ones I'd investigate if performance matters most; Literary Sport, 437, SET ACTIVE and Year of Ours if fashion is the priority. Emerging brands are increasingly winning by focusing on specific fitness communities rather than trying to be everything to everyone. linkedsourcing.com

### If I were shopping today

Most exciting overall: Literary Sport Best new-school running brand: Bandit Running Best Pilates/studio: SET ACTIVE Best fashion-forward: 437 Best serious running: Janji Best men's option: Wolaco

And there's a broader trend worth watching: activewear is increasingly moving toward “performance + everyday wardrobe”, rather than traditional gym-only clothing. Vogue specifically calls out newer labels like Literary Sport for this overlap. www.vogue.com

If you want, I can also find 10 genuinely under-the-radar U.S. activewear brands (not the usual Alo/Vuori/Set Active list) and rank them by design, quality, price, and hype.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 4 October 2026

Here are some of the best boutique activewear brands based in or strongly associated with the U.S., organized by what they do best:

- Splits59 - Best for elevated Pilates, barre, and yoga Los Angeles-based, fashion-forward activewear with premium fabrics and polished minimalist styling. Expect leggings and tops around the luxury price tier.

- Janji - Best for serious runners A boutique performance-running brand known for technical apparel designed for long-distance training and racing.

- Beyond Yoga - Best for ultra-soft everyday sets Offers comfortable, flattering pieces suited to yoga, light workouts, travel, and athleisure.

- Alo Yoga - Best for fashion-forward studio wear Los Angeles brand with recognizable yoga, Pilates, and lifestyle pieces, including leggings, jackets, and coordinated sets.

- Vuori - Best for versatile men's and women's activewear Particularly strong for soft training clothes, joggers, shorts, and pieces that transition easily from workouts to daily wear.

- Outdoor Voices - Best for casual, approachable workout gear Known for simple, colorful designs for walking, recreational exercise, hiking, and low-to-moderate-intensity workouts.

- MATE the Label - Best for sustainability and natural-fiber basics Los Angeles brand focused on more environmentally conscious materials and comfortable everyday activewear.

- Carbon38 - Best for curated luxury activewear A retailer and private-label brand with fashion-oriented leggings, bodysuits, jackets, and studio pieces.

- Koral - Best for sleek, high-compression styles Los Angeles label offering sculpting, glossy, and performance-focused pieces that work well for training and studio workouts.

- Noli - Best for bold, body-conscious designs Known for striking prints, sculpted silhouettes, and statement sets for Pilates, dance, and gym wear.

- Year of Ours - Best for minimalist, trend-led sets Offers sleek California-inspired basics, including ribbed tops, leggings, and flattering matching sets.

- Splits59 and Janji are the strongest niche picks if the goal is something more specialized than mainstream brands: Splits59 for studio luxury and Janji for technical running.

For the best overall mix of quality, style, and boutique appeal, start with Splits59, Beyond Yoga, Vuori, Koral, and Year of Ours.