J Crew and New Balance launch their first activewear range for men

For the man that doesn't want to leave his style credentials in the locker room

Back in November of last year, the American mega brand J Crew launched its first activewear range for women, in collaboration with sportswear giant New Balance.

It goes without saying that the launch has been beyond successful, so much so that a menswear line - again in association with New Balance - debuts this month.

This latest project seems like a no-brainer, leaving you to wonder why it hasn't come to fruition sooner, especially since the trend towards performance wear in menswear continues unabated.

In fact, having already collaborated together on high end training shoes, both brands are perfectly placed to design a gym kit for the kind of man that doesn't want to leave his style credentials in the locker room.

The clothes themselves are all you would want from a gym kit, and also what we've come to expect from a brand like J Crew.

I'ts both pragmatic and unfussy with eye-catching pops of colour running throughout. You'll also be hard pressed to find any shouty logos or annoying branding. And although the usual suspects of sweat pants, shorts, T-shirts and waterproof jackets may not look too techy, the devil is in the detail; sweat wicking and tear resistant fabrics are key.

With the draw of two already established brands, this kind of athletic gear for a discerning customer is a master stroke; here's hoping that this collection will run and run.

Available at jcrew.com and the Regent Street store, London.