We wore ALDI's new streetwear range for a day, here's how it went

"I saw a few mums look me up and down at the school gates before smiling awkwardly," says Leah, while El channelled the "good different" motto to get her through an uncomfortable ferry commute. 

We know that ALDI’s middle aisle can be full of random things - reformers, vacuums, onesie sleeping bags, but we never saw this one coming…

The German retailer's first-ever streetwear range will hit stores on Saturday, April 13, aiming to serve “effortlessly chic, casual looks for less.”

Yes, this is not a drill or a belated April Fool’s joke (trust us, our team is wearing the range as we speak.)

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Image: ALDI

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The ALDImania streetwear range

Dubbed ‘ALDImania’, the Special Buys collection comes in ALDI’s iconic colours and features 23 items, all under $20. 

From slides, bucket hats, and beanies (all $7.99) to fleece hoodies ($14.99) and crisp white sneakers ($19.99), you’ll want to take a ‘run, don’t walk’ approach because the limited-edition range will go fast. 

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ALDI Australia’s Buying Director for ALDImania, Belinda Grice, says: “We have been offering our shoppers high-quality, affordable loungewear for years, but this is the first time we’ve brought our own brand of leisurewear to the middle aisles.”

“Designed to celebrate and champion our shoppers, this new range is made specifically with ALDI budgets in mind, without compromising on quality or comfort.”

“This unique collection that contains sustainably sourced or recycled materials, has been crafted to create a mix-and-match aesthetic, so customers can inject their own sense of styling around the range!”

Image: Supplied

Speaking of styling the range, our Lifestyle team of two put it to the test to see how it stacks up in the streets (we mean, school drop-off, coffee runs and the commute to work.)

And let me tell you, it's been an experience.

I’ll let our Lifestyle Editor, Leah, tell you her thoughts first.

Image: Supplied

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Leah's experience 

I was so stoked to be wearing a tracksuit to work and actually call it "work"! The fleecy tracksuit bottom and top looked so cosy. 

It took no time at all to get ready. I was out the door in minutes, but not before a few comments from the family. 

"I can't believe you are doing this," my husband exclaimed. 

"Are you really going to go to school in ALDI merch, mum? And the cafe? That's so embarrassing," my 10-year-old son said. 

My nine-year-old daughter just laughed. 

I was super comfy in my kit but also super aware that I kind of looked ridiculous, so I was genuinely surprised by people's reactions. They obviously noticed because I saw a few mums look me up and down at the school gates before smiling awkwardly when I caught their eye checking out my rainbow slides. But no one said anything!

Even ordering a coffee, I got no reaction while the barista looked weirdly at the logo on my t-shirt. 

It wasn't until I was walking into the office that someone stopped me in the lift—she obviously got the same press release about the streetwear range. 

"OMG, I love this! I thought it was a joke at first!" she laughed. 

Well, it kind of IS a joke. I mean, the merch is real but me wearing it into a corporate environment is a joke, so please don't fire us. 

Image: Supplied

My experience

At first, the idea of strutting out the door in full ALDI merch was daunting. What would people think? How could I feel like an upstanding journalist walking into the office when I was pretty much dressed in pyjamas?

But from the moment I put on the hoodie and slipped into the slides, I knew it was going to be okay. I felt comforted and safe. With my fluffy fleece on, no one could hurt me. 

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the material was, given how affordable the range is. The track pants are roomy without swamping me, the hoodie is perfectly oversized and the grey t-shirt underneath is super soft.

I looked in the mirror and thought the whole get-up was actually quite cute and ‘put-together’.

My partner, however, wasn’t ready for the colourful sight before his morning coffee. He gave me a perplexed look before asking, ‘What do you do for work again?’

After explaining that I was doing a very serious investigative article, he nodded slowly. Then, I was on my way.

I felt confident… unstoppable. That was, until I got on the ferry and was sat in between a sea of navy suits and serious faces.

I suddenly felt like all eyes were on me, because they kind of were.

It was then that I had to channel the ALDI motto of “good different.”

Yes, I told myself, I am good and different. Everyone else is the same and boring.

I kept this mantra with me throughout the day, walking through the city and around the office. Despite the puzzled looks, I could tell people were secretly jealous deep down!

Originally published as We wore ALDI's new streetwear range for a day, here's how it went