How is this activewear brand designed for Asian women?

MANILA, Philippines – For Asian women with petite frames, smaller busts, and straighter torsos, it can be challenging to find perfect-fitting athleisure pieces that aren’t built around the Western woman’s body type.

Cheak, a new Singapore-based activewear brand, understands.

“We designed our activewear with the modern Asian woman in mind, focusing on proportions that suit Asian body types,” Erin Torrejon-Young, brand manager of Cheak, told Rappler.

As the sister brand of Love, Bonito, the women-led label is all about “redefining athleisure” by embracing the physical realities of the modern Asian woman. To them, “inclusive” isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the backbone of the brand.

Through thoughtfully designed, functional, and stylish pieces that fit every body shape and can be worn in and outside the gym, Cheak shares with Rappler why female empowerment is a right for all shapes and sizes.

From woman to woman, ‘cheak to cheak’

Behind the biz are two friends — Olivia Yiong is a fitness girly with a background at Lululemon and Class Pass and Tiffany Chng is a former Singapore national touch rugby athlete who worked in GuavaPass and Shopee. With their strategic expertise in branding and marketing, they wanted a playful name for their youthful brand.

“The name ‘cheak’ is a playful twist on the word cheeky, inspired by the bold and fun essence of their previous brand, butter. It reflects the brand’s mission to empower women to feel confident, stylish, and unstoppable in everything they do,” said Erin.

Recognizing that many global activewear brands prioritize Western-centric designs, Cheak takes a different approach.

“Many pieces are crafted with a smaller bust and straighter body type in consideration for Asian female proportions, ensuring a flattering and comfortable fit for women across Southeast Asia,” Erin said. Every Cheak piece should fit and flatter Asian body types, offering sizes ranging from XXS to XXL.

Even Southeast Asia’s tropical climates are kept in mind. Cheak’s proprietary materials — BaseCore® for high-intensity activities like HIIT, spinning, and running; BaseFlex® for yoga and recreation, and BaseForm™ for lifestyle wear — are sweat-wicking, cooling, and breathable, perfect for the region’s heat and humidity.

‘Cheak’ this out

Choosing pieces from Cheak’s wide collection was no easy feat — everything was so cute, it was hard to decide!

The designs are sleek and chic, comprised of neutral and pastel colors, making the pieces trendy, timeless, and versatile enough to wear even when you’re not working out. The shorts, sports bras, and exercise tops come in specific combos, but I found I could easily mix and match from different sets and get creative.

Cheak’s fabric is a standout feature; it’s soft and cool to the touch, stretchable, and provides a firm, compressive grip that hugs my body in all the right places. The embedded padding is seamless, so nothing is awkwardly sticking out. As someone under 5 feet tall, I was pleased by how well the pieces fit — they’re petite-friendly, breathable, and feel tailor-made for Asian women like me. They move seamlessly along with my body during yoga or walks.

However, it’s always best to try out the sizes in person, since ordering online is always a risk. Just keep that in mind when checking out your cart — you can always ask the Cheak team for their recommended sizes for your frame, height, and weight.

Community feedback is also at the heart of Cheak’s philosophy. “The creation of Cheak’s activewear is a thoughtful and collaborative process. It begins with understanding the needs of modern Asian women through a variety of channels,” Erin said.

“We have initiatives like Fit Check sessions, where we work with real women of different shapes and sizes to refine our designs to test and perfect our products, ensuring they align with the needs and lifestyles of everyday women.“

Cheak also listens to feedback shared via social media, direct customer conversations, and product surveys. Every piece is rigorously refined based on this input.

Cheak’s pricing is understandable if you consider high-quality athleisure pieces a good investment like I do, with pieces ranging from P390 for essentials to P3,790 for premium activewear.

“We want to ensure accessibility while maintaining high-quality standards,” Erin said.

Being a sister brand of Love, Bonito also has its benefits — Cheak can maintain its prices through leveraging strategic partnerships and efficient production processes of already-established Love, Bonito.

“Through shared resources, we can deliver high-quality products at competitive prices without compromising on craftsmanship,” Erin said.

For pieces that fit, flatter, and make you feel fabulous, Cheak is a worthy option to check out for Asian-centric athleisure. As Cheak puts it — “whether you’re at a yoga session, running errands, or going to the office, cheak’s stylish designs will make you look and feel good.” – Rappler.com

Cheak’s collections are available internationally via its website.