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Active or Idle, Everyone Is Wearing Gym Clothes Now Sales of activewear are growing as denim sales are shrinking.

By Alev Aktar

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Adidas
Sporty chic: Adidas by Stella McCartney.

Active or idle, everyone loves "athleisure." So much so that fitness-inspired togs are among the hottest trends driving America's apparel market.

Comfortable, affordable, versatile and increasingly stylish, activewear is no longer just for the gym. Sleek hoodies and stretch pants have become acceptable attire at many offices, not to mention restaurants and bars. And sporting them can create the sensation of being, well, sporty.

"It's like diet pills in a bottle," explains Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at The NPD Group. "When you buy a treadmill, you feel healthy even if you never use it."