What does the Future hold for Athleisure?

Loungewear / Athleisure is here to stay and there is a way to do it sustainably! That was the main takeaway from the sustainable fashion expert panel at the August 2024 Texworld + Apparel Sourcing event hosted by California Market Center (CMC) DTLA. JJwinks Director of Production & Sustainability, Ava Taulere, brought helpful insight to attendees hoping to gain knowledge about the fashion category and the sustainable strides brands like JJwinks are making.

Texworld showcases international fabric vendors, trims, and manufacturers and has educational seminars hosted by leading professionals in the fashion industry. Having this event in Los Angeles allowed key local brands to be highlighted. The panel was moderated by Sharon Pérez, the Senior Business Development Manager – US Activewear & Footwear at Lenzing and Ava Taulere was joined by the other panelist, Pat Tabassi with Design Knit, a knitter based in Los Angeles. 

Key to the discussion was the shifting fashion needs during the global pandemic towards comfortable apparel and how this shift influenced loungewear and consumer’s perception of loungewear. It was unanimous that loungewear / athleisure is a category that will continue to grow. JJwinks is an example of a brand that benefited from this new consumer mindset. 

Taulere explained that, “though JJwinks started as a sleepwear brand, we discovered that our customers, post pandemic, did not want to put a bra back on. This led JJwinks to develop elevated styles to wear outside of the house as well as still comfy enough for sleep.” 

Key to the brands’ sustainability, Taulere explained that JJwinks prioritizes fiber content, construction, and style. JJwinks customers love the buttery soft feeling of modal on their skin and they have brought that luxury to their customers in the most sustainable way possible. Their modal fiber is harvested without deforestation, and is processed in a closed loop system. Their fabric is knit locally in Los Angeles in order to support local businesses and to cut down on carbon emissions from transporting the fabric. 

The panel concluded by discussing other necessary efforts and eco-conscious decisions that must be made by the fashion industry among all style categories, recognizing the human aspect of the industry and how ethical practices are so important. Taulere explained that, at JJwinks, they also focus on the human behind every garment, and that the way they are treated along the supply chain is critically important.