The New Athletic Leisure - Horizon Athletic

q: How has it been developing your brand in the beginning, then over the pandemic period?Did you notice a change in what your customers wanted? a: Pre pandemic there was much more space for Activewear, as there was only really activewear brands and now post pandemic all fashion brands have introduced their own activewear lines which has increased the supply of activewear on the market and this has made it more competitive. The global pandemic has increased the demand for activewear in general and this style of clothing has influenced our daily fashion trends. q: Why is good quality sportswear design so important? a: I can not stress how important good activewear is from a sustainable and productive point. Activewear – is an apparel to wear while training therefore it is essential that the clothes fit, feel and support you while you perform. Also if the activewear you purchase doesn’t give you this value it is not sustainable for you to continue purchasing activewear to fulfil its purpose. I suggest be wise when you are purchasing activewear think about support and comfort not just it’s price point. q: How has being a professional athlete influenced you as a designer? a: It has been a great honour for me to have been a professional athlete, it has exposed me and given me a insight in what my designs should be and also what people want form activewear. When I design a collection I look at many factors; style, fabrics, technicality, support and durability these are crucial elements for create good quality activewear. q: Changing the fashion industry and protecting the environment is such a big part of Horizon’s identity - why is this so vital? a: The brand was built on sustainability it is one of the and I would say the most vital value of the brand. As a swimwear and activewear brand you can feel the natural connection to the environment. Most sporting activities are performed outside, whether it would be a run in the forest or a swim in the ocean automatically a person is connected to the environment and enjoying its beauty therefore it is so authentic for the Horizon Athletic to uphold that love and respect for our planet. In relation to the fashion industry it is unfortunately heavily saturated with cheap low grade fast fashion. Our planet has a massive waste problem with 10 million tons of fast fashion clothes sent to landfills. An estimated 40 per cent are of such poor quality they are deemed worthless on arrival and end up dumped in landfill. This is a problem we need to address with ethical production and sustainable resources. Essentially what we wear is effecting our planet. q: What is the one thing that sets Horizon apart from other brands? a: Athleticism, which is part of the brand name (Athletic) together with Horizon, represents a boundless new world. We have developed every collection based on a historical female athlete, this really embraces female empowerment which is what we want our customers to feel when wearing our brand. q: What is your favourite set? a: Rhône Crop Top and Basòdino Leggings in all the colours Lava Stone, Soft Earth and River. q: What are the next steps for Horizon? a: We have so much planned for this year, Pop Up events one with Curated Crowd as well as two new collections and also an ‘Empower’ Seminar with an female athlete (not me) to come later in year in London.