Athletic Wear Refresh: A Bold New Gym Set

There’s something especially motivating about refreshing your workout wardrobe with pieces that feel like you. As part of my ongoing athletic wear refresh, I’m adding another handmade set to my gym wardrobe—and this one might be the boldest yet.

Lately, I’ve been taking a closer look at my handmade wardrobe and thinking more intentionally about what I actually wear in this season of my life. Athletic wear has become a big part of that. Instead of treating workout clothes as an afterthought, I want my gym wardrobe to have the same personality, color, and style as everything else I make.

And this fabric made that very easy. 

The Fabric That Started It All

 

The moment I saw this vibrant multicolored paisley, I was immediately drawn to it. The mix of warm reds, oranges, greens, turquoise, and golden yellow against the light background feels bold, energetic, and a little unexpected for athletic wear.

There’s something about the print that reminds me of Etro and other higher-end fashion brands known for rich, intricate paisleys and fearless color combinations. It has that luxe, maximalist feeling that makes you want to keep looking at it because there’s always another detail to notice.

Of course, my first thought was: this needs to be a gym set.

I love the idea of taking a print with such a strong high-fashion feel and translating it into something practical and wearable. A sports bra and leggings felt like the perfect way to let the fabric really shine.

Going Back to Tried-and-True Patterns

For this set, I’m using two Made for Mermaids patterns: the Emmy Sports Bra and the Lottie Leggings.

These patterns are tried and true for me—in fact, this will be my third set using this combination. When I find patterns that fit well, feel good during a workout, and give me the look I want, I’m more than happy to sew them again. That’s one of my favorite things about handmade clothing: once you’ve worked through the fit and know what works for your body and lifestyle, you can completely transform the same patterns just by changing the fabric.

And I definitely foresee more Emmy and Lottie sets in my future as I continue refreshing my gym wardrobe.

Watching the Set Come Together

I always love documenting that in-between stage where a project starts looking less like a pile of fabric and more like an actual garment.

With a print this bold, every step feels exciting. Even before the set is finished, you can already see how the paisley is going to move across the body and how all those colors will create something completely different from standard solid-colored gym wear.

There’s also something very satisfying about returning to familiar patterns. I already know the general construction process, so I can focus more on the fabric, the finish, and enjoying the transformation. P.S. I did decide to fully line this project, and I’m glad I did! I started by basting the lining to the outer fabric and then using the my b68 Maker to assemble to garment.

  

The Finished Set

The final result is exactly what I wanted from this athletic wear refresh: functional pieces for the gym that still feel expressive, bold, and completely connected to my personal style.

That’s really the direction I want to continue moving in with my handmade wardrobe. I’m not interested in making things simply to make them—I want to create pieces that support how I actually live while still giving me that excitement I’ve always loved about fashion and sewing.

This paisley print brings so much energy to the Emmy Sports Bra and Lottie Leggings, and I love the contrast between the practical athletic silhouettes and the luxurious, designer-inspired feel of the fabric. It’s colorful. It’s unapologetically bold. And most importantly, it’s something I’m genuinely excited to wear to the gym.

Third set down—and I already know it won’t be the last.

Shimere | @shim.sew.creative