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Posted on March 10, 2021 at 9:57 am by Ira Arellano / Guides, Fashion Guides, Health and Wellness / 0
Table of Contents
The Best Local Activewear Brands for 2021
Your Ultimate Guide to Local Activewear Brands
Nowadays, more and more people are more attuned to living a healthier and more active lifestyle rather than a sedentary one. While it’s not easy to do so, given the busy days of most people, a lot still manage to find the time to squeeze in a workout right after the office, classes, and the like. Even though it’s alright to do workouts in your regular shorts and shirt, nothing beats wearing clothing fully dedicated to fitness.
Workout clothes are pieces made with special fabrics that are intended to aid and give its wearer higher mobility and comfort during exercise. Trust us when we say that wearing a tank top made with stretchable and sweat-wicking fabrics can make a huge difference in achieving all your fitness goals.
There are a host of famous activewear brands out there, but did you know that we also have our very own brands that offer the same comfort and quality? In this guide, we’re bringing you the best local active wear brands. Check them out!
In a Hurry? This is the Best Local Activewear Brand:
If comfort and style is what you’re looking for, then Lotus is definitely the one for you. Lotus has garnered a huge following all thanks to their comfortable, stylish, and eye-catching clothing that can be used both in and out of the gym.
Their pieces and sets are casual enough that no one would bat an eyelash if you wear them to stroll down the mall. While their most popular pieces are their sports bras, tank tops, and leggings, Lotus also has a lineup catering to men and a product line of accessories.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Local Active Wear Brands
BEST OVERALL
Lotus Activewear
Looking for a brand that has everything you’ll need in active wear? Lotus is the one that will answer all your needs…
BEST COMMERCIAL
Bench
Philippines’ largest retail label Bench is more than its lineup of clothing, bags, accessories, footwear, fragrances, and other…
MOST AFFORDABLE
Sassa
Here’s one for all the swim enthusiasts out there! Sassa, a brand under New Barbizon Fashion (NBF), is known for their affordable swimwear…
MOST BREATHABLE
Malaya Activewear
Founded in 2019, Malaya is a retail start-up that offers stylish, comfortable, and flexible fitness wear for women. The word “Malaya”…
BEST DESIGN
Jacked Active
If you’re someone who’s into unique cuts and interesting prints, then Jacked Active may be the fitness wear label for you…
MOST COMFORTABLE
Atsui
Atsui is a label that first started out in catering to Pilates and Yoga enthusiasts before expanding their line for all types of workouts…
BEST FOR SUPPORT
Womanly Manly
Fitness apparel label Manly has been around for about 50 years now, but its lineup for women, Womanly, has only been around for about…
BEST MINIMALIST
Libera Athletics
Have an eye for high-waist pieces in paste colors? Libera Athletics may be the one for you! Newly-launched in 2020, Libera aims…
BEST FOR ATHLETES
Gametime
Founded in 2004, Gametime is a sports apparel that centers on creating premium, quality clothing using high-performance…
BEST ACCESSORIES
Ahon
This is one brand where you can literally say you’re wearing your Pinoy pride. If you’re someone who wants to show off your Pinoy..
Do Workout Clothes Make a Difference?
Yes, wearing the appropriate clothing during workouts do make a difference! You might be fine with any comfortable clothing during exercise, such as a soft cotton shirt or any shorts you can grab from your closet. But listen to us when we say that those apparels can’t really provide you the support that you need during your exercise. Similar to business meetings or interviews or presentations, you must also dress for success when working out!
Activewear is specifically designed to help you be cool and comfortable during activities. Most, if not all of them, offer moisture-wicking capacities, allowing you to feel good without being utterly soaked in sweat in all places.
Wearing the right kind of clothing during workouts also helps in providing support and preventing you from sustaining injuries. For example, sports bras are the way they are because they offer cushion, support, and minimize any discomfort that you may feel during your activity.
