Gyan Marwah

As director of a Delhi-based NGO, Richa Mehta attends seminars and workshops around the country. Her hectic schedule keeps her on tour more then half a month. Her long stays in hotels and living out of the suitcase should have had a very deleterious effect on her health and fitness.

But no. The 42-years old Richa is slim and fit and has the energy of a person half her age. Her secret of good health? Gymming regularly for an hour every morning. For one, she generally makes sure she always stays in hotels that have gym facilities. If the hotel doesn’t have one, she enquires about a neighborhood park where she can go for an early morning jog.

However, to keep fit, she also needs something more then just exercising and jogging. What she requires is proper sportswear that not just looks good on her but enhances her workout performance. That is why nearly half of travel bag is full of apparel she needs for her exercise regimen like a tracksuit, sweatband, sneakers and a sports cap. She sometimes carries a separate bag for this paraphernalia.

Motivational Factor

 Though keeping fit makes sense to people like Richa, why is there such emphasis on sports apparel? The answer is simple. Research has shown that smart sportswear motivates people to adopt a fitness regimen. It ushers a sense of purpose and promotes self-esteem, especially if you are exercising with a group of people.

Which is why leading sportswear companies develop training gear after extensive research and testing to make sure they are comfortable and have a positive impact on the wearer. Earlier sold extensively in the West, branded sportswear is now clocking brisk sales in India, even as its importance is being realized through ad campaigns.

Proper sportswear is fast becoming a workout essential. If you are jogging, stretching or weight training, day-to-day wear is neither suitable nor comfortable and there is a danger it could put you off your daily exercises.

Global appeal

 International companies like Nike, Adi-das, Reebok, Puma and others earlier were catering to athletes, professional sports people and hardcore fitness freaks. Over the years, however, their appeal has gone global. Most of them, for example, have set shop in India in a big way, which have on offer something for everyone.

With deep pockets and catchy advertising, these companies are flooding the market with a mind-boggling array of sportswear ranging from T-shirts to shorts, tracksuits, headbands, wristbands and an array of sports shoes. Such is the variety out there that one is left spoilt for choices.

Take, for example, sporting footwear. You can’t just go and buy any shoe. Leading companies go to great lengths to design shoes suited to different sporting activities. There are walking shoes, jogging shoes, aerobic shoes. There are special shoes for playing tennis, badmintons and volley ball and shoes for playing golf. There are shoes for hiking and mountaineering. In fact, every sporting activity has its own sporting pair.

Weather-proof sportswear

Similarly, there is sporting gear for different weather. During summer, you will require light- weight, airy clothes that can absorb the sweat and keep you cool. In the monsoon; you will need rain-proof apparel made from water-resistant fabric. At this point, however, most sportswear manufacturers are getting ready for winter apparel and accessories to make workouts winter proof.

The reasoning behind this is simple, according to companies. There’s a great amount of difference in winter and summer workouts. In winter, your muscles can get stiff, which can make exercising a chore and also expose you to injuries. So it is advisable to protect your whole body with warm cloths, especially if you are working out in the open.

Apart from warm clothes, winter gear will also mean wear thermal inners, which keep you warm and also absorb sweat during workouts as also woolen socks and a proper cap, especially if you are working out in the open.

Modern sportswear is dramatically changing the way we exercise. Gone are the days when one stepped out in one’s shirt and trousers— or worse, nigh-suit or kurta-pyjama— for a morning walk. For many young people, workout apparel is becoming as important a part of their wardrobe as office and party wear. And leading companies are making sure these people step into the gym in style.