5 Functional Clothing Brands to Improve Your Posture and Reduce Stress

Lymphatic flow-boosting leggings. Posture-correcting bras. Swimsuits with sun protection. They all make up the hottest new wellness trend: functional clothing — items that provide a benefit to the wearer.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the biggest opportunity lies in climate-adaptive clothing, meaning cooling fibers and sun-protection fabrics.

“We’re seeing a lot of innovation around personal cooling garments, and while they’re still a few years away from hitting the market, there are a lot of exciting products in development,” Jane Kitchen, editor-in-chief of Spa Business, said at the Global Wellness Summit’s Future of Wellness 2024 press conference. “Many of these technologies will become more mainstream and be incorporated into everyday clothing, with things like phase-change inks and heat-adaptive fabrics that keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.” [and] It’s a wearable patch that transfers heat away from the body.”

While these climate adaptation technologies are still a few years away from hitting the mass market, some are already available, like Arctic Cool, which has a line of cooling activewear.

At the same time, as people became more concerned about preventing skin damage and aging, sun-protective swimwear became popular.

“In the longevity and anti-aging field, there’s a lot of concern about photoaging, oxidation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage from sunlight that can affect the skin and cause premature aging and even cancer. I think it would be great to have more ways to get SPF,” says Dr. Amanda Kahn, a New York City-based personal primary care physician and longevity expert.

Climate-adaptive clothing is all the rage at the moment, but experts say there are several other interesting use cases for it at the moment, particularly lymphatic drainage.

“I was looking for a medical-grade compression garment that would improve lymphatic drainage and reduce post-surgery swelling, both after surgery and for sessions while patients go about their daily lives,” Khan said, which led him to find compression company Elastic Athletics.

Here, we take a look at how Elastique Athletics and other brands are using performance clothing for a variety of purposes.

Elastic Athletics Ro Original Leggings, $197

Across the entire range, which includes leggings, bras, tops, bodysuits, and shorts, Elastic Athletics combines compression with its patented Micropearl technology, which employs beads that act as micro-massages to promote lymphatic flow to support recovery and daily function, reduce swelling, and provide an overall smoother feel to the skin. Its many benefits have made the brand a favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow.

Sera Weighted Serahoody, $158

Think of it as a wearable weighted blanket. Made from classic hoodie material and plusher fabrics, the Therahoodie uses 10 pounds of weighted pressure to reduce anxiety and promote healthy sleep, which the brand says is especially effective at combating travel-related stress.

SwimZip Women’s Half-Zip Swimdress Cover-Up, $75

SwimZip is addressing the ongoing climate crisis through its product line that features the highest level of sun protection in fabric, UPF 50+. In addition to cover-ups and swimwear for women, the brand also offers collections for children and men.

Formé Power Bra, $178

The Forme Power Bra has become a hot item after Taylor Swift wore it while rehearsing for her “Eras” tour. The bra features tension fabric and dual fabric panels for added support and posture correction, helping the wearer stand taller and with better posture.

Knix Leakproof Classic One Piece Swimsuit, $100

Known for its period underwear, Knix’s new swimwear collection is light-proof; the brand claims that the swimsuits can absorb as much water as a regular tampon. To further enhance the collection’s functionality, the fabric also offers additional sun protection with UPF 50+.