Additionally, wearing the right kind of clothing during exercise can also boost your motivation and confidence. When you put on your exercise outfit, it conditions your mind to get on that mat or get going with your routine.
Top 10 Local Active Wear Brands
| Image | Product | Details | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Lotus Activewear | • Comfortable • Has a wide selection • Also offers accessories and gears |  |
| Bench | • Widely available • Easy to acquire • Comfortable | |
| Sassa | • Highly affordable • Comes in nice colors and design • Also caters to swimmers | |
| Malaya Activewear | • Breathable fabric • Comfortable • Comes in pastel colors | |
| Jacked Active | • Unique cuts and patterns • Made of nylon spandex • Comfortable | |
| Atsui | • Breathable and comfortable • Ideal for yoga and pilates • Comes in various patterns | |
| Womanly Manly | • For individuals who need support • Mid-range pricing • Also caters to men | |
| Libera Athletics | • Minimalist • High-waist leggings • Pastel colors | |
| Gametime | • For athletes • Has a huge range of products • Also offers gears | |
| Ahon | • Inspired by Filipino culture • Offers accessories • Ideal for mountaineers | |
Let’s Go Over Each Active Wear Brand
Looking for a brand that has everything you’ll need in active wear? Lotus is the one that will answer all your needs. When we say everything, we do mean pretty much everything! Lotus’ products range from bottoms, tops, outerwear, swimwear, and even accessories! They offer yoga mats, shoe bags, jump ropes, resistance bands, and the like, making them the one-stop shop for fitness wear.
One thing that Lotus is famous for its sports bras. Numerous Filipinas have raved about the comfort and fit that their bras offer. It’s not a surprise, given that their bras are made of moisture-wicking fabric, have mesh panels for breathability, a reinforced 6-line stitching for support, and even make use of Lycra for shape retention. Their sports bras are also eye-catching with their bright colors, alluring cutouts, and striking patterns.
While Lotus clearly emphasizes on fitness wear for women, they also have a lineup that caters to men.
Pros and Cons of Lotus
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Comfortable workout bras ✔️ Wide selection of fitness wear ✔️ Has a lineup of accessories and gear | ✖️ Sizing may be small ✖️ Pricey |
Philippines’ largest retail label Bench is more than its lineup of clothing, bags, accessories, footwear, fragrances, and other lifestyle products. Under its Bench Active line, they offer a variety of fitness wear, ranging from bras, bottoms, sport shorts, tank tops, and even accessories!
With their Active line, Bench aims to combine sports and leisure clothing into athleisure wear, ideal for use in both the gym and out of it. Their comfy pieces are made of nylon and spandex, assuring active buffs that they’re comfortable wherever, whenever. Bench Active’s range of fitness wear caters to both men and women, and can be easily acquired in any nearby Bench store.
Pros and Cons of Bench
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Easy to acquire ✔️ Affordable ✔️ Comfortable | ✖️ Fabric of some items may be thin |
Here’s one for all the swim enthusiasts out there! Sassa, a brand under New Barbizon Fashion (NBF), is known for their affordable swimwear — one piece, bikinis, tankinis, rash guards, board shorts — you name it, Sassa has it. Aside from that though, Sassa also has a wide range of active gear, ranging from bras, capris, shorts, tops, and the like.
Their active wear pieces are probably the most affordable we’ve seen around, with the price range starting at PHP 250. Their pieces are your value-for-money bestfriends, but Sassa doesn’t skimp on the quality just to be able to sell for affordability. Most of their active clothing make use of polyester and elastane, providing both comfort and style to anyone who wears them.
Pros and Cons of Sassa
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Highly affordable ✔️ Also has a swimwear line | ✖️ Sizing can be small |
Founded in 2019, Malaya is a retail start-up that offers stylish, comfortable, and flexible fitness wear for women. The word “Malaya” means freedom in Filipino, and the brand chose the word as their name to express how they want women to experience freedom in movement.
