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The rise of 'athleisure' points to a broader cultural shift in India

We may not be playing a lot of sport, but we're certainly dressing for it

Designs by Dhruv Kapoor; USPA’s activewear range
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Designs by Dhruv Kapoor; USPA’s activewear range

Dhruv Munjal
The story goes that modern “athleisure”, as explained in a recent piece in The Atlantic, was born when a chap named Chip Wilson made his way to a yoga class and was struck not so much by the asanas but by what his instructor was wearing: a pair of fitted spandex pants that looked effortlessly stylish and supremely comfortable. The year was 1997, and the following summer, Wilson started mass-manufacturing those very yoga pants. The label was called Lululemon. 

Two decades later, the trend has taken America by storm — hoodies, sneakers, joggers, jumpsuits and bomber jackets are no longer restricted