In a sea of logo-splashed luxury activewear brands, Varley stands out for their IYKYK take on an oversaturated market. Sure, we love the iconic triple-striped track pants from Adidas and the colourful manipulation of P.E. Nation’s logo on their fashion-forward jumpers, but where does one go for stylish, high-quality styles that let their sleek tailoring speak for themselves?
“Varley is a fashion-centric brand that is designed with movement in mind,” says Kay Barron, Net-A-Porter‘s Buying Director. “Its collection of elevated knits, outerwear, sweats and refined basics allow for an effortless transition from a workout class to a social occasion, or of course, you can skip the workout class! Over the past three months alone, we have seen a remarkable 967% increase in customer searches on the site for ‘Varley DoubleSoft’ alongside a 500% rise in customer searches in the same time period for ‘Varley jumper’, which shows the growing interest in these styles.”
The Loro Piana of activewear (without the eye-watering price tags), Varley founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife duo Lara and Ben Mead has quietly made a name for their luxe loungewear and sportswear sleek enough to go straight off the tennis court and into a ladies’ luncheon. Based between LA and London, Varley marries West Coast laidback-chic with the London lady’s modern needs and it’s become a cult favourite amongst discerning fashion insiders and influencers alike.
“I think Varley has a more elevated design with interesting details, so it stands out for its effortlessly chic style,” says Ingrid Wilkinson, a content creator known for elegant, minimalist style and a self-professed fan of athleisure. “It’s really popular with my followers; we all want to look put together while being comfy and relaxed.”
Think: rust-coloured ribbed leggings with a matching mock-collard jumper or their fan-favourite Vibe ribbed cotton-blend sweatshirt. Their gym kits feature elevated, muted colours like dusty rose or deep copper and are meant to be layered under their sumptuous selection of buttery-soft loungewear.
Luxury, as we all know, is all about the details, and it’s no exception when it comes to luxury activewear. While at first glance, there may not be particular distinctive features about Varley’s minimalist styles, it’s the near-imperceptible features, like the cut of the sleeve or flop of the collar that make the pieces feel fashion-forward.
There are of course other activewear brands I love. Adanola is my go-to on lazy weekends spent between the gym and the farmer’s market, and Vuori is for my cosy Sunday walks. Varley comes in when I need to hop from pilates straight into a business meeting. The Corrine Jumpsuit I bought last year, a versatile thick jersey-esque piece in a stone-cream colour that cinches at the waist has allowed me to feel put-together in under 30 seconds. It saves me a tonne of space in my carryall too.
While the brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, it was over lockdown and the subsequent boom in tenniscore that put Varley on the top of everyone’s radars. As we invested in loungewear that took inspiration from stylish tennis uniforms, Varley’s court-side chic aesthetic really took off, way before Challengers even hit cinemas.