With their tagline “Wear Freedom,” Malaya’s lineup consists of yoga wear, gym wear, and even hiking wear. They offer bras, bottoms, and crop tops, all made with polyester, nylon, and spandex for the most comfortable fit during workouts.
Among their products, their outstanding seller is the Heidi Set, a multi-colored pastel set consisting of a sports bra and leggings made of 80% nylon and 20% spandex. Malaya promises that their products are breathable, stretchable, and moisture-wicking.
Pros and Cons of the Malaya Activewear
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Breathable fabric ✔️ Pastel-toned clothing | ✖️ Pricey |
If you’re someone who’s into unique cuts and interesting prints, then Jacked Active may be the fitness wear label for you.
Started in 2017, Jacked Active pieces are unlike any out there in the market. Where else can you find sports bras that have fishnets, or come in strappy two-tones, or tights with alternate cuts?
Inspired by fashion design, Jacked Active promises to give you your most stylish look yet while working out. The brand’s pieces are usually made of nylon and spandex, the most ideal materials for comfort while exercising and even when worn outside.
Pros and Cons of Jacked Active
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Interesting cuts and designs ✔️ Made of nylon and spandex | ✖️ Limited range of products |
Atsui is a label that first started out in catering to Pilates and Yoga enthusiasts before expanding their line for all types of workouts. Established in 2014, co-founder Leslie Silvestre shares that the brand’s name, Atsui, means ‘hot’ in Japanese, and they believe the word encompasses how hot can both mean on trend and how one’s body heats up when working out.
Atsui’s pieces incorporate invigorating color palettes, prints, and designs. It’s mentioned that their range of fitness outfits can provide support needed in Yoga and Pilates, and in other activities such as crossfit, boxing, and the like. For their exercise wear, Atsui uses airemov, a fabric that’s specially woven in a four-way stretch. It’s also moisture-wicking, allowing its wearers to move as much as they please without worrying about sweat.
Pros and Cons of Atsui
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Comfortable and breathable ✔️ Ideal for yoga and pilates | ✖️ Pricey |
Fitness apparel label Manly has been around for about 50 years now, but its lineup for women, Womanly, has only been around for about 7. Womanly Manly’s pieces can be found in all sorts of department stores and sport stores everywhere in the nation. But above that, they also have the seal of approval of the Philippine Orthopedic Institute, making them a trustworthy brand when it comes to athletic gear and wear.
Proudly made in the Philippines, Womanly Manly caters to all exercise enthusiasts with dry fit athleisure sets comprising workout bras and leggings, compression shorts made of spandex, and muscle shirts. They also offer a host of accessories that cater to the specific parts of the body such as compression arm sleeves, gloves, back support belts, ankle supports, knee supports, and the like.
Pros and Cons of Womanly Manly
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Ideal for individuals who need support ✔️ Mid-range prices for individual items ✔️ Has a men's line | ✖️ Sets can be pricey |
Have an eye for high-waist pieces in pastel colors? Libera Athletics may be the one for you! Newly-launched in 2020, Libera aims to “provide confidence boosters in the form of quality, comfy, and stylish fitness clothes.” Their line-up ranges from bras, to the aforementioned high-waist leggings, to biker shorts, and booty shorts!
Their sports bras are available in various designs, all made with breathable and lightweight fabric, with Libera noting that they’re designed to make its wearers “move without constraint.” Undoubtedly though, their bestsellers are the high-waisted leggings that come in pleasing pastel colors. Libera promises that their leggings provide the balance between support and comfort, and prevents the dreaded “camel toe” phenomenon.
Pros and Cons of Libera Athletics
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Offers high-waist leggings ✔️ Pastel hues | ✖️ Sizing can run small |
Founded in 2004, Gametime is a sports apparel that centers on creating premium, quality clothing using high-performance fabrics. Gametime is a family-owned business, with almost everyone in the family being sports-oriented, hence leading to the creation of workout wear and gear focused on helping in enhancing sports performance.
