After 18 years of experience at brands like Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue...
Equinox’s VP of retail, Annie Walters, was perfectly positioned to create an activewear line that’s truly as stylish as it is functional. She turned to her right hand, Alyson Araque (Equinox’s director of buying), for help designing the newly-launched collection. The result: a capsule that Walters says celebrates all different body types while still being edgy, fashionable, and high-performance. You can find it in The Shop at Equinox locations in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Ahead of the product drop, Walters sat down with Furthermore to answer 6 quick questions.
The inspiration: my coworkers
“Alyson's a very functional athlete. She likes everything to be very performance-driven. And I tend to be more style-focused. So between the two of us and all the other women in the office, we crafted this collection that really speaks to the Equinox woman.”
The differentiation: our perspective
“We took all the things that we loved from all the different lines [sold in The Shop], and put them together in this really well-crafted, curated collection. It's literally like a culmination of all of our favorite things in activewear put together.”
The formula for the perfect pair of leggings: thoughtful details
“We used unfinished laser cut hems on the ankle and a high-waisted compression waistband that really holds you in and feels supportive, so if you're doing a HIIT or cycling class, you know you're going to feel great. One of the leggings in the collection has a high-quality underwear band with a satin finish that doesn't dig in like some of the other ones that are out there today.”
The coolest element in the collection: zippers on bras
“We have this super hot zip-up bra that is still supportive for workouts, but you can also wear it as a top.”
The color scheme: black on black
“We wanted this collection to embody the Equinox brand and woman simultaneously. The usage of black on black permitted us to achieve this through subtle brand recognition.”
The next foray for Equinox’s Performance Collection: menswear
“This is a category we're going after in a big way.”
Reporting by Karli Bendlin. Photography by Coty Tarr.