For The Manual: What were our pre-Industrial Era ancestors to do? From the Greeks working out in, well, nothing to the first bathing costumes — which seemed more suited to dragging one under than making a more hydrodynamic silhouette — to early football and baseball uniforms made of knitted wool jersey, early workout clothes could be impractical, hot, scratchy, and soggy. By the end of the 20th century, man-made fiber and fabric innovations like CoolMax and Lycra revolutionized comfort and performance but seemed to be edging out the natural fibers we’d all come to know and love. With the athleisure era ushering in the comfort of active sportswear to daily life, an ingenious combination of natural and man-made fibers and fabrics promises performance for the gym, the office, or the living room. We’ve rounded up some great looking styles that offer superior comfort and performance, as well as flexibility between work and workout that will please your inner tree-hugger.