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The Benefits of Playing Sports | How adidas Is Closing the Activewear Gap
Everyday Ensemble | Warm-Up Wear | Swim Style | The Results | Get to Know Kelly | Back to Main
Dress for success. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Dressing well is a form of self-respect. Chances are, you’ve heard one or all of these familiar adages. Chances are you’ve also been led to believe that caring about your appearance is an inherently “vain” or even an exclusively “feminine” trait. (Even though science shows that wearing clothing that’s well-fitting, stylish and reflective of your personality isn’t just vain —it’s proven to affect your performance and mood.) It’s ironic then, that women, the gender often disparaged for caring most about their clothing, are still fighting for athletic wear that prioritizes their anatomy and their performance.
Why does the right activewear for girls and women matter? Because lack of access to the correct items —items that support female menstruation, female religious practice or LGBTQ+ needs — is a barrier to entry for girls in sports. And encouraging girls to participate in sports is crucial.
The Benefits of Girls Playing Sports
Girls who participate in sports report 1.5 times higher scores for positive peer relations and 1.5 times higher levels of “meaning and purpose,” according to the “Thriving through Sport: A Transformative Impact on Girl’s Mental Health,” conducted by the Women’s Sports Foundation. The study also found that girls who play sports report lower symptoms for mental health disorders and clinical depression, and are more likely to be involved in community service and academic enrichment activities.
Kelly Pash, a Division 1 swimmer and member of the U.S. National Team, can personally attest to the benefits participating in sports has had on her life.
“Being a female athlete has given me a lot of confidence. It’s taught me how to work hard and perservere, and how to be a great leader in a teamwork zone that has transferred out of the water and into other parts of my life.”
Kelly Pash
Kelly also credits her healthy mindset and ability to believe in herself to her swimming career. Her end goal is to represent the U.S. on an international level and she plans to compete in the Olympic qualifiers in early June.
To build the next generation of female athletes and role models, like Kelly, we need to make athletic clothing for girls that’s accessible, affordable and catered to women. But how do we do that? Adidas has a few ideas.
How adidas Is Closing the Activewear Gap
Adidas has always been committed to supporting female athletes but they took additional strides in the past three years to ensure women have the gear they need to succeed in their sport. In 2019, for example, adidas launched a sportswear hijab that’s designed to sweat in. The brand’s “Stay in Play” period-proof line was launched in 2021 to help combat the drop-off in sports that occurs when girls start menstruating. Adidas also launched the “Impossible Is Nothing” campaign in 2021, with a goal to create “real, lasting change for women in sports” through charity initiatives, sustainability measures and new product designs that support female athletes — like sneakers designed specifically for women’s insoles and gait.
To see how adidas’ gear helps to support female athletes and their busy lifestyles, we asked Kelly Pash to test some adidas looks in and out of the pool. Read on to see her thoughts and to shop her picks.
Look #1: Every Day Ensemble
Even in high school, Kelly’s day was anything but typical. She’d go from 5 a.m. mandatory practices to school, to additional swim practice until 5:30 pm and then have to fit in time for dinner with her family, homework and some rest and recovery. And with her collegiate career and upcoming Olympic qualifying competition, her day-to-day hasn’t gotten any less hectic. Because of this, she needs clothing that’s cozy yet put together to cater to her everyday life.
For her everyday outfit, Kelly decided to test out a monochromatic pink sweat look, styled with the ’70s-inspired Essential Rib Tank Top, the iconic Forum Low Shoes and the durable, cotton canvas Leisure Tote Bag. These adidas pieces are designed with comfort in mind and blend today’s biggest fashion trends (bright colors, monochromatic silhouettes and chunkier sneakers) with activewear looks.
Shop Kelly’s Everyday adidas Look
“The bold colors really drew me to this set,” says Kelly. “Monochromatic looks are super in right now and cargo pants are really in-style, so I like that my athleisure also feels on-trend.”
She goes on to say this outfit is something she could wear to grab coffee, to class and to the pool while feeling sleek and put together. “The comfortability makes me feel like I could do anything in this.”
Look #2: Warm-Up Wear
Kelly does just as much training out of the pool as she does in the pool, so she was looking for performance-focused activewear that was supportive, sweat-wicking and still cute. For this look she chose to layer the Power Hidden Racerback Overlay Cover Up, a ventilating and moisture-wicking sweatshirt, over the Aeroimpact Training Light-Support Bra and Optime Full-Length Leggings. The sports bra has an anti-chafe design and mesh ventilation for areas that tend to get the most sweaty, so it’s perfect for a HIIT or lift session. The leggings are made with recycled sweat-drying materials and are designed with four-way stretch to accommodate higher-intensity workouts.
