Mum Creates Modest Activewear After Gym Struggle

Yasmin Jammoul wanted to feel confident at the gym, but her oversized T-shirts made her feel more insecure, not less.

As a proud Muslim mother of three, she searched for activewear that was modest, fashionable, and made her feel good while working out. Nothing fit the bill.

So late one night, after months of thinking about it, she grabbed her sketchbook and designed her own. The result was activewear with longer sleeves and hemlines, styled with cute zips and details that made her feel like she belonged.

Jammoul had never worked in fashion before. She learned everything from YouTube videos and online research from her Murray Bridge home, working with suppliers to perfect her designs before launching her business.

The response surprised her. Customers loved the quality and unique design, and something unexpected happened at the gym.

Sunny's Take

Women from different backgrounds started approaching Jammoul about her gym clothes, asking if anyone could wear them. "That was super cute, because of course it is," she said.

She designed the pieces for many different people with many different needs. As someone raised in Australia, being a mum and being Muslim, she wanted to bring all those experiences together.

Fashion lecturer Juliana Luna Mora says Australian activewear brands are moving toward more inclusivity. Australia is one of the world's largest activewear markets, and younger generations especially want clothing that embraces diversity.

"I think the industry should represent the population of Australia, and the less restrictions and boundaries that we have, the better," Luna Mora said. The modest fashion space is growing not just in activewear but across the industry.

For Jammoul, the business is about more than clothes. She's encouraging women to embrace their bodies and minds, and she plans to study mental health and personal training next.

Her biggest supporters are her three daughters, who inspire everything she does: "I want to be such a role model for them and have them look at me and say, 'Mum did this, we're able to do anything.'"