So this could be considered quite bold, making my first blog post a gym-legging review. But TALA is not a company to sleep on and I wanted to get onboard the #TALAGIRL train. I will be comparing them to Gymshark leggings, purely because they tend to be my favourite, go-to leggings and I believe TALA could rival them in terms of social impact/community as well as performance.
Probably the most anticipated gym wear launch ever, TALA – the brain-child of fitness/lifestyle influencer and entrepreneur Grace Beverley (previously GraceFitUK), has apparently changed the game for gym leggings… according to the internet. I’m a little bit late to the party but getting my hands on any of the pieces has proved to be rather difficult – but better late than never.
In their “mission statement” TALA pledges to produce affordable, high-quality gym wear using upcycled materials. Their use of keywords like sustainable, recyclable, honest and affordable as well as using real-life body types to model clothing make them an attractive brand of the everyday gym girl. The packaging is also promoted as being recyclable with their labels made of 100% plantable paper. For their full mission statement click here and for more information regarding their sustainability #itscooltobekind
Ordering and Delivery:
Surprisingly (thank goodness) after TALA restocked their Core Collection at 1pm, I was still able to get my hands on a small pair of grey Zinnia Leggings even at 5pm. If you have been following any of Grace Beverley’s company (B_ND/TALA) restocks, you will know that this is a miracle. Which is great, meaning those of us who had to wait until after work was still able to order and enjoy.
And surprising again, considering the anticipation of every restock and the volumes of stock I’m sure has to get processed; I received my dispatch email within 24 hours of ordering. HAPPY DAYS. All in, I believe it was less than 72 hours from ordering to actually putting on my leggings to see how they fit.
First Impressions:
My leggings arrived well packaged and in VERY good time. When I first opened them I was surprised at how dense the material felt – I feel like they would keep me warm in the winter. I was also expecting the material to be shinier, I don’t feel like many images online show thick the material is.
Gymshark Comparison:
I think the best comparison with Gymshark would be the Gymshark Energy Seamless and the Flex leggings (though I do think they would probably be closer to the High Waisted Flex but I’m yet to own a pair of those).
In terms of material, the Zinnia Leggings don’t have that shiny elastane feel or look to them, they are thick and ‘cotton-y’ feeling; which is why I think the Flex comparison is accurate. There’s no worry of putting a long acrylic through these, even as you pull them on they don’t become sheer or flimsy. The shape of the Zinnia Leggings is similar to the Gymshark Energy Seamless, think thick compression waistband while being comfortable and flattering over the bum.
I followed the size guide on the TALA website which said I would fit into a SMALL, which I found to be a perfect fit; the various sized models were also a good suggestion of how the leggings might fit me, I am a UK 10 (US 6). At the waist I feel nicely held in, they don’t feel like they’ll fall down at any point (a lot like the Gymshark Energy Seamless) but think they stretch a little bit more than the Energy Seamless. I think the compression is all in the waist and it hugs hips and thighs, whereas Gymshark Energy Seamless feels more compressive (is that a word?) all over.
At The Gym:
Size small is shown to be UK 8-10 because I am a UK 10 – these leggings do fit quite snug around my booty and thighs, therefore I am very forgiving about sheerness and being squat-proof. I did find that depending on lighting, they were ever so slightly sheer in a deep squat and if I wore bright undies, you could probably see them if you look close enough. BUT did I care? No. A medium would probably have ‘fixed’ this problem for me, but in all honesty who’s actually going to be on the look-out for my bright undies in the gym? – Not me.
I didn’t experience any falling down or sweat marks even with the colour being so light, I did, however, find that the light colour did attract a few marks but that’s the risk you take when wearing light leggings.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I would have to agree with all the hype online! The price point for the Zinnia Leggings at £40 (+£4.95 delivery), is incredibly good value for money, especially considering how TALA ethically source their materials and commitment to being sustainable.
When compared to Gymshark leggings, they stand-up at the gym and also look cute, in terms of social impact – I really think TALA could come for Gymshark. Grace has a HUGE reach online and the social communities she’s helped foster is a force to be reckoned with. I really appreciate their inclusive marketing, especially on their site when they show three different sized models wearing the same product; so the customer can get an idea of how an item would look on them.
All in all, I think I’d order from TALA again, I am trying to make a conscious effort to avoid fast-fashion and think investing in TALA products would encourage myself and other people to make significant steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle. I can’t imagine they would completely replace my Gymshark leggings (at the moment) but would be welcomed additions to my activewear collection. I already have my eyes on the Zahara Bra and burgundy Zinnia Leggings, so I’m ready for the next restock!
Until next time, Hannah xo
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