SELF is excited to announce the submission guidelines for our 2023 Activewear Awards, showcasing the past year’s best workout apparel.
Our readers are always looking for the next great buy, and we have the pleasure of providing them with our best recommendations: sports bras you can easily take off no matter how sweaty you are, shorts that won’t ride up, and even sweatpants perfect for a mental health day. Running, cycling, yoga, walking, climbing, hiking, lifting, running errands—you name it, and somewhere in SELF’s annual Activewear Awards, we’ve got an editor-approved pick.
Read on for everything brands need to know to submit for our 2023 Awards.
Submission Guidelines
- Products must be new and released between May 1, 2022, and January 15, 2023. (Updated colorways or patterns on existing styles are acceptable for submission. Items must be available for preorder or purchase by January 15, 2023.)
- Eligible brands must be size inclusive. Generally speaking, we require a brand’s size chart to go up to at least a 20 or 3X (or the equivalent). We understand that a brand may offer extended sizing in some styles but not others (e.g., a sports bra made specifically for smaller breasts, or a line of plus-size only styles, both of which would be eligible for submission if the brand is more broadly size inclusive). As part of the judging process, we will evaluate the company’s commitment to size inclusivity, including whether extended sizes are available in stores (versus solely online) and whether the brand shows their clothes on a range of body types on their website, social media, and in ads.
- We kindly ask that no brand submit more than eight styles.
All clothing will be tested by people of various genders and gender presentations. We encourage you to submit products that are popular across gender lines, regardless of their market category.
We are accepting submissions in the following categories:
- Sports bras
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Tank tops
- Tees
- Sweatshirts
- Jackets
- Leggings
- Pants
- Shorts
- Socks
- Swim
How to Submit
All products must be submitted via this online form. **Please fill out one form per style—**so if you’d like to submit three pairs of leggings, you should fill out three separate forms.
Once we’ve reviewed all submissions, we may reach out and ask for samples. Samples must be available for testing in early October. Please note that items submitted for testing cannot be returned. If sending in samples will be a hardship for your brand, please email us; we’d be happy to figure out a solution that works!
Please send your submissions no later than Monday, October 3, 2022 at 6 p.m. ET.
Got any questions? Email Hannah Pasternak, associate director of special projects, at hannah_pasternak@condenast.com. We can’t wait to see what you submit!