Sweat Couture: The Rise of Athletic Apparel

It used to be that a T-shirt and pair of sweats was the outfit de jour at the gym. These days fitness apparel, much like workouts, have become more sophisticated. There are shirts with ventilation panels, pants with thermal lining and they all can be found in the Washington area.

Dozens of speciality stores, including Lululemon and Lucy, have sprung up to cater to a growing health-conscious population.

In 2011 alone, Modell's Sporting Goods opened in Columbia Heights, Althleta debuted in Georgetown and City Sports took up an address in Silver Spring.