A round-up of FJ-approved sweats and track pants
image via @niamhgalea/ instagram
words by fashion journal
From couch to club.
Is it really winter if you’re not wearing trackies, Uggs and thermals 90 per cent of the time? As much as we love romanticising the colder months with glamorous coats and fur-lined gloves, when it comes to getting cosy, nothing beats a soft and worn-in pair of trackpants.
Even though Karl Lagerfeld famously declared them “a sign of defeat”, we’d argue that the most stylish people in the world these days know how to rock an elasticated waistband.
Discover more up-and-coming local designers in our Fashion section.
There’s an art to looking comfy but not sloppy. The fabric must be high-quality, the cut must be flattering, and they must be paired with an attitude. If a pair of elevated trackies is on your wish list, here are some local Australian and New Zealand labels making the best ones.
Karlaidlaw
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Few designers have captured the city’s heart like Karla Laidlaw, and her approach to designing bottoms can take much of the credit. She has a great (and growing) range of elastic-waisted pants made from comfort materials like jersey and stretch velvet that technically fit into the ‘trackpants’ category but offer something more.
Nagnata
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Byron-Bay label Nagnata is known for its sustainable approach to activewear. A blend of studio and street style, its range of track pants are made from organic cotton and comes in a range of bold colours.
Briar Will
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It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Briar Will the country’s queen of tracksuit pants. You can spot Briar’s work from a mile away, as she screen prints her tracksuit pants with life-size imagery of other pant styles – think studded jeans or tartan pants, with plenty of embellishments. The label’s styles regularly sell out, so if you’re interested, it’s worth moving quickly.
Olivia Rowan
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With every piece designed and made locally, Melbourne designer Olivia Rowan’s designs are a respite from rapidly moving trend cycles. With careful attention paid to silhouettes and fabrics, even a pair of track pants feels elevated when crafted in Olivia’s vision.
AS Colour
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Founded in New Zealand in 2005, AS Colour made high-quality, blank apparel. Rather than focusing on text, logos or graphics, the label’s attention lies in perfecting fit, fabric and durability. Made in sizes XS to 3XL, you can find a small selection of muted colourways.
Lucinda Babi
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Arguably our favourite on this list, Lucinda Babi has taken tracksuit pants and made them, well, cute. The label’s Vanilla Track Pants feature double satin stripes that end with hand-sewn bows around the ankle. There’s pin tuck detailing at the front for an even more polished look, with the style made from 100 per cent cotton. The style is made to order, taking roughly one to three weeks to complete.
Annie Enoka
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Melbourne-based, Kiwi-born designer Annie Enoka makes the kind of sexy tracksuits you can go out and feel a million bucks in. Just add some wedges or heeled boots to a pair of her brown velour capris or contour flares, and you’re ready to roll out of bed and into the club.
Niamh Galea
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Sydney-based designer Niamh Galea is well known for her Yummy Mummy (or Yummy Daddy) velour tracksuits in playful colourways and bleached prints. The range is size-inclusive and available in cropped and oversized styles, so you’re sure to find one that speaks to you.
Jungles Jungles
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Melbourne-based label Jungles Jungles has come a long way from its humble beginnings in designer Jack Ferguson’s backyard in 2015. Started almost by accident, the graphic-heavy and slogan-centric brand can now be found in high-end stockists across the globe. Included in its collections is a stylish offering of track pants that wouldn’t look out of place at home, out for lunch or on a night out.
Paire
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Founded by friends, Nathan Yun and Rex Zhang, Paire grew from the desire for comfy, functional and sustainable everyday basics. Using their backgrounds in sustainability and fabric technology, they developed signature materials made for comfort and built to last. Paire’s signature technology creates long-lasting pieces that are both wearable and cosy.
Variety Hour
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Known for its colourful embroidery and playful designers, Variety Hour is proof that dressing for the cold can still be fun. Full of personality, its relaxed-style Column pants come in seven different colourways, while its Wave pant are adorned with dog artwork to give you a daily dopamine boost.
Entire Studios
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A brand founded by two Kiwis and loved by the Kardashians, Entire Studios makes perfectly-cut sweats in the dreamiest neutrals (mushroom, beige, ochre, washed black) out of thick, heavyweight cotton guaranteed to keep you toasty.
Henne
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Though an elevated label like Henne might disapprove of us calling them tracksuit pants, a number of styles could easily fit into the category. Founders Nadia Bartel, Michelle Ring and Laura Broque have a strong understanding of what women want to wear, and so have released a series of relaxed-style pants with elastic waists. Perfect to be worn to work or for eating cold pizza hungover on the couch, they really can do it all.
For more on comfort dressing, try this.
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