The Pilates reformer eases to a stop. A quiet exhale, and Niki Hoaglund is back on the move. Sneakers on, smoothie in hand, the day stacks forward—one demand folding into the next.
That pace is the operating logic behind Niki’s Naples-based athleisure brand, Anya & Niki, founded in 2019. Rather than designing for an idealized version of balance, Niki listens to how real women describe their days—their schedules, stressors and workarounds—and designs accordingly.
Seven years ago, Niki noticed a pattern in her regular Pilates studio: Louis Vuitton Neverfulls crammed into narrow cubbies that never felt clean, straps twisted, contents spilling out. Hermès sandals and Tory Burch flip flops piled on the floor beneath them. Water bottles tipped over, rolling into corners. When the class ended, everyone dug through the same small mess, eager to get out the door.
Drawing on decades of experience in corporate retail and brand development, the Minnesota native dreamed up a full rehaul of athleisure accessories, including bags that could move easily from the studio to the grocery store to dinner without requiring a complete reset in between. Key leashes, padded laptop sleeves, pockets for water bottles and other features appear throughout her collection, ranging from hip packs to duffels to straw totes.
Photography by Anna Nguyen
anya niki naples athleisure wear four seasons storefront
When Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, opened last fall, Anya & Niki was one of the only local brands represented in the retail lineup. Nearby, Niki hosts a brand pop-up at Park Shore’s Neapolitan Way through October.
Before launching the brand, Niki had already cultivated a sharp eye for material fluency, working as an apparel buyer and then leading a manufacturer sales representative group supporting Target’s fashion categories. The experience sharpened her focus on utility and durability. When she created her brand, she knew she wanted to design for repeated, real-world use rather than trends or one-off occasions.
Pieces like the Biscayne Bag, often at the designer’s side, flex depending on the day—containing sunscreen and towels in the car one afternoon, toiletries and a laptop under an airplane seat the next. Wide straps sit comfortably on the shoulder, while vegan leather trim adds definition to the unstructured forms, made of nylon, mesh, linen or raffia, so they can expand and pack flat for travel.
The instinct to refine functional, sporty forms carries into her straw hats. Classic lifeguard silhouettes are pared back with smaller brims and crowns that block the sun without the bulk, finished with grosgrain ribbon to keep the look polished. “[The Tower Hat] is just as perfect with a swimsuit as it is on the sidelines watching my sons,” she says, noting the stampede straps that keep it in place on breezy days.
Photography by Anna Nguyen
anya niki naples athleisure wear wicker bag
Last fall, the label expanded into clothing with double-knit pants, pop-overs, jackets and track-inspired sets—wardrobe essentials that blend casual wear and tailored elegance. She chooses fabrics built for stretch, washability and durability, without overt athletic signaling. Even the sportier track suits have exaggerated pleats for ease of movement and a structured silhouette. Cream stripes elongate the leg and lend an athletic feel. After exercising, Niki will zip the jacket over her sports bra and head straight into a meeting.
For her, wellness has never been ornamental. From daily gratitude practices before getting out of bed to meditation and yoga, these habits function as tools she’s relied on for more than a decade to stay steady under pressure. “It allows me to move through my day with purpose versus reaction,” she says.
Southwest Florida has been an unforgiving proving ground for her label. While heat, humidity and constant movement quickly reveal weak design, Niki’s designs breathe, flex and hold up without fuss in a place where wellness is part of daily life. That reality has shaped the brand’s local presence. When Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, opened last fall, Anya & Niki was one of the only local brands represented in the spa store’s retail lineup, with straw hats and bags, along with sports duffels and totes. Now, she has added a pop-up shop for the brand in Park Shore’s Neapolitan Way plaza, running through October.
As Niki’s day dies down, her pieces remain in play—seasoned, yet structured. In that steady continuity, Anya & Niki explores wellness not as an interlude, but as an infrastructure that holds through the final errand and is ready again by morning.
Photography by Anna Nguyen