WORDS BY NERYS D'ESCLERCS
The start of a new year is usually accompanied with seemingly insurmountable resolutions for a healthier and more active lifestyle. The best way to feel inspired and get moving? Start with a refresh of your activewear wardrobe: whatever your exercise of choice, FARFETCH’s global community of boutiques has exactly what you’re looking for. If you’re ready to hit the road on two wheels, London’s famous Browns Fashion can kit out your cycling adventures; if you’re looking to hit the powder, Vitkac Department Store – surrounded by Polish mountains – is the ideal destination for women’s skiwear. Find your perfect activewear pieces here, then smash those 2021 goals.
Where to buy men’s hiking pieces: SOTF, Italy
In the midst of Florence’s historical center is SOTF, aka Store Of The Future, a boutique that blends high fashion with technology. It has an unrivaled selection of hiking gear, which includes technical outerwear and sneakers. ‘We look at sustainability and comfort, without forgetting our fashion DNA,’ says co-founder Jacopo Pozzati, whose key brand call-outs are Salomon Advanced, Arc'teryx and its sub-brand Veilance, The North Face, Nike and Hoka One One. This season, Pozzati’s special highlights include The North Face Steep Tech fleece jacket and Descente Allterrain 3D Foam Lamination shell jacket, both of which can also be worn as part of your everyday wardrobe. ‘You can dress in a suit and tie with technical outerwear, which I do sometimes,’ he says. This is also true for the Descente Allterrain FusionKnit Cloud trousers and Salomon S/Lab XT-4 ADV sneakers, which are designed to be paired together or with other pieces from your wardrobe.
The North Face Steep Tech jacket | Descente Allterrain 3D Foam jacket | Descente Allterrain FusionKnit trousers | Salomon S/Lab XT-4 ADV sneakers
Where to buy men’s cycling pieces: Browns Fashion, United Kingdom
Browns Fashion is a London mainstay, with a reputation for championing emerging design talents. ‘The Browns of today combines familiar luxury with the thrill of the unknown,’ says Joseph Brunner, menswear buyer for Next Gen and Active. With a passion for progressive styles and technology, the boutique’s curation of men’s cycling staples speaks to its customers’ lifestyle. ‘Rapha is the household name in cycling, for good reason – it’s impeccable. You don’t have to be a serious cyclist to wear its Pro Team Training line, but it aids performance and comfort,’ says Brunner. ‘Then there’s Pas Normal Studios, the fashionable kid, with the kit and tech being as good as everyone else. Its Mechanism line is very popular, and seen as its core product. I’d probably invest in the bib shorts if I were starting out.’
Rapha Pro Team base layer | Pas Normal Studios bib shorts | Satisfy x Browns 50 Justice cycling leggings | Pas Normal Studios Control Winter cycling jacket
Where to buy women’s skiwear: Vitkac, Poland
Poland’s most luxurious shopping destination, Vitkac Department Store offers high-end fashion for the whole region. Surrounded by ski stations in the Polish mountains as well as the Italian Dolomites and the French Alps, it’s an expert in catering to ski-loving visitors. ‘At Vitkac, we focus on great materials, silhouettes and cuts to make your outfit on the slope not only functional, but also on-trend,’ says Karolina Pietrasik-Ksiązek, Vitkac’s e-commerce and marketing manager. ‘Designers such as Moncler, Fendi or Dsquared2 specialize in winter sports pieces, using the best technology while paying a lot of attention to detail and final appearance.’ This season, she recommends Moncler Grenoble’s bold range, which ‘offers an extensive collection of timeless black and white pieces, as well as colorful prints for the more daring consumers.’ For something a little more understated, ‘every woman will feel exceptionally well dressed when choosing ski clothing and accessories from Fendi.’
Moncler Grenoble trousers | Moon Boot shearling snow boots | Fendi logo-band jacket | Fendi Eyewear ski goggles
Where to buy women’s yoga pieces: ASPORT, Taiwan
Located in Taipei City’s bustling DA’AN District, ASPORT knows how to relate to its busy clientele. ‘We combine fashion, fitness, wellness and technology thanks to our curated selection of designer activewear from around the globe,’ says Sheila Lin, ASPORT’s brand director. ‘We introduce hundreds of styles from over 40 designer brands every month. I believe every style seeker can find the ideal outfit from our curated collections.’
For functional yoga pieces that don’t scrimp on aesthetics, Lin’s go-to brands are Lanston Sport, Vaara and Michi: ‘The Vision sports bra from Lanston Sport features the brand’s signature paneled color block design, while the elasticated waistband on Vaara’s Freya leggings sits high enough to give you full support throughout the workout sessions.’