Does Gen Z hate leggings now? The generational war of athleisure has begun
After more than twenty years of absolute dominance in the world of activewear, workout leggings are no longer in fashion. The Gen Z at the gym now prefers to wear baggy and soft tracksuits or wide shorts, and there’s almost no trace left of form-fitting athleisure, as shown by a recent report from retail analytics group Edited. As we will see, the change in sportswear doesn’t only have to do with comfort: it’s a true generational war.
A war born on social media
@isabela.burton i feel like an adult in corporate america i only look good in slacks and jeans #leggings #ootd #clothes #outfit #jeans #whydoilooklikethat #what The von dutch remix w addison rae and a. g. cook - Charli XCX
Gen Z’s complaints about the discomfort of leggings haven’t stopped at chats with friends in locker rooms: online, countless now-viral clips show how much frustration the issue causes for this segment of sports consumers. «I feel so embarrassed and insecure when I wear leggings,» confessed one girl on TikTok, followed by a flood of people echoing her complaints, touching on sensitive subjects like body dysmorphia - a psychological disorder characterized by anxiety and intense concern about one’s physical appearance.
The young generation’s disdain for leggings has also been reflected in sales and web searches. Researchers from Edited found a recent decline in consumer interest toward leggings, dropping from 46.9% to 38.7% from 2022 to today. The decrease in demand has inevitably led sports brands like Nike and Adidas to reduce investments in form-fitting athleisure in favor of products more accepted by Gen Z, first and foremost boxy, wide or oversized garments. Referring to Pinterest data, the study noted that 58% of searches from the 18-24 age group focus mainly on oversized tracksuits and wide t-shirts.
Gen Z’s new preferences in activewear
The growing preference for oversized clothing among Gen Z isn’t only due to comfort, but also to the influence of public figures like Billie Eilish or K-Pop groups. Leggings - now considered cringe and cheugy (terms used in most TikTok clips criticizing them) - have lost all the appeal they gained between 2010 and 2020. Though, as we know, there are still stars like Addison Rae who appreciate their aesthetic. Gen Z’s current gym goal is to bring soft pieces back into fashion, such as yoga pants or running shorts. Danica, a fitness influencer on TikTok, claimed: «Once you wear a good pair of shorts, you’ll never touch leggings again.»
Today’s youngest adults have the power to define what clothing is cool and which items belong to the older generation. And what they are saying, according to the Wall Street Journal, is that this is the era of comfortable athleisure. The brand Lululemon, particularly popular among younger consumers, has already picked up on the trend, adding adjectives like «big,» «ultra oversized,» and «wide-leg» in the descriptions of every new product.
Generational wars are like a loop
In the early 2000s, athleisure options were limited, all centered around selling baggy cuts. The arrival of Lululemon, followed by Alo, made tight-fitting garments essential to feeling good at the gym - which is paradoxical, considering the drastic changes these brands have faced with Gen Z’s shifting tastes.
However, generational fashion wars have one defining trait: it’s all a cycle that never ends. While today the leggings-vs-baggy conflict makes it seem like Gen Z is winning, the truth is that in a few years it will be Gen Alpha deciding which pieces are cringe—and most likely, they will target the favorites of the previous generation. What remains certain is that in this war, athleisure companies will never lose: regardless of trends, brands will continue selling their key products - leggings included - aware that every generation corresponds to a different style. Moreover, even if the focus today has shifted toward loose clothing, that doesn’t mean the good old Millennials won’t stay faithful to their tastes.
