Camperdown Fitness slammed for imposing dress code on gym members

A Sydney gym has been slammed as being ‘overbearing’ and ‘sexist’ for dictating a dress code for its members. But the gym’s owners are not backing down. Tell us what you think.

A Sydney gym’s controversial dress code rules which ban women from wearing short-shorts, boob tubes and one-shoulder tops, have come under fire, with members claiming the guidelines are “overbearing” and “sexist”.

Members at popular gym Camperdown Fitness have been put off by the rules, and the fact they are constantly played on TV screens throughout the gym.

Women’s and men’s clothing are displayed with ticks or crosses on a loop, but there isn’t much difference between the approved and unapproved women’s shorts.

As well as short-shorts, the gym has banned one-shoulder crop tops and boob tubes.

For men, muscle singlets that reveal too much back or chest are also prohibited.

A sign at Camperdown Fitness detailing what can and cannot be worn at the gym.

The gym’s owners, Michael Wood and Paul Vella, said the guidelines were in place to maintain the “family friendly environment” at the fitness centre.

“Our guidelines require appropriate athletic wear that ensures safety during equipment use and maintains our family-friendly environment serving ages 14+ with an onsite creche,” Mr Wood said.

However, the rules have sparked fierce online debate, with gym-goers labelling the rules “strange and sexist”, and questioning why they are displayed so prominently throughout the gym.

“Sexist and outdated policies dictating what a woman can and cannot wear in the gym. I would suggest you give your staff some training and have a stricter hiring process if a woman’s shoulder is offensive,” one woman wrote online.

“Can’t believe we are in 2025 and dictating what women can and cannot wear … even at the gym … Such strange sexist views,” another member said.

Cassie Leong (left) and Joanna You wearing activewear by The Kairos Collective. Picture: Julian Andrews

A female member claimed her membership was abruptly cancelled after she raised questions about the dress code.

“After expressing my opinion on it through social media the owners brought me into a secluded meeting room and yelled at me before cancelling my membership,” she claimed.

Mr Wood said two members who “preferred different guidelines” had asked for their membership to be cancelled.

“As a community facility, we maintain standards for comfort, hygiene, and safety for all members. We provide friendly reminders when needed,” he said.

Cassie Leong, co-founder of activewear label The Kairos Collective, said people should be able to wear whatever made them feel comfortable and confident at the gym.

She said people could feel uneasy if their outfit was judged, even if it was only slightly different to what was allowed.

Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Originally published as Camperdown Fitness slammed for imposing dress code on gym members