10 Ethical & Sustainable Activewear Brands

Joggers, hikers, yoga practitioners, and the like all sport closets with more than a few items of activewear.

It stands to reason: you need a good pair of stretchy pants for all those yoga poses, comfortable sneakers for running, the proper pants for hiking.

Even without an active lifestyle, most of us own at least some activewear, even if we only get to the gym or the outdoors every once in a while. 

Yet activewear has become more than merely clothing intended for physical activity.

This guide will discuss fast fashion activewear, sustainable materials to look for, an feature a few eco-friendly and ethical activewear brands to shop.

This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer will receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!

What’s the Problem with Fast Fashion Activewear?

Activewear has become trendy, worn even when we’re not hitting the sidewalk or stretching in the gym.

The pandemic has contributed to this shift in style, as working from home made us seek more comfortable clothing – and the activewear market is only predicted to grow in the next few years.

While this trend lends more versatility and purpose to activewear, it also comes with the problem that it’s not a particularly sustainable style.

Activewear is popularly made with synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex.

Due to their properties – such as stretchiness, wrinkle resistance, and easy maintenance – they’re better suited for clothing used regularly and intensely.

Synthetics are also cheap, which makes them easy to manufacture en masse and easy to replace.

With this kind of fast fashion (cheap, disposable items made fast but not to last) on hand to replace last week’s sweaty, stretched-out, no-longer fashionable T-shirt the already dirty fashion industry becomes even dirtier as people restock their activewear faster than it takes them to run around the block or scroll through their Instagram feed for the latest hot look.

The fashion industry is already one of the most polluting industries in the world.

New trends and collections (sometimes as many as 52 a year ) coupled with bad habits like those supported by fast fashion worsen clothing’s environmental impact. 

What is the Environmental Impact of Materials Used in Activewear?

Synthetic fabrics are petroleum-based products that are chemically treated.

Sourcing a non-renewable resource like the petroleum needed to make these materials comes with a dearth of environmental destruction including the mining and burning of fossil fuels, which contributes to deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

And that’s all before the fabric and the clothing are even made.

In textile mills and clothing factories, manufacturing also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions due to the energy required to make the fabric and then the clothing – not to mention the need to ship materials back and forth, especially if they’re not made locally.

Outsourcing to foreign factories also often leads to gross human rights violations as less stringent labor laws in other territories are abused.

Finishing clothing with dyes and treatments also has massive environmental impacts with up to one-fifth of industrial water pollution attributed to the fashion industry.

Not only is an inordinate amount of water used but the resultant wastewater (loaded with toxic chemicals from dyes and treatments) is dumped into waterways affecting human, plant, and animal life.

Once the clothes are in our homes, the problems persist. When washed, clothes shed microfibers contributing to plastic pollution in our waterways.

Activewear also requires more washing, meaning more water is used and more microfibers are released. 

What are Eco-friendly Materials Conscious Consumer Should Choose?

When it comes to a sustainable and eco-friendly closet, natural materials like linen, hemp, and wool are usually preferred because their source (whether plant or animal) has less of an impact on the environment, they use fewer chemicals to manufacture, and the result is a strong and durable fabric.

However, when it comes to activewear synthetic materials are often better suited for the clothing’s purpose.

It thus becomes very difficult to avoid these or to find natural materials that have not been blended with synthetics. 

If you want your activewear to be more sustainable, the main material to try to avoid is clothing made from virgin synthetics. Rather search for recycled synthetics.

Recycled Polyester

Recycled polyester is made using post-consumer waste, it helps keep items like plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets out of waterways, landfills, and incinerators.

There is a whole host of other recycled content being put to use in the fashion industry – even natural fabrics are being reused as a means of keeping materials circulating instead of thrown out.

Organic Cotton

Cotton is one of the more common natural materials you’ll find in activewear.

It has many great properties, such as breathability and durability.

However, when it comes to activewear, it’s often blended with synthetics. Bear in mind that items like these are difficult to recycle.

Choose organic cotton as this keeps the environment in mind by growing and manufacturing cotton according to organic standards like using uses fewer or no pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, implementing crop rotation, and treating wastewater.  

Responsibly Sourced Wool

When it comes to sporting activities where you’ll need extra warmth and padding – like hiking or skiing – opt for responsibly sourced wool.

Breathable, odor-resistant, and dirt-repellent, it’s ideal for the great outdoors. Plus wool is biodegradable at the end of it’s lifecycle.

Tencel & Lyocell

There’s also the go-between: materials that are semi-synthetic but that are made with more sustainable practices, such as lyocell.

