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LA's it activewear brands, 2026

Want to know what's in this season? Look at the line outside a Pilates studio. The last piece covered brands born in LA; this one is about now: wherever they're from, what Angelenos are wearing in 2025–2026, and how they're styling it.

Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.

Key points

Full text

  1. 5 keywords for 2026

    Studio to street, layering piece over piece, balletcore bringing back leg warmers, quiet neutrals in cream, brown, gray and blue, hints of red. No need to follow all of it; pick one to add to your closet.

  2. The benchmark: Alo

    Data cited by Reuters says Alo gained 5.9 percentage points of US yoga-wear market share in August 2026; every brand in this post, Angelenos will compare to Alo at least a little.

  3. lululemon: a lot of people's first pair

    Founded in Vancouver in 1998; the Align uses Nulu fabric that feels like wearing nothing, and the brand sponsors the Canadian Olympic team all the way through the 2028 LA Olympics. Align 25" is $98; if you're petite, try the 25-inch first.

  4. Adanola: from Manchester

    Founded in 2015, its Ultimate legging has sold 1.5 million pairs; on 10/15/2026 it released a 23-piece ballet-inspired collab with Hailey Bieber, leg warmers included, with the campaign shot in LA.

  5. Where to buy Adanola in LA

    No stores of its own yet, but LA's Equinox Shops and the Revolve at The Grove carry it; leggings run about $65 and bras about $50 at Equinox Shop, so go try on sizes first.

  6. Varley: low-key British-meets-California

    Started by a British couple while living in California, in quiet colors that wear like real clothes; in summer 2026 it opened a store at Brentwood Country Mart, and the FreeSoft legging is $98.

  7. FP Movement: the cutest set

    Free People's activewear line, launched in 2014, with its first standalone store in Century City; the Hot Shot Onesie (REI, $70) is a whole outfit in one, and you can find ballet-style leg warmers too.

  8. Girlfriend Collective: 25 plastic bottles

    Founded in Seattle in 2016; at first the leggings were free, you just paid shipping, and day one brought about 10,000 orders. Sizes run XXS to 6XL, leggings are $108, and final sale means no returns or exchanges.

  9. Oner Active: coming to LA in 2027

    Founded in 2020 by London fitness trainer Krissy Cela, with the US making up about 45% of sales; the first New York store opened 11/7/2026, and an LA store is expected in 2027. For now, buy on the website, leggings from $65.

  10. Arc'teryx / On: what you throw on after class

    Not yoga wear, but these days Angelenos often throw on Arc'teryx and On sneakers after Pilates; in October 2026, Arc'teryx opened a climbing-themed store on Abbot Kinney, and On is on the same street.

  11. The budget crew: Halara, Target, Costco

    Dupe culture: young people buy them and say so proudly; in 2025, lululemon even sued Costco. Buy the budget version first to confirm the fit, then upgrade, and do a squat test on the cheap ones too to make sure they're not see-through >_<

  12. Outdoor Voices, starting over

    After the 2024 acquisition, the founder came back and launched a new collection in August 2025, priced $48–148, sold mostly on the website for now.

  13. The uniform in LA studios right now

    Layered tops, matching shorts sets, leg warmers with a little knit cardigan, a one-piece onesie, quiet colors with a pop of red, and after class, throw on a jacket and go straight to coffee. 'No need to change after class.'

  14. Shopping a bunch of brands in one go

    Equinox Shop (Westwood, Miracle Mile, WeHo, Santa Monica), the two-floor permanent Revolve at The Grove, Varley at Brentwood Country Mart, and On and Arc'teryx on Abbot Kinney.

  15. Tips before you buy

    Read the size chart carefully on British brands, and trying on first is safest; the same style comes in several inseam lengths; final sale can't be returned; Adanola's US site has free shipping over $135; Black Friday is 11/27, and lots of brands start a week early.

  16. Two-city mirror

    In Taipei, one pair of black leggings lasts years, and when they wear out you buy the same ones again; in LA, every season changes the length, the color, whether to layer something on top. 'In Taipei it's durability; in LA it's this season.'

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An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).