Activewear has become a staple in most people’s wardrobes. No longer reserved just for the gym, athleisure wear is now commonly worn for casual everyday use. With the rise in popularity of activewear, many brands have entered the market promising quality fabrics, stylish designs, and performance technology.
Two of the most popular brands today are TLF Apparel and Gymshark. But how do they compare? Which one offers the best value for your money?
A Brief Comparison Table of TLF Apparel And Gymshark:
| Features | TLF Apparel | Gymshark |
| Founder | Cassey Ho | Ben Francis |
| Year Founded | 2013 | 2012 |
| Price Range | $20 – $75 per piece | $40 – $70 per piece |
| Style | Feminine, fun prints, color-blocking, cutouts | Sleek, minimalist, neutral colors |
| Categories | Activewear, lifestyle pieces like dresses and swimwear | Performance activewear focused on bottoms |
| Fitness Focus | Gym-to-street wear | Specialized for training like weightlifting, CrossFit, running |
| Target Audience | Women of all body types | Men and women serious about fitness |
| Brand Vibe | Female empowerment, body positivity, community | Aspirational, elite fitness, pushing limits |
| Marketing | Leverages founder’s social media presence | Sponsorships of influencers and athletes |
Overview Of TLF Apparel
Founded in 2013 by fitness influencer Cassey Ho, TLF Apparel (also known as Tone It Up) is a women’s activewear and lifestyle brand based in Los Angeles. The brand is focused on promoting a healthy and confident lifestyle for women.
TLF designs high-performance activewear using fabrics like compression material and sweat-wicking tech. The collections feature trendy cuts and fun colors and prints while still being functional for exercise.
In addition to activewear like leggings, tops, shorts and sports bras, TLF also sells lifestyle pieces like dresses, swimwear, and jackets. The price range is moderate, from $20 – $75 per piece.
TLF is popular among the fitness community, especially those who follow Cassey Ho or do her Tone It Up workouts. The brand promotes a message of female empowerment and body acceptance.
Overview Of Gymshark
Founded in 2012 by Ben Francis, Gymshark is a UK-based fitness apparel brand that has grown tremendously in popularity. Driven by social media influencers and celebrities, Gymshark has become one of the fastest growing and most sought after brands among gym-goers.
Gymshark is focused solely on performance activewear catered to intensive training. They use innovative fabrics and technology like sweat-wicking, stretch and compression, aiming to enhance your workout.
The collections feature trendy cuts, bright colors, and seamless designs. Product categories include leggings, shorts, tops and sports bras. Prices range from $40 – $70.
The brand sponsors athletes and influencers globally to promote its image as a premium, aspirational fitness brand. Gymshark has a cult-like following, especially among weightlifters, CrossFitters and bodybuilders.
Comparison Between TLF Apparel And Gymshark
Quality and Performance
When it comes to quality and performance, both TLF and Gymshark deliver durable, well-constructed activewear.
TLF uses high quality performance fabrics designed to wick sweat, stretch, and offer compression where needed. Reviews praise the comfort and fit of TLF leggings, with many comparing them favorably to higher priced brands like Lululemon.
The tops are soft with removable bra cups for support during activity. Most customers find TLF to be opaque and squat-proof. The fabrics hold up well against pilling and fading after multiple washes.
Similarly, Gymshark uses proprietary fabric technologies to create lightweight, stretchy and sweat-wicking activewear. Their Vital Seamless, Adapt, and Flex collections feature next-level fabrics that offer compression, shape retention and comfort.
Fans rave about the softness of Gymshark tops and the sculpting effect of theircompression leggings. The products are both sweat-wicking and squat proof. Gymshark’s fabrics are also fade-resistant and designed for high intensity activity.
For both brands, sizing can be hit or miss depending on your body shape. Some shoppers find the sizing to be smaller and recommend sizing up. But overall, both TLF and Gymshark activewear stands up well to repeated use and washing.
Read More: Comparison Between FLEO And Lululemon
Comparing Design and Style
In terms of design aesthetic, there are some key differences between the brands.
TLF has a playful, feminine style with lots of fun prints, color-blocking, and details like mesh cutouts. They offer more lifestyle pieces like jackets, dresses and swimsuits in addition to straight athletic gear.