Made from the wood pulp of eucalyptus (which is fast-growing and requires little irrigation), it uses fewer chemicals and is more absorbent than cotton making it a good choice for activewear.

Hemp

Hemp is a great sustainable and eco-friendly material that is UV-protective and retains its shape well.

However, this also means it does not have a lot of stretch, which does not make it ideal for certain types of exercise – but it’s still great if you’re just looking to take a stroll or want to stay comfortable, but look good, during a Zoom meeting.

What’s great about activewear, is that it’s not necessarily seasonal, so you can wear it all year round, instead of having to buy something new at the start of a season.

And since it’s become trendy to don activewear in any number of settings (not just exercise), you can consider more natural materials if you’re just looking to adopt a casual style or shopping for work-from-home outfits.

Since it can be challenging to find sustainable or eco-friendly activewear, find out what else brands are doing.

How do they package their goods? Do they have a takeback program? How do they treat their workers? How do they minimize their water and energy use?

Sustainable activewear – and sustainable fashion, for that matter – is about more than just the material. 

10 Sustainable Activewear Brands

This list features the best sustainable activewear brands that prioritize eco-friendly materials and a transparent supply chain.

Conscious consumers will discover sustainable leggings, ethical workout clothes, tank tops, yoga pants, and more!

Wolven's Activewear Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles

Wolven is a BIPOC, female-founded brand whose mission is to promote environmental protection, community, and inclusivity through stand out clothing that not only lets you look good, but feel good while wearing it.

Wolven prides itself on designing stand-out styles that are made from recycled materials. Their fabric is made from BPA-Free recycled plastic water bottles that are transformed into soft, sexy sustainable clothes that you can be proud to wear.

Wolven also off-sets their carbon footprint and donates 1% of their annual revenue to environmental and community organizations.

Wolven's activewear features leggings, sports bras, swimsuits, joggers, bike shorts, and more.

Their activewear ranges in price from $38-$104.

Beaumont Organic's Activewear Made with Natural Fibers

Combining classic style with a contemporary twist, Beaumont Organic aims to create conscious clothing.

Those looking for activewear can explore a yoga range that includes sweatshirts, leggings, bras, yoga trousers, and even yoga mats.

Using GOTS-certified organic cotton as their primary fabric, they nevertheless explore other options (like recycled cotton in knitwear) that will help them reduce their impact and be more ethical.

Beaumont Organic introduces two collections a year and also offers repair and resale programs.

The repair program offer free repairs in the UK in an effort to expand a garment’s lifespan and reduce textile waste.

The resale program allows you to return preloved items in exchange for vouchers. Beaumont Organic's clothing can be purchased for $60-$130.

Girlfriend Collective's Workout Clothing Made from Recycled Materials

Through ethical manufacturing and using recycled materials, Girlfriend Collective aims to deliver a conscious and comfortable brand for all shapes and sizes.

If you’re looking for something to sweat in during your daily workout you can choose from sports bras, leggings, sweats, joggers, tanks, tees, and sweatshirts.

Post-consumer water bottles, old fishing nets, fabric scraps, and other waste are used to make a recycled fabric for their clothing that is certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex.

Their fabrics include recycled polyester (made from plastic bottles) and a fabric known as ECONYL® (a fabric made from recycled fishing nets and other waste).

They make use of eco-friendly dyes and the wastewater that results from the dyeing process is cleaned and cooled before being released.

Girlfriend Collective packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable and you can return and recycle preloved clothing through their resale platform, ReGirlfriend.

Girlfriend Collective's activewear can be purchased for $40-$94.

Allbirds Sustainable Athletic Wear

Allbirds is a certified B Corp that specializes in footwear but also produces athleisure apparel like tees and tops.

Their Natural Run tees and tanks are made from a blend of natural materials and recycled synthetics. This sustainable clothing brand also has 100% organic cotton tees.

Their eco-conscious activewear can be purchased for $38-$68. Sustainable shoppers will find activewear for men and women.

PACT's Activewear Made with Organic Materials

Organic and fair trade, PACT offers a range of clothing for women, men, kids, and babies, as well as bed and bath items.

For activewear, you can choose from sweatshirts, leggings, and sweatpants. PACT uses 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, blending elastane into some of their garments for extra stretch.

PACT activewear can be purchased at an affordable price point ranging from $30-$100.

Their packaging consists of recyclable paper bags. If you’re looking to pass on gently used clothing, whether from PACT or not, you can donate it via Give Back Box®, which passes it to non-profits who need it.

Patagonia's Clothing for Outdoor Activities

Specializing in outdoor clothing and committed to innovative sustainability, Patagonia offers a wide variety of choices for your activewