I never really got the whole hype around loungewear or even athleisure—till this past year. Like most everyone, I’ve spent most of the past 12 months forgoing anything with a zipper or buttons for extra roomy, oversized sweats. As a fashion writer, I took it upon myself to find the best sweats on the web. In the name of true workmanship (you’re welcome), I purchased an array of sweats, my requirements being that they be uniquely designed, comfortable, size inclusive, and gender neutral—the only ones that really fit, and exceeded, every requirement were those from Insta-viral brand, Mayfair.

For nearly a year, my Instagram feed has been covered in influencers and celebrities dawning the grey sweats with “Empathy” colorfully embroidered on them, in everything from JLo’s to Justin Bieber’s uber-cool mirror selfies. But their sweats aren’t just super cute and the most comfortable things I’ve put on my body. The gender neutral designs range from sizes XS to XXL, and have powerful positive messages on them from their viral “Empathy, Always” sweats to their best-selling “Just Be Kind” and “It Costs Zero Dollars To Be A Nice Person” collections—the latter of which is another JLo favorite. 

But Mayfair’s desire to spread kindness through the messaging on their street style-loved sweatpants, crewnecks, hoodies, hats, and shorts goes deeper than just that. The brand is all about making positive change by placing strong, inclusive, and compassionate words in bold letters, reminding us that kindness and empathy are what we all need, especially in times of isolation and division. 

That’s where their more overt messaging comes into play. Now more than ever before, we’re loving their “If It Makes You Uncomfortable, Call It Out” crewneck and the “How To Be Anti-Racist” hoodie. 

I’ll be honest—when I first took a look at the site, I gawked at the thought of paying about $100 for a crew neck or sweatpants. I’ve never spent more than $40 on them before. Shortly after, I was lucky enough to have a Mayfair PR rep reach out to me with the offer to send me a pair. The second I put the sweats on, I honestly didn’t want to take them off. Not only did wearing them feel like a wearable blanket, but the high-quality fabric was thick, warm, and roomy. 

That’s when I realized I’d pay more than $100 for the quality I was getting, which is why I promptly put in several more orders. If you still aren’t sure, my hot tip would be to start by checking out the sale section where you can find sweatpants and crewnecks for as low as $30. Trust me, you’ll likely be coming back for more.

Now may be a time at which a lot of us are feeling helpless, sitting at home in our sweats. But with the more mindful decisions we’re all making about where to put our purchasing power, you really can’t go wrong with any of Mayfair’s collections and spreading the love with a JLo-inspired selfie on your grid. I’m a proud owner of many, and I can assure you I have many more to come.

Photos c/o Instagram