The wellness division was added by the NPC and IFBB Pro League in 2021 to recognize a more developed lower body and glute aesthetic than the bikini division calls for. Wellness athletes carry more muscle through the glutes, hamstrings, and quads than bikini competitors. The training, the diet, and the apparel all shift to match.
Bikini division stays leaner and more linear. Wellness division leans curvier and more developed below the waist. Both train hard, but the apparel that highlights and supports a wellness athlete is different from what works for a bikini athlete. Stock both styles in the shop if the audience spans both divisions.
| Piece | Brand | Why it works | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-waist pocket leggings | Bear Grips | Holds glute shape, phone pocket, daily training | $66 |
| Seamless leggings | Bear Grips | Smooth profile, no-line aesthetic | $66 |
| High-waist biker shorts | Bear Grips | Glute focus, summer training | $58 |
| Padded sports bra | Bear Grips | Daily training top | $56 |
| Cropped sweatshirt | Bella+Canvas | Layering, post-workout | $56 |
| Cropped hoodie | Bella+Canvas | Cool weather training | $58 |
| Flowy scoop muscle tank | Bella+Canvas | Casual training, layered over bra | $32 |
| Womens favorite tee | Bella+Canvas | Casual daily wear | $30 |
Wellness athletes lean toward neutral tones and earthy aesthetics in training apparel. The top-selling colors:
Design treatment: minimal. A small logo on the leg of the leggings, a small chest hit on the crop, a clean back design on the muscle tank. Loud branding gets left in the closet. Subtle branding gets worn daily.
Wellness athletes carry more muscle through the glutes and thighs than the general female fitness market. Standard womens sizing can run tight in the lower body for a built wellness physique. Two sizing notes:
A wellness athlete typically runs three to four prep cycles a year, with off-season blocks between. Apparel demand shifts across the cycle:
The shop catalog should support all four phases. Stock the off-season heavy pieces alongside the prep and casual pieces, and add post-show commemoratives as needed.
Crops, biker shorts, high-waist leggings, padded bras. Built for the wellness physique. No minimum, ships in about a week with free shipping.
Start FreeNo. Stage suits are cut-and-sew construction with custom rhinestone work, which requires a specialty vendor. The catalog covers training, casual, and commemorative apparel for wellness athletes, not the stage suit itself.
Wellness emphasizes curvier lower-body development, so the apparel highlights glutes and thighs (high-waist leggings, biker shorts). Bikini stays leaner and more linear, so the apparel can be more form-fitting throughout. Both divisions use similar daily training pieces with slight cut differences.
Most wellness athletes size up by one in high-waist leggings to accommodate glute and thigh development. The Bear Grips high-waist pocket leggings have a stretch waistband that adjusts to the size jump cleanly.
About 3-5 business days production at a US partner with free ground shipping. End-to-end is about a week from order to door.
Bear Grips Pro Shops