It seems that nearly every day, a new activewear label appears — created by some uber stretchy yogi or impossibly stylish fashion label. They take over Instagram and trend on Twitter and before you know it, you’re dressed head to foot in it! But before you spend your hard-earned moola on the next pair of leggings to hit your feed, we thought we’d get the inside scoop from someone in the know. And nobody knows activewear better than Rick Burke, Head of Sport at The Iconic.  Here’s what he had to say:

So Rick, what’s one mistake everyone makes when it comes to activewear?
“The most common mistake we see is people buying the wrong product for the wrong performance. Most of the low impact activities are easy to shop for. But when it’s time to go the distance or get your sweat on we often see product intended for one activity used for something totally different. Most brands are developing a version of compression for post-recovery performance, shape and support wear for high impact and technical fabrics for when it’s time to sweat. Our advice? Shop using our activity links – most of the products are linked back to a type of training so you know what to wear, when!”

Image: @theiconicsport

What’s the best thing to invest in? Does this differ for men and women?
 “For women, I’d have to say there are three top investments when it comes to training.

1. Pick the right shoe! We always see training shoes bought more for appeal than practicality. Unless you’re running distance, a running shoe is not for you. Choose a training shoe that will give you support to stop and start, jump or hop.

2. Wear the right support. Crop tops can easily become a fashion statement under a low cut, drop arm or twist back tank but make sure it’s giving you the right amount of support, too!

3. The perfect fitting pant. We’ve all seen the low rise gym pants go too low in a yoga pose or felt seams and zips in all the wrong place during a sit-up. With high rise, mid rise and seamless pants available across most brands these days, the perfect pant is more accessible to eliminate all awkward or uncomfortable situations.

For men, again it’s all about the right shoe for your sport. A running shoe is designed specifically for the forward motion, so you hit the midsole of your foot giving you a fast, responsive ride. On the other end of the spectrum, a good training shoe has aggressive traction and supports lateral motion so you’ll have the best stability. Think no more tipping forward on your toes when you’re lifting weights.”

Do you have any tips for looking after our activewear properly?
“Always read the care labels. Most technical fabrics need to be washed a certain way to protect the fibres and treatments applied to the fabric. Most of us want to throw wet workout clothes straight into the wash, but take a few minutes to read how to wash and dry first so the technology of the fabrics remains intact.”

What are some of the activewear brands that you are excited by?
“We are seeing some exciting labels — both Australian and international — fusing fashion and function with prints and silhouettes straight off the runway. Some activewear brands doing incredible work are Australian label, We Are Handsome, and Canadian brand, Michi. Other local labels to look out for this season are Jaggad and Nimble.“

Image @theiconicsport

What are three trainers/ runners that you love for men or women?
“1. Nike Air Pegasus 33 is one of the best running shoes you can buy under $200. It’s light enough for a short jog but has enough cushioning to take on the longer runs. It also has a one-piece, upper which is great for blisters.

2. Brooks Launch 4 provides a super responsive, springy ride focusing on energy return. The 3D Fit Print seamless upper helps the shoe stay structured whilst the BioMoGo DNA midsole provides dynamic cushioning which adapts to every step you take.

3. The Mizuno Wave Rider 19 is one of Mizuno’s best selling shoes — for good reason. Their motto for this style is “Don’t fix what’s not broken, right?” It’s all about a firm but lightweight design, thanks to the Parallel Wave Plate it but has enough cushioning to keep you running for miles.”

Want more stories like this one? Check out our NOURISH section. While you’re here, why not sign up to our newsletter and be the first to receive wellness discounts, access to exclusive workouts, competitions and a whole lot of wellbeing tips to live a life of balance (hello, shiraz), sweat and (happy) tears.