ActiveinStyle is the UK and Europe’s leading online retailer of fashionable fitness and lifestyle apparel. Which is precisely why I am a little bit in love with this fantastic company. If you know me well you will know I LOVE sportswear I would live in my gym leggings if I could, which explains why I love ActiveinStyle so much. After discovering the fantastic ActiveinStyle I decided to find out a bit more about the motivational lady behind the brand….meet Caroline Lucey, the brains behind this fantastic brand. We chat about how ActiveinStyle first came about, how the world of fashionable fitness wear has changed in the last few years and much more! I hope your enjoy hearing about this super inspiring woman as much as I did :)

1. Can you describe how ActiveinStyle first came about and where the idea came from?

I had been living in Australia for 4 years and working for Lorna Jane, one of Australia’s largest activewear brands. I was given the opportunity to bring Lorna Jane to the UK, so in 2012 I moved back and began importing the brand and selling it through gyms and trunk shows. The UK activewear market was so different to the Australian one at the time; I don’t think women understood how fun & stylish their workout wardrobe could be and how it can motivate them to be more active and live a healthier lifestyle. I set up Activeinstyle.com as a platform to sell Lorna Jane but quickly realised there was a growing market for fashionable activewear. New brands were launching all the time in Australia, the US and here in the UK and I wanted to create a destination site that could offer women a wide range of stylish workout pieces that could support their active lifestyle.

2. Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I worked for various media publications in London after I graduated and then moved to Australia with my now husband in 2008. I qualified as a personal trainer and taught private and group classes alongside my position as PR & Communications Manager at Lorna Jane.

3. Where did your love of stylish activewear come from?

When I started working for Lorna Jane I realised the importance of having a workout wardrobe. The colours and the fit of the clothes inspire and motivate you to be active. You want to go to the gym to wear your new tank or sports bra. And its not just about wearing your activewear when you are doing fitness classes; fit fashion can be worn all day especially at the weekend and it encourages to you to make the things you do more active. You’ll be more inclined to walk places rather than catch the bus or meet your friends for a coffee and a walk in the park.

4. Can you describe ActiveinStyle in a nutshell?

ActiveinStyle is the UK and Europe’s leading online retailer of fashionable fitness and lifestyle apparel. Selling a carefully selected edit of activewear labels from around the world, we offer a mix of sport, performance and fashion pieces that we term ‘fit fashion’. Receiving new collections of stock each week we aim to inspire and motivate women to be active, healthier, and to be active in style.

5. What makes ActiveinStyle different from other fitness wear retailers out there?

When you purchase from ActiveinStyle, you aren’t just buying fashion, you are buying into a lifestyle. We import a number of brands from Australia, we want to be able to offer UK and European women brands that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to get here. We have also exclusively launched some of these brands into the UK. Running Bare, Lorna Jane, Vie Active, Pilot Athletic & Nimble were all launched by us into the UK market and we like to think that our customers come to us for our ability to spot stylish yet functional fitness brands and trust that we will bring them the best collection of pieces from these labels.

6. How would you describe an ActiveinStyle girl?

She is a doer, a dreamer, a believer. She has a passion for life, works hard, makes time for friends and family, and wants to lead a healthy and active life. She loves to workout but balances discipline with cheat day treats. She is an on the go girl with a fast-paced lifestyle who works hard to fit exercise in to her busy schedule. She wants an active wardrobe of versatile, easy to wear pieces that perform during the toughest workouts while supporting and flattering her body. Quality, design and style are key; she wants to be unique, inspiring & motivating to others.

7. Have you got any exciting future plans for ActiveinStyle?

We’ve got some new brands arriving over the next few months from Australia and the US and we will also be adding a couple more UK brands. We’re in the process of expanding our office and team. We have an amazing team of girls who are so passionate about what we are doing. We are launching our mobile site in the next couple of weeks too and we’ve got lots of events planned for the new year.

8. How would you say the world of fashionable fitness wear changed in the last few years?

It has changed dramatically and is a massive growth area. I think the main shift is in women’s perspective; a couple of years ago activewear was something you wore in the gym or on a run but you took off as soon as you finished exercising. Now women are much happier to wear their gym wear all day. Putting it on to take their children to school or to meet friends for brunch. There is so much more variety now; you can have sports bra in every colour, a range of tights in prints, or tanks with trend led designs.

9. What’s a typical day in the life of Caroline Lucey?

On a week day I get up at 6am. I’ll normally head to the gym for 40 minutes them home to have breakfast with my husband and daughter and get her ready for nursery. I drop her off and then get to my desk at about 8.30am. My days are full of meetings, working with my team on marketing, social media, talking to customers and assisting with enquiries. I do all the same things as the girls that work with me; we’re a small team and we all work together to make ActiveinStyle the best it can be. I collect my daughter at 6pm and then its home to spend time with her for an hour and put her to bed. I have dinner with my husband and then get back on my laptop for an hour if necessary especially if we need to talk to our Australian designers on the other side of the world. I like to go to bed early so its lights out at around 10pm.

10. When did you first discover your love for health and fitness?

I’ve always stayed fit by going to the gym or running but it’s really in the last 5 years that I have really understood how exercise and healthy eating can have a positive effect on my body and lifestyle. When I exercise & eat well I am less stressed, my skin is better and I have more energy.

11. What do you typically eat in a day?

I have a cup of hot water with lemon first thing in the morning, followed by porridge or eggs. Mid morning I’ll have a coffee. For lunch I have a salad, normally with whatever I have at home, I always try and make my lunch myself so I know what is in it. It’s always a huge salad with loads of greens plus protein and some brown rice or quinoa if I feel I need it. Dinner is normally fish or chicken with lots of vegetables. I snack on almonds, nut butter, raw carrots or rice cakes if I’m hungry throughout the day and I try to drink around 2 litres of water daily. I’m quite strict Monday to Friday because at the weekend I know I’ll treat myself by having a glass of wine with friends, going out for coffee and cake with my daughter or dinner with my husband. It’s all about balance.

12. Do you have any favourite eating spots in London?

I love the Detox Kitchen and Tanya’s in Chelsea – I’ll often have meetings there. I also really like CPress on the Fulham Road for juices and delicious healthy meals & desserts.

13. Do you have a particular exercise routine?

I’ll try and do at least 3 workouts a week but I find it difficult to keep a routine when I’m running my own business and trying to be a mum. It’s more a case of fitting it in when I can! Mornings work best as then I know it’s done for the day.

14. Do you have any favourite exercise classes?

I try and do a Reach Fitness class every so often – it’s an awesome workout. I like to try anything new on the fitness scene too. I’m looking forward to the new Xtend Barre London studio opening and also I’m going to try a London Insaniacs class soon too.

15. What motivates you in the morning?

I love what I do so I’m always excited about the day ahead.

16. Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs?

If you believe in something and are passionate about it then follow your heart and give whatever it is ago. There is no harm in trying and it is better to have a go than not.
17. Do you have any advice for young working women trying to lead a healthy lifestyle?

Exercise doesn’t have to cost money – there are plenty of parks and places you can run or so a outdoor fitness session. Grab a friend and motivate each other. If you do have money to spend on fitness classes then London is your oyster – there are so many amazing and different workouts you can try. For healthy eating inspiration I recommend following a few instagram foodies or bloggers. There is no excuse not to eat healthily; make sure you give yourself some cheat days though.

Check out ActiveinStyles website, instagram, twitter and facebook for more from this wonderful brand x