To top the look off, Kelly wore the top-rated Supernova Stride Shoes, which offer the perfect blend of comfort and support, and the Weekender Bag, which includes internal and external pockets, a space for a water bottle and an easy to clean fabric.
Shop Kelly’s adidas Warm-Up Look
” I feel really confident in this look,” says Kelly. “It’s super comfortable and flexible.” She notes that the sports bra is really supporting, without feeling too constricting or digging in uncomfortably and the leggings stay up instead of sliding down.
“I also love the pretty blue color,” Kelly notes. “It’s surprisingly good at hiding my sweat, especially for a light color.” That is really saying something since it was in the high 90s when Kelly tested this look out.
Look #3: Swim Style
One might think (this editor included) that a swim meet look is all about the swimsuit, but Kelly informed me that she’s often in her warm-up layers right until she gets on swim block. For this look, she layered the relaxed, soft cotton jersey Essentials Crop Top and the sporty nylon Loose Parachute Pants over her swimsuit. She topped the look off with an adidas Trucker Hat (find a similar style here) and platformed suede Gazelle Bold Shoes.
While the warm-up look choice was certainly fierce, the real item that needed to be tested was the swimwear. Kelly chose the adicolor 3-Stripes Swimsuit, which is also available in plus-size options.
Ella’s Swim Style adidas Look
“This outfit was stylish, easy to throw on and off and would keep me warm enough before my workout,” Kelly notes.
The black colors weren’t just a style choice, either, but a strategic way to avoid wet spots on her post-workout outfit. The loose-fitting clothing and the nylon material are also a smart way to layer lightly before and after a meet. Plus, the hat is a great option to protect Kelly’s hair after she’s spent time in a swim cap.
As for the suit, Kelly practiced lap after lap of the butterfly stroke, backstroke and breaststroke before concluding it was stylish, sleek and comfortable.
The Results
While many can claim it’s what’s on the inside that counts most, no one can deny the impact of the right gear, especially when it comes to female athletes. “When you look good, you feel good,” says Kelly simply.
Adidas’ activewear is proof that finding the right warm-up gear that helps women feel confident and stylish before stepping onto the court and the right gear during game time that caters to their actual anatomy, has an affect on their mood, their performance and their confidence.
Adidas isn’t just catering its athletic gear to the professionals either. Its line of plus-size wear, swim caps that cater to inclusivity and the brand’s ongoing representation of the LGBTQ+ community are just some of the many ways adidas is creating positive change for female athletes.
In addition to accessible products, adidas is also committed to fair pricing, offering exclusive savings to healthcare workers, military members and students. Plus, everyone can enjoy discounted rates by joining the free adiClub membership.
Get to Know Kelly
RMN: Tell us a bit about yourself!
I just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Corporate Communications, where I swam competitively. I’m originally from Indiana and lived there my entire life before coming to Austin.
RMN: When did you start swimming?
I started swimming at just 4 years old and was always competitive. I even raced against the boys growing up. In high school, I made the National Junior Team and in my junior year of high school, I made the U.S. National Team. My ultimate goal is to swim in the Olympics.
RMN: Why do you think it’s important for women to participate in sports?
It’s important for women to participate in sports because it provides girls and women with a sense of confidence and gives them the ability to believe in themselves, set goals and have a healthy mindset.
RMN: How can you encourage young girls to get interested in sports?
I think finding something you enjoy, having fun with it and sticking to it can help girls form a great relationship with sports. I also think it helps to have a role model to look up to, whether it’s an older sister or a professional athlete. And, even though it’s hard, try to be well-rounded, you can strive for great things while also taking care of your mental health and physical well-being.
RMN: Do you have any tips for anyone who wants to play a Division 1 sport?
A lot of people talk about finding a work-life balance later in life, but as a competitive athlete, you need to grasp the concept at a younger age. Surround yourself with people who love you and want to help you achieve your goals. Stay driven, stay on your own path and focus on building authentic connections. I decided to go to UT because of the connections I made with the coaching staff and some former teammates who went there. It’s the best decision I ever made.
Learn more about how adidas is empowering female athletes here.
The post How adidas Is Dressing Female Athletes for Success appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
