Athleisure treasure

Tracksuits have come a long way from their humble athletic origins. What was once a symbol of casual comfort has morphed into a cornerstone of both high fashion and streetwear. Stamm is no stranger to elevating the everyday. With a keen eye for innovative materials and unexpected shapes, her designs defy simple categorisation. The tracksuit, a soft wardrobe staple, is reimagined in Stamm’s hands as something more than an outfit for hooded hibernation. It becomes a hybrid of style and function, a manifesto of cosy cool that can navigate everything from the streets to the after-party.

At STAMM, comfort never means compromise. Stamm’s tracksuits have an effortless, bold energy, from loose, slightly flared trousers to luxurious velvet finishes. But what makes a perfect tracksuit? For Stamm, it’s about balance. The fit should be relaxed but not sloppy. The fabrics should speak quality, but never feel stifling. And the details — subtle but sharp — are what set a great tracksuit apart from the rest. With tracksuits no longer confined to the gym, Stamm tells us how her pieces define a new way to wear luxury streetwear in a world where comfort and style are no longer mutually exclusive.

What makes the perfect tracksuit?

The perfect tracksuit is one that allows you to explore the world, while keeping the comfort of being at home. It’s a uniform, but the free kind of uniform. It has a balanced, comfortable fit that makes you feel at ease. Today’s perfect tracksuit is not just about athletic performance — it’s about comfort first, style second.

Do you go for more cosy or stylish, or both? How can one nail the balance?

For me, cosy can be stylish in and of itself. I always dress with an element of what people would call “cosy”. To keep it stylish, I think it's important to introduce interesting construction details. Some tracksuits work best when cross-styled, while others designed with high fashion in mind are flattering as they are.

STAMM is all about a zesty, baggy look. What are your top tips for styling a tracksuit?

Layer up and style it in interesting combinations. Let something unexpected — a dress, skirt, or even jeans — be your counter piece, and bring freshness. Pair a full tracksuit with boots and an overcoat for a casual, tailored direction. Let different materials and volumes play off each other.

What materials do you look out for when shopping for a tracksuit? How can you tell if a piece is high quality?

Polyester is common in sportswear, and it has durability — plus, it brings a retro vibe. But I think new takes are more interesting when made with organic fabrics. I always look at craftsmanship. How well is it made? Is this the right fabric for this cut?

Track to the future

“ The perfect tracksuit is a uniform, but the free kind of uniform. It has a balanced, comfortable fit that makes you feel at ease. ”

- Elisabet Stamm

What fit do you prefer for the bottoms? Flared, tapered, straight? And high or low waist?

I prefer loose-fitting, slightly flared bottoms. When designing for STAMM, I like to add options to make it your own, like a zipper along the leg or a loop system to adjust shapes. The waist has a hidden elastic and string system inside, so you can decide the placement — high or low — depending on your mood.

Any tracksuit trends you’ve been loving lately? And any you’ve been hating?

I love the STAMM velvet tracksuit. The velvet is super comfortable, but it’s also able to exist outside of the sporty sphere. I admire independent designers who experiment with tactile, organic fabrics for classic tracksuit shapes. I’m quite over the tech look. Much of it isn’t functional, and that really hurts my soul. I also can’t stand details that look functional but aren’t — like a fake pocket or a weird cut for no reason.

Which tracksuit icon do you channel?

Snoop Dogg.

Do you prefer a co-ord look, or something more mismatched?

Personally, I submit to mismatching, but I do love co-ord looks when done right. It’s all about the person wearing it, making sure that what they’re wearing speaks their style.

Cosy-core

“ To keep it stylish, I think it’s important to introduce interesting construction details. ”

- Elisabet Stamm

What separates high-end tracksuits from high-street ones?

Design exclusivity, fabric quality, and price point. High-end labels often have decades of design history and access to unique fabrics. Emerging designers are perhaps even more free to create out of the box interpretations. High-street brands stick to tried-and-tested formulas with standardised fits and accessible fabrics.

Are there any must-have features for a tracksuit?

It has to be flexible — features like two-way zippers or adjustable hems on both the jacket and pants waist. Again, it’s a fine balance. It shouldn’t be drowning in details either. The ones that are there should support ease and comfort, not become a functional feature nightmare.

When designing a brand-new tracksuit at STAMM, what’s your process?

My design process is mostly kicked off by a feeling, or something I want to express. Music sets the tone, then I move on to fabric. Sometimes fabric is the first step, but it’s always a desire to bring something new, and turn it into something wearable and functional.

For you personally, where are you wearing a tracksuit?

On my first day of school, I wore a pink, white and green Reebok tracksuit and I look happy as ever. Today, I mix and match. The tracksuits I design build a bridge between sporty and fresh, and you can style them for any occasion.

Any brands you’re loving right now?

I’d love a whole selection of Vivienne Westwood accessories, and a Wales Bonner x adidas tracksuit. This interview made me miss my vintage ’70s red adidas tracksuit that somehow went missing.