TLF caters exclusively to the women’s market.
Gymshark has a more sleek, minimalist aesthetic geared towards the gym. They use seamless construction and more subtle colorways like black, grey and navy. There is less emphasis on prints or embellishments. As an athleisure brand, their focus is on innovative fabrics and silhouettes for performance.
Along with women’s apparel, Gymshark has a substantial men’s collection.
Some key design differences:
- TLF offers more dresses, tops, and casual pieces while Gymshark focuses on bottoms like leggings.
- TLF incorporates more bright colors, patterns, cutouts and strappy details. Gymshark uses solid neutrals.
- Gymshark offers specific collections for different activities like weight training, running, and yoga. TLF is designed as gym-to-street wear.
So in summary, TLF has a wider selection of lifestyle and fitness apparel geared solely for women, while Gymshark focuses specifically on high performance activewear for gym activities for both men and women.
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Comparing Brand Culture
In addition to product differences, the brands have distinct identities when it comes to mission, voice and culture.
TLF Apparel aims to empower and build confidence in women. The brand has an upbeat, bubbly tone of voice and promotes messages like “Strong is the new skinny.”
They leverage the social media presence and YouTube following of founder Cassey Ho to connect with customers.
Gymshark associates itself with performance, ambition, and pushing your limits. They sponsor elite athletes and bodybuilders to represent the brand. Gymshark’s tone and imagery is sleek, bold and intense. Their large social media presence features aspirational fitness influencers and celebrities.
TLF communicates more directly with followers through YouTube, podcasts and community programs. Gymshark relies more heavily on influencer sponsorships and aspirational branding, rather than direct communication.
TLF’s culture celebrates women of all body types and encourages healthy self-esteem. Gymshark is focused on high performance training and achieving peak fitness. Both brands effectively engage their target demographics.
But TLF builds more of a personal community while Gymshark leans on influential brand ambassadors.
Also Read: Comparison Between Hylete And Lululemon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Some of Gymshark’s main competitors include:
Alphalete, BuffBunny, Fabletics, Outdoor Voices, Lululemon, Nike, Puma, Under Armour.
Some gymwear brands with a similar aesthetic and performance quality as Gymshark include:
Alphalete – Known for compression and sweat-wicking fabric
BuffBunny – Bold colors and stylish athletic wear
Ryderwear – Trendy designs and soft, comfortable fabric
Avital Activewear – Machine-washable activewear for yoga and running
Carbon38 – Technical sports bras and leggings for high performance
Yes, Gymshark is generally considered a high quality activewear brand. They use proprietary fabric technologies to create lightweight, four-way stretch, sweat-wicking apparel that is very durable. The fabrics offer compression and shapes retention, making them ideal for high intensity workouts and gym sessions. The quality is evident in both the construction and performance.
No, Gymshark and Fabletics have different backgrounds and branding, despite some similarities.
Fabletics was founded by Kate Hudson and is owned by TechStyle Fashion Group. It uses a flexible membership model to offer discounted activewear.
Gymshark was founded in the UK by Ben Francis and does not have a membership program.
While both brands focus on affordable but quality athletic wear, Gymshark is positioned as more premium and aspirational. Fabletics sells a wider range of apparel including everyday basics. Gymshark is focused solely on high performance activewear.
Read More: Comparison Between Snag Tights And Sheertex
TL;DR – Which Brand Is Best?
So which brand comes out on top – TLF or Gymshark? Here’s a quick summary:
- For quality and performance, both brands deliver durable, comfortable activewear using high tech fabrics. Quality is comparable.
- For style and design, TLF offers more casual lifestyle pieces with feminine details and bright colors. Gymshark has a sleeker, minimalist look focused purely on activewear.
- For brand culture, TLF is focused on female empowerment and building community. Gymshark is aspirational and geared towards elite fitness.
In the end, it depends on your personal preferences and priorities. Both TLF Apparel and Gymshark make excellent activewear.
TLF is best for the style-conscious woman looking for a brand that celebrates femininity and empowers women. Their clothes transition seamlessly from studio to street.
Gymshark is ideal for serious gym-goers who want top quality performance activewear to enhance their training. Their functional fabrics and flattering compression designs are perfect for weightlifting, CrossFit, running and more.