It’s fair to say that the goal of a workout and what athletes are striving to achieve has evolved over generations.
But now, one Manchester-based brand is ushering in “a new generation”.
The introduction of wearable technology has completely revolutionised the fitness world over the last decade or so by giving athletes access to a range of performance insights that were previously unavailable to them – but Prevayl is taking things to the next level.
Designed by experts, and already loved by big names such as athletics and cycling Paralympian Kadeena Cox, West Ham and England footballer Declan Rice, and Sky Sports presenter Josh Denzel, Prevayl has taken the world’s most-accurate wearable technology and fused it into premium sportswear.
The aim? Well, that’s simple – Prevayl is all about empowering you to “unlock your full potential”.
By reacting to the real-time data provided, you can adapt your workouts mid-session, make changes to your training habits, and get closer than ever before to smashing your fitness goals.
Prevayl is all about empowering you to “unlock your full potential” / Credit: Prevayl
Based right here in Manchester city centre, Prevayl was founded by former personal trainer and now-CEO Adam Crofts, alongside serial entrepreneur and Chairman David Newns, and has since gone from strength to strength over the last year, establishing a unique ecosystem of products, including the Sensor, SmartWear, and the App, which all work together to deliver those key insights that help users achieve a new level of fitness.
Each of the Prevayl products are designed to “seamlessly integrate” with one another.
The Sensor is the lightest fitness tracking device in its class, and tracks heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature, and body movement to help users make “smartest fitness decisions”, while the App captures over a million data points during each workout and turns them into “meaningful and actionable” insights.
Prevayl’s mission is to deliver real-time insights right to the user’s fingertips so they can get to know their bodies, track their performance, stay accountable, celebrate their achievements, and ultimately, make every workout count.
But none of this would be possible without the groundbreaking Prevayl product – SmartWear™.
Prevayl products are designed to “seamlessly integrate” with one another / Credit: Prevayl
SmartWear melds premium sportswear with cutting-edge biometric technology to give everyone, at any stage in a fitness journey, the chance to achieve their personal best.
The four-piece SmartWear collection is crafted in a second-skin fit and made of the most durable, lightweight, and breathable materials to ensure maximum comfort and movement, and features adjustable sports bras, short and long sleeve t-shirts, and tank tops that all have a discreet pocket for housing the Prevayl Sensor.
All the items have what are called knitted electrodes embedded into them, which take the most accurate Electrocardiogram readings directly from the wearer’s heart, and eliminate the need for wires and straps to create comfortable durable garments enhanced with the latest technology.
“Our mission at Prevayl is to empower people with the tools to get the most out of their workouts and achieve their fitness goals by combining premium fashion with the latest technology,” said founder at CEO, Adam Crofts.
Prevayl’s mission is to deliver real-time insights right to the user’s fingertips / Credit: Prevayl
“Prevayl SmartWear™ is more than just simple clothing.
“It’s the next generation of sportswear that is encoded with intelligence to help people level-up their workouts – all whilst looking and feeling great.”
Speaking of the collection’s design-led aesthetic, Prevayl’s Creative Director Kate Kallaway added: “The design team at Prevayl have created a new age of activewear, leading with smart, innovative apparel design enabling you to connect through style and accuracy.
“I’m proud to be building and leading the team to bring a new, progressive activewear brand to the consumer market.”
The rapid growth of Prevayl doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon either, as with a wealth of new ideas and developments already in the works, the future looks bright.
Prevayl’s founders have particularly pointed to their ambitions to grow the Prevayl community, with the App soon to provide users with a meeting place where they can share health and fitness tips, ask each other questions, connect with like-minded individuals, and essentially, guide one another to athletic excellence.
Hit theatre production set at a house party to visit Manchester on UK tour
Daisy Jackson
Alright then, 24 hour party people, we’ve found a theatre production you might like the sound of – it’s called The House Party, and it’s set in (you guessed it) a house party.
This smash hit production by pioneering theatre company Headlong is set to land at HOME in March as part of the arts venue’s 2025 theatre season.
It tells the tale of a wild 18th birthday party, where Christine is trying to pick up the pieces of her best friend, a newly-dumped Julie (who happens to be the birthday girl).
Themes of class, power and privilege are all explored with a raw intensity as the cast on stage plough through shots and dive head-first into a night that will change everything they know.
The House Party, which has received glowing reviews from previous showings, is filled with ‘privilege, desire and destruction’.
When it stops off in Manchester, its cast will include Bridgerton’s Sesley Hope as Christine, Synnøve Karlsen (Miss Austen, Last Night in Soho) as Julie, and Tom Lewis (Gentleman Jack, Patience) as Jon.
The ensemble of Frantic Assembly performers includes Ines Aresti, Oliver Baines, Cal Connor, Micah Corbin-Powell, Rachael Leonce, Jaheem Pinder and Jamie Randall.
The House Party is written by Laura Lomas and is a reimagining of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie for today’s generation.
It’s directed by Headlong’s artistic director Holly Race Roughan, who directed the Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere of David Edgar’s major new political play The New Real.
The House Party. Credit: Ikin YumThe production will be at HOME. Credit: Supplied
Movement direction will come from Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham.
Prior to the UK tour of The House Party, Headlong celebrated its 50 year anniversary, including the hit production of A Raisin in the Sun which played nationwide.
The House Party will be at HOME in Manchester between 25 and 29 March, 2025 – you can get your tickets HERE.
Greater Manchester’s annual Repair Week is back to make you fall back in love with your stuff
Daisy Jackson
If you’re not a handy person, when something breaks, the temptation is often to abandon or bin it straight away.
But that’s just not how we’re gonna do it here in Greater Manchester any more, with the return of the annual Repair Week to help you learn valuable repair skills and save money at the same time.
Whether it’s tinkering with your bicycle, fixing up your small tech items, or having your furniture re-varnished and upcycled, there are so many places and people who are on a mission to help you fall back in love with your belongings.
There are even workshops to help you put flat-pack furniture together.
Taking place between 3 and 9 March, Repair Week will be the chance to learn skills, fix your stuff, gain repair confidence and find local fixers.
Events throughout the week (and beyond) will be hosted by community groups, businesses and plenty more.
You can sharpen knives, fix zips, and un-wobble chairs with a little hand from local repair heroes.
JillyGDesign Jewellery in Heaton Moor will fix up your sentimental and special jewellery items, while Rag Revival will help you turn unusable textiles into new creations with basic sewing skills.
There are repair cafes popping up all over Greater Manchester where you can take your belongings.
Greater Manchester’s annual Repair Week is back to make you fall back in love with your stuff. Credit: Supplied
Repair Week will highlight schemes like the Manchester Library of Things, where you can borrow the tools and equipment you need for those repair jobs at home.
During the week you’ll also be able to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the incredible Renew Hub, the UK’s biggest reuse hub, where donated items are brought back to life.
Similarly, you’ll be able to get inside the textile recycling centre run by homelessness charity Emmaus Bolton, where you can choose your own fabric from the scrap store and turn it into a very handy draught excluder to keep costs down and your heat in.
Recycle for Greater Manchester’s Repair Week will take place between 3 and 9 March, with workshops, events and resources to help you revive your belongings.