Journals / Selçuk İletişim / 2026 / Cilt: 19 Sayı: 2

Functional Health to Wearable Identity: Health Narratives in Brands' Lifestyle Fashion

Fonksiyonel Sağlıktan Giyilebilir Kimliğe: Markaların Yaşam Tarzı Modasında Sağlık Anlatıları

Erdem Varol(MARMARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İLETİŞİM FAKÜLTESİ, HALKLA İLİŞKİLER VE TANITIM BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0003-3940-2122
Merve Çelik Varol(BEYKENT ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İLETİŞİM FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-0698-929X
Pages
641–668
Publication Date
2026-10-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Although the specific sample and timeframe limit broader generalizations across the entire luxury activewear market, the study uses an interdisciplinary approach to conclude that all three brands successfully position athleisure not merely as clothing, but as a cultural practice that cultivates identity and belonging.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines how concepts like functional health, wellness, wellbeing, and longevity are transforming the communication strategies of contemporary lifestyle apparel brands.
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Key Findings & Data:Through a descriptive content analysis of Instagram posts (May 1–July 31, 2025) from Lululemon, Sporty & Rich, and Alo Yoga, the research reveals that health has evolved from a medical fact into an aesthetic, cultural, and consumption-driven discourse.
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Conclusion & Impact:Although the specific sample and timeframe limit broader generalizations across the entire luxury activewear market, the study uses an interdisciplinary approach to conclude that all three brands successfully position athleisure not merely as clothing, but as a cultural practice that cultivates identity and belonging.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Fonksiyonel Sağlık · Wellness · Wellbeing

Abstract

This study examines how concepts like functional health, wellness, wellbeing, and longevity are transforming the communication strategies of contemporary lifestyle apparel brands. Through a descriptive content analysis of Instagram posts (May 1–July 31, 2025) from Lululemon, Sporty & Rich, and Alo Yoga, the research reveals that health has evolved from a medical fact into an aesthetic, cultural, and consumption-driven discourse. By leveraging "athleisure" and "enclothed cognition," these brands frame health narratives as wearable identities, fostering emotional connections, building communities, and turning wellness into a lifestyle practice. Specifically, Lululemon blends physical performance with mental balance to present fitness as a life philosophy. Sporty & Rich champions minimalist elegance through retro aesthetics and slow living, while Alo Yoga focuses on holistic wellness, emphasizing the harmony of body, mind, and spirit. These brands were selected for their strategic leadership in shaping holistic lifestyle narratives. Although the specific sample and timeframe limit broader generalizations across the entire luxury activewear market, the study uses an interdisciplinary approach to conclude that all three brands successfully position athleisure not merely as clothing, but as a cultural practice that cultivates identity and belonging.

Özet

Bu çalışmada, fonksiyonel sağlık, wellness, wellbeing ve longevity gibi kavramların günümüz yaşam tarzı giyim markalarının iletişim stratejilerinde nasıl bir dönüşüm yarattığını incelenmektedir. Lululemon, Sporty & Rich ve Alo Yoga gibi markaların sosyal medya içerikleri üzerinden yapılan betimsel içerik analizi ile sağlık kavramının yalnızca tıbbi bir olgu değil, aynı zamanda estetik, kültürel ve tüketim odaklı bir söylem haline geldiği ortaya konmuştur. Bulgular, bu markaların aktif spor giyim (athleisure) ve giyimin bilişsel etkisi (enclothed cognition) yaklaşımlarını kullanarak sağlık temalı anlatıları giyilebilir bir kimlik unsuru olarak sunduklarını göstermektedir. Bu sayede markalar, tüketiciyle duygusal bağ kurmakta, topluluk inşası gerçekleştirmekte ve sağlığı bir yaşam tarzı pratiğine dönüştürmektedir. Lululemon, fiziksel performans ve zihinsel dengeyi gündelik yaşam pratikleriyle bütünleştirerek “zindelik” kavramını yaşam felsefesi hâline getirirken; Sporty & Rich, geçmişten beslenen retro estetik, sade tasarımlar ve yavaş yaşam vurgusuyla minimalist bir zarafet sunmaktadır. Alo Yoga ise yoga, meditasyon ve holistik wellness yaklaşımını merkezine alarak beden, zihin ve ruh arasındaki uyumu bütüncül bir denge anlayışıyla temsil etmektedir. Lululemon, Sporty & Rich ve Alo Yoga markalarının örneklem olarak seçilmesi, bu aktörlerin esenlik pratiklerini bütüncül bir yaşam tarzı anlatısına dönüştürmedeki stratejik öncüllüklerinden kaynaklanmaktadır. Araştırma kapsamında, söz konusu markaların 1 Mayıs - 31 Temmuz 2025 tarihleri arasındaki Instagram gönderileri incelenerek dijital sağlık söylemleri analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmanın bu üç marka ve belirli zaman aralığıyla sınırlandırılması, lüks aktif giyim pazarının tamamına yönelik genelleme yapılmasını metodolojik olarak kısıtlamaktadır. Bir başka deyişle, bu çalışma, sağlık anlatılarının modern tüketim kültüründeki rolünü disiplinler arası bir bakış açısıyla değerlendirmektedir. Çalışma sonucunda; her üç markanın da athleisure tarzını yalnızca bir giyim biçimi olarak değil, kimlik ve aidiyet oluşturan bir kültürel pratik olarak konumlandırdıkları görülmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Varol, E., Varol, M. Ç. (2026). Functional Health to Wearable Identity: Health Narratives in Brands' Lifestyle Fashion. Selçuk İletişim, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 2, 641–668. https://doi.org/10.18094/josc.1804871

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