From One Pair of Joggers to a Bigger Idea: How Sawsee Is Reimagining Women’s Activewear in India

From Activewear to Clothing for Real Life

A woman finishes a workout, heads out for coffee, answers a few calls, runs errands and perhaps squeezes in a walk before dinner. The day keeps moving, but her wardrobe often does not. Clothes designed for the gym remain confined to the gym, while everyday outfits demand another change.

For an increasingly active consumer, the question is becoming less about what to wear for a particular occasion and more about whether one outfit can keep up with real life.

India's activewear market is evolving alongside this shift, with comfort, fitness and athleisure increasingly influencing everyday dressing. It was within this gap between specialised activewear and everyday clothing that Sawsee, founded by former strength coach and wellness expert Mahi Mohan, began taking shape.

The Search for a Better Pair of Joggers

The idea started with something deceptively ordinary: finding a comfortable pair of joggers.

Mohan had an extensive activewear wardrobe but repeatedly found herself reaching for the same two or three pieces because they were the ones that actually felt good. Her experience in strength coaching and wellness made the problem even more apparent.

Movement, she realised, does not happen in neatly separated categories. Women work out, travel, work from cafés, meet friends, run errands and unwind — often without changing several times throughout the day.

Mohan also saw limitations in the existing market. According to her, international brands were not necessarily designed around Indian body types or the country's climate, while some local alternatives prioritised affordability at the expense of fabric quality and comfort.

That observation became the foundation for Sawsee.

Why Sawsee Calls It “Playwear”

The brand calls its approach “Playwear”, deliberately moving away from the conventional idea of activewear. For Sawsee, comfort and style are not competing priorities.

The clothing is designed around the idea that women should be able to move comfortably and confidently without constantly adjusting leggings, worrying about transparency or dealing with fabrics that feel too tight or hot.

“That's exactly why we call our category Playwear instead of Activewear. We believe play is a serious part of life and that women are at their most confident, authentic and playful self when they're comfortable,”

— Mahi Mohan, Founder, Sawsee

A Fabric-First Approach

The philosophy extends into how Sawsee develops its products. Rather than beginning with fabrics already available in the market, the brand says it started with the yarn to gain greater control over the final feel and performance.

Its fabric development process has focused on breathability, stretch, opacity, softness and durability, particularly considering India's heat, humidity and frequent washing requirements.

Every Sawsee fabric reportedly undergoes seven to eight months of testing before being considered ready for a collection.

Its portfolio includes FABUL™, designed for performance and compression; EARTHKIN™, built around natural bamboo fibres for yoga and mindful movement; and SERENE™, developed around elevated comfort for loungewear.

The brand's approach is to treat fabric not simply as a component of clothing, but as the starting point of the product itself.

Bringing Sustainability Into Production

That fabric-first thinking also extends to the brand's sustainability approach. Sawsee says it follows low-waste, small-batch production, uses recycled and recyclable packaging, maintains ethical working conditions and continues to invest in research and development around recycled fabrics.

More than 60% of its styles are manufactured locally in Tiruppur, according to the company.

One Wardrobe for Multiple Parts of the Day

Sawsee's product philosophy is equally focused on versatility. From activewear and yogawear to loungewear and the PlayDate Edit, the brand is attempting to blur the traditional boundaries between workout clothing and everyday fashion.

The objective is simple: reduce the number of outfit changes required through the day without compromising on appearance or comfort.

This reflects a broader shift in how consumers use clothing. The traditional distinction between workout, work and leisure wardrobes is becoming less rigid as people's routines become more fluid.

Listening to Women to Build the Next Collection

For Mohan, the brand is ultimately about listening to women rather than asking them to conform to an established definition of what clothing should be.

Customer conversations, she says, are already influencing future product improvements, particularly around comfort, versatility, different body types and durability.

This feedback-led approach allows the brand to identify everyday problems that may not always emerge through conventional product development alone.

From Activewear Brand to Comfort-First Fashion Company

Looking ahead, Sawsee does not want to remain confined to the conventional activewear category. Its ambition is to become a comfort-first fashion company, expanding into categories that address everyday wardrobe needs while retaining its fabric-first philosophy.

“If five years from now women describe Sawsee as the brand that made comfort fashionable without compromising quality or style, I'll feel we've achieved what we set out to build.”

— Mahi Mohan, Founder, Sawsee

Redefining What Women's Everyday Clothing Can Be

For Sawsee, the journey that began with a search for better joggers is becoming a broader attempt to change how women approach getting dressed.

In a market where the boundaries between movement, work, travel and leisure are increasingly fluid, the brand is betting that the future of women's fashion may not belong to clothes made for one moment, but to clothes that are ready for all of them.