5 ethical activewear brands for the conscious shopper
It’s fair to say our activewear has become more of a go-to wardrobe staple in recent weeks. For many of us, lockdown has meant basically living in our leggings, sports bras and hoodies.
Reports show that activewear sales soared in the UK over the past three months, testament to just how much we’ve relied on our daily exercise and home based workouts for staying sane throughout the Covid crisis.
But finding a pair of leggings that lasts well beyond six months, is affordable, stylish and made with low environmental impact is no mean feat.
~ what to look for? ~
For any conscious shopper, there are two key questions to be asked: ‘How were these clothes made?’ and, ‘What are they made of?’ Synthetic materials commonly used in performance wear like polyester, spandex (AKA Lycra / elastane) and nylon, are problematic to the environment in so many ways, as we know.
These non-biodegradable, man made fabrics release plastic microfibres into the world’s waterways every time they are washed, polluting our ecosystems. Polyester blends are some of the worst, produced from fossil fuels such as crude oil, resulting in high carbon emissions. (Producing a single polyester T-shirt, for example, emits 262% more CO2 than a cotton shirt.)
So really, we need to be prepared to pay a little more, saving our pennies, and investing in quality, planet friendly pieces that we can care for properly.
Many brands are tapping into the world’s waste problems, using recycled materials, innovative fabrics and eco-friendly practises to minimise their impact. Here’s our pick of the best ethical activewear brands that not only prioritise sustainability and working conditions, but tick the stylish box too…
5 ethical activewear brands for the Conscious shopper
Nimble Activewear
Australian label Nimble Activewear broke out into the fitness fashion market in 2013, when two friends from Melbourne saw a gap in the market for stylish and functional activewear and decided to launch their own. They opened their first store in Bondi in 2016.
Manufacturing the majority of their products in Taiwan, they ensure a high standard of working conditions, pay and product quality through third-party monitoring of factories and carrying out regular visits themselves.
Nimble Activewear founders and childhood best friends Katia Santilli, 33 and Vera Yan, 32.
The fabric used in their leggings are created from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles (GRS certified), and they boast a very short supply chain, reducing wastage, packaging, transportation and thereby their carbon footprint.
1,095 Likes, 16 Comments - Nimble Activewear (@nimbleactivewear) on Instagram: "Summer down under is hanging on for dear life and we're not mad about it. 🌞 @jolinaviktoria"
2. INDIGO LUNA
Indigo Luna Store posted on Instagram: "Restocked ~ Selected sizes of the popular GOTS Certified Organic Cotton Ananda Yogawear restocked..." * See 988 photos and videos on their profile.
Indigo Luna is eco-conscious, ethically-made swimwear, yoga, and intimate wear that again hails from Down Under, but is inspired by Scandinavian simplicity. The tones of their clothing are earthy and neutral and use plant dyes from recycled or organic materials.
They have full collections in linen and certified organic cotton and their nylon leggings and swimwear are created from Italian recycled ECONYL®, material harvested from discarded fishing nets, or REPREVE® recycled nylon from plastic bottles.
Insta: @indigoluna.store
3. manduka
Yoga practise is at the heart of this European brand with its beautiful, responsibly made yoga apparel designed by yogis and loved by teachers across the globe. Manduka’s clothing is made from recycled polyester, organic cotton and plant-based materials, with a focus on minimal environmental footprint.
They also donate 1% of their global sales to organisations that empower people to improve communities worldwide. Check out their mats, towels and home practise props if you’re in need of new planet-friendly gear.
4. PACT
Colorado based leisurewear company Pact (wearpact.com) promise to “create quality products for people in a more conscious and ethical way”. Their heavy focus on organic cotton (GOTS certified), fair trade status (USA certified) and carbon footprint lowering initiatives certainly support this. For every product, the company states the number of gallons of water saved in its production from the use of organic cotton instead of conventional.
Last month (April 2020) Pact launched an exclusive capsule collection of hoodies and loungewear adorned with hand-crafted patches made from scrap fabric, as part of an exciting new collaboration with Brooklyn based designer Zero Waste Daniel. We are loving it.
5. SILOU LONDON
“Created for fitness, designed for life” is the tagline for luxe ethical activewear brand SILOU, founded in 2016. Its founders Tatiana Kovylina and Phoebe Greenacre saw a space for conscious, multi-tasking pieces that work beyond the gym, as day to day wardrobe staples.
Their high end activewear is produced in sweatshop free production houses in Portugal and Lithuania, which surpass European standards of good working conditions and fair pay.
SILOU LONDON
Bodysuits and unitards are some of the easy-wear, all-in-one ethical pieces by considered clothing brand SILOU.
Other brands we love:
Organic Basics - Copenhagen-based brand that uses organic cotton for its loungewear.
Now_Then - Spanish swimwear label exclusively that uses Econyl crafted from repurposed marine waste.
Threads 4 Thought - uses sustainable fabrics including recycled polyester and Lenzing modal, and partners with IRC to help refugees.
Tentree - this company plants 10 trees for every purchase of activewear, and has already planted 35m+ worldwide.
How to keep your leggings lasting longer: Tree Hugger has a great article here.