Gametime aims to promote the positive impact of an active lifestyle throughout their apparel and accessories line. They offer a huge variety of fitness wear made with CoolTech, polyester, spandex, ranging from bras, tanks, outerwear, tights, trousers, shorts, rash guards, and such for women.
It also has a range dedicated to men, offering apparel in the form of compression wear, hoodies, sweatshirts, shorts, joggers, and more. Aside from sportswear clothing, Gametime also has a range of sports accessories, perfect for athletes.
Pros and Cons of Gametime
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Ideal for athletes ✔️ Vast range of items | ✖️ Can be pricey |
This is one brand where you can literally say you’re wearing your Pinoy pride. If you’re someone who wants to show off their Pinoy pride while working out, then Ahon might just have the right exercise gear for you. Ahon offers a host of products with designs that take root in Philippine culture, such as colors of the Philippine flag, indigenous patterns, and baybayin.
Ahon began with offering gaiters as its primary product but soon evolved into specializing in clothing and gear. Their sportswear ranges from shirts, socks, jerseys, hoodies, singlets, and the like. Apart from clothing, Ahon is greatly known for their mountaineering and cycling gear. You’ll also find eye-catching visors and bandanas in their store.
Pros and Cons of Ahon
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Philippine-inspired designs ✔️ Offers accessories and gear | ✖️ Limited range of outfits |
Best Local Activewear Comparison
| Local Activewear Brand | Brand | Design | Features | Price | Usability | Total Rating | Check Price on Lazada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Activewear | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9.5 | |
| Bench | 9 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.4 | |
| Sassa | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 9 | 9.4 | |
| Malaya Activewear | 9.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 9.5 | 9.1 | |
| Jacked Active | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9.5 | 9.1 | |
| Atsui | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8.9 | |
| Womanly Manly | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8.5 | |
| Libera Athletics | 9 | 8.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.5 | |
| Gametime | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
| Ahon | 10 | 7.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 | |
Final Word
We hope that you’re able to find and get excellent activewear outfits through our guide! Remember, these fitness outfits aren’t just for style, but they can also help in supporting you and giving you motivation and confidence throughout your entire workout. Go out there and strut your most amazing self in the gym!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where can I buy activewear in the Philippines?
You can easily acquire active wear through department stores or sports stores such as Decathlon, Sportshouse, Toby’s, JB Sports, Chris Sports, and the like. If you prefer to go the online route, the aforementioned brands each have their own websites as well. You can also look through Lazada for better deals and discounts in sportswear.
Where can I buy affordable activewear?
If you’re on a budget, you can get activewear from Sassa! We’ve mentioned this in the guide, but it bears repeating that Sassa offers sportswear with a price range that starts as low as PHP 250. Their workout clothes are great value for money.
Where can I buy activewear sets?
There are a variety of brands that you can buy your workout co-ords from! Apart from the brands mentioned in this guide, you can also acquire your sets from Inka Atletika, a brand that aims to provide clothing that can be worn “from gym to swim.” There’s also The Shape Shop, a label that has a catalog catering athleisure pieces that fit and flatter every body type. Another one is Ina Activewear, founded by Ina Feleo, a former figure skater turned professional dancer.
Worn by celebrities such as Nadine Lustre and Pia Wurztbach, fashion-forward athletic wear label Millenx comes with bolder workout sets that’ll surely make you seem like you’re walking the runway and not the treadmill. Andi Activewear is another label that aims to empower women through their clothing.
What is the best brand of workout clothes?
Great labels for exercise outfits can range from international faves such as Nike, Adidas, Fila, Puma, and more, to local favorites like Lotus, Atsui, Bench Active, Ina Activewear, Andi Activewear, and the like. But also, it’s worth taking note that the greatest activewear brand is the one that you feel most comfortable in and the one that fits you the best.
Ira Arellano graduated with a degree in Multimedia Arts from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. When she’s not busy writing, Ira uses her remaining free time fawning over groups with too many members, reading three books simultaneously, crying over animated shows and fictional people, and being salty over her lack of gacha luck.