Athleta is about to expand across America in a big way.
Gap Inc. announced earlier this week that it will be opening around 270 Athleta and Old Navy stores in the next three years, while closing 200 Gap and Banana Republic stores in that same time period.
Athleta, Gap's athleisure brand, has thrived while many brands have struggled in the difficult retail climate of recent years. The company said that it expects the openings to bolster Athleta sales to over $1 billion in the next few years.
Athleisure — the trend of wearing activewear in everyday life — has become the apparel of choice for many Americans over the last several years. As of 2016, activewear had become a $45.9 billion market for retailers, according to data from the NPD Group.
We took a trip to Athleta's Fifth Avenue store in New York City to see firsthand why Athleta has become one of Gap's most successful brands.
SEE ALSO: Gap will close about 200 Gap and Banana Republic stores over the next 3 years
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The first thing we noticed when walking into Athleta was a sign outside advertising free workout classes taking place in the store's downstairs fitness studio.
Athleta offers classes taught by its own brand ambassadors or by instructors from other fitness studios around the city. The brand is also the apparel sponsor for Girls on the Run and hosts meetings for the group at its stores.
Upon entering the store, we were greeted by a table of neatly folded leggings and mannequins sporting a mix of workout clothes and loungewear.
The store is organized into five sections determined by the type of activity its apparel is best for: train, restore, travel, on-the-go, and explore.
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