In February, The Dr. Oz Show upgraded workout wear to work-appropriate wear with a segment on “Workout Wear Fridays.” Is it a trend? An article in The Washington Post, “The Case for Workout Wear Friday,” thinks yes, stating “clothes that go straight from your workout to your work (or vice versa) are going to come in handy in 2014.”

Luckily, the promotional apparel industry is ready for the demand. Brands such as American Apparel (asi/35297) and Bella-Alo (asi/39590) have long included comfy yet sporty garments to wear while walking, jogging or striking a yoga pose. Today, these brands offer more options than ever, allowing distributors to source a more work-appropriate fitness outfit for companies that have wellness programs or encourage employees to dress exercise-ready on a casual day. For example, the Alo performance tri-blend tee (W1101) is made of a combination of 50% polyester/37.5% combed ringspun cotton/12.5% rayon. The result is a performance tee with a soft hand and flattering drape. Not only will the shirt not “cling” too much for the office, it has stylish details such as tonal stitching to increase its polish.

Other top apparel suppliers are expanding fitness apparel choices, offering full lines of athletically oriented garments. SanMar (asi/84863), for example, launched 26 new Sport-Tek pieces for 2014. Its Sport-Tek ladies fitness pant (LST880) and Vector wicking polo (LST670) pair for an outfit that isn’t overly clingy, but is stretchy and fitted enough to make exercising easy. When creating a workout wear Friday ensemble, the trick is to source components that can be layered and will present the right style details to present a professional look. When you do, everyone will see healthy results.

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