I am always on the lookout for new and interesting gear in the activewear world, and I recently discovered quite a few up-and-coming luxury activewear brands, in large part due to stockist Carbon38. They specialize in stocking fashion forward luxury activewear, so of course that’s right up my alley! I’m very picky about fit, so I appreciate that they offer free shipping on orders over $100 and free returns in the US.
Here’s a few smaller brands you need to have on your radar!
[Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission, although it doesn’t change the price you pay. I really appreciate the support.]
Heroine Sport
Heroine Sport is a very young brand with their very first collection out right now. Their collection has a particularly sporty, lady-jock vibe. Their training shorts ($80) are super-lightweight running shorts–the gold camo is a really unique colorway. The silhouette reminds me of lululemon’s hotty hot shorts and look friendly to muscular bums and thighs.
You can see what Heroine Sport has to offer on Carbon38, ShopBop, and the Heroine Sport website.
Olympia Activewear
Olympia Activewear is another new brand that should be launching their second collection soon. Their current collection is all neutrals, but still has a unique vibe because of their Greco-Roman-sport-goddess design influence and use of brown tones in addition to black and grey.
Pictured: the Elis capri in chocolate ($78) and the Sparta bra in taupe/chocolate ($66).
Olympia Activewear is sold on Carbon38, and Olympia’s own website.
Vimmia
Vimmia launched about a year ago, so they’re still a pretty new brand. All their goods are designed and produced in Los Angeles. Their collection emphasizes prints and lace details:
I love jackets with big collars, so of course I’m loving the Life Force jacket ($164) in blue crush and abstract brush.
Their bliss capris ($104, shown in sunset) feature prints/colors on the front panel (black in the back), crossover detail at the waist, and a little lace inset at the back of the knee. I love that Vimmia uses nylon blends even for their prints!
Shop Vimmia on Carbon38 and the Vimmia website.
Vie Active
Vie Active is all about the prints:
Hailing from Bondi Beach, Australia, their collection is vibrant and loud, featuring multiple leopard colorways (pictured: black, obviously) and this funky purple print called Brazilian butterfly. Their Rockell tights are made of compression fabric that will set you back $139. I love that Vie Active produces an XXS for extra-petite ladies!
Vie Active’s collection is available on Carbon38.
Michi
Michi is a New York-based brand with a very edgy New York vibe. They use lots of black and lots of mesh, flirting with lingerie femme fatale motifs. They use special high-performance fabric sourced from Switzerland, then sew their goods in Canada.
Their supernova leggings are quintessential Michi with curvy mesh details. Michi is a tier above many other activewear brands in terms of price, so these leggings will put you back $175.
The feline bra amps up the sexy factor, but also amps up the price factor at $129.
Michi is stocked on Carbon38, Nordstrom, and Shopbop.
Prismsport
Prints galore! Vibrant and unique prints are Prismsport’s specialty.
I love, love these twilight capris, and I’m digging the primitive print too!
Prismsport is stocked at Carbon38, Shopbop, and Prismsport’s website.
Pilot Athletic
Pilot Athletic is another Aussie brand available to us through Carbon38. They push the envelope with several of their designs, like these Aviatrix tights:
BOOM. Between the seaming, mesh panel inset, and leopard print overlay, these tights really hold nothing back. The full-length tights are priced at $140, or a crop version is available for $121. (The aviatrix tight is also available in plain black, FYI, if leopard isn’t your jam.)
Purusha People
Purusha People is a yoga-centric brand handmade by a 2-person team in Los Angeles.
These sea of cortez leggings ($98) take mermaid-fabulous to a whole new level–I adore them! The same sparkly pattern is also available in purple, rainbow, and black/silver. There’s also a scale pattern for extra mermaid status in pink, blue, and silver. All the metallic leggings are nylon/spandex blends.
Their siren leggings (shown, $98) and rainbow nature’s heart leggings ($108) are ombre dyed fair-trade cotton and feature a rolldown waist. I love the multi-color dye and I love all things teal!
Shop Purusha People on Evolve Fitwear and their own website. Note extended delivery times due to their small team.
The Brazilian Butterfly print is gorgeous!
OT, I broke down and got the inky floral ghost speed shorts in my TTS 4 and found them longer in the back compared to the old speeds. The guest educators told me that they all sized down. Unfortunately, there’s no size 2 for me to try, as they had bought them all! The fabric feels almost chiffon “dressy”, like I cut up my favorite sunday blouse and converted it to a pair of shorts. But, still, lots of love for them. :)
Ugh, that’s annoying about the inkys. I hadn’t heard many reports of them being longer/bigger, maybe your store got a weird batch or something. Bummer. :(