Athleisure is taking over Indian fashion: Decathlon India’s Sports Director on what Gen Z

Decathlon India’s Sports Director on Gen Z and Millennials athleisure trendsBy Samarpita YashaswiniSamarpita Yashaswini is a Content Producer for Fashion (HT Shop Now) at Hindustan Times Digital. She has five years of experience in lifestyle writing, specialising in fashion, beauty, and trend-led commerce content.

She covers everything from seasonal must-haves and wardrobe essentials to brand reviews and styling edits that make everyday dressing easier and more exciting. Over the years, she has interned with Times Internet and Desi Martini, and worked with Pinkvilla and Schbang, building a strong.

What Happened

At HT Digital, she writes and creates fashion affiliate content for both the website and social media, blending trend awareness with shopping practicality. Her work sits at the intersection of style and strategy combined with equal parts aesthetic and analytics.

• She studied at Delhi Public School and graduated from Miranda House, University of Delhi in 2019, where she also wrote for the college magazine.

• That balance could be particularly important for younger Indian shoppers, who increasingly want their clothes to work harder without compromising on aesthetics.

• In its Fitness and Running categories, the brand is focusing on products such as lightweight cushioned shoes and breathable apparel that are designed to perform during physical activity while fitting into the everyday wardrobe.

Key Details

A self-confessed fashion enthusiast, Samarpita has a sharp eye for colours, prints, silhouettes, and textures. She notices the fall of a fabric, the mood of a palette, and the difference a good cut can make.

• Decathlon's own design approach reflects this overlap between performance and lifestyle.

• According to Jensen, the growth of sports culture across Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities is contributing to the wider adoption of functional, active-inspired clothing.

• This isn't limited to metropolitan consumers either.

Why It Matters

Her expertise lies in translating trends into wearable, relatable style and helping readers shop smarter, not louder. She later completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Advertising and PR from MICA, Ahmedabad.

• As fitness becomes more visible and accessible, sportswear is naturally becoming more familiar outside traditional sporting spaces.

• The growth of sports culture across Indian cities is helping push the trend further.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Hindustan Times as more details emerge