Activewear takes a giant step forward with Bandier’s new (huge!) flagship location

It’s wild to think that just a few years go, shopping for activewear (in my experience, at least) felt a lot like going to the dentist: necessary but not exactly pleasant. Options were somewhat limited (and not so inclusive), and most of the spaces offering sporty wares seemed like giant air-vacuumed warehouses—i.e., not the most ideal spaces to try on duds. But activewear and athleisure have come a long way in a short time. Not only are the lines between activewear and ready-to-wear becoming increasingly nonexistent, but high fashion is actually riding the coattails of athleisure; there really have never been more chic options fighting for space in your leggings drawer. And now, as a physical, gargantuan sign of the times, Bandier—the retailer and brand behind an ever-growing list of always-waitlisted leggings—just signed a lease for a huge new flagship store in New York City, The Real Deal reports.

The new space is a grand total of 27,500 square feet that span several floors in an already-sporty building in the Noho neighborhood (an Equinox gym also takes up some real estate at the address). In addition to room for expansive retail offerings, the store will house Studio B, Bandier’s fitness studio offshoot, and office space.

The company has spent the past few years convincing you that buying $100 leggings is totally the norm and has even made $200 leggings seem like par for the course. Although Bandier already has brick-and-mortar locations throughout Manhattan, Southampton and Manhasset on Long Island, and Dallas, this new athletic-wear hub is different: It has a grand total of 27,500 square feet that span several floors, according to the Real Real, in an already-sporty building in the Noho neighborhood (an Equinox gym also takes up some real estate at the address). In addition to room for expansive retail offerings, the store will house Studio B, Bandier’s fitness studio offshoot, and office space.

So in a growing movement that’s meshing fitness and fashion, Bandier is making its contribution to the cause by bringing together exercise and shopping in another wellness haven.

Expect to see the activewear industry continue to grow as brands like Asos up the ante and Outdoor Voices continues its brick-and-mortar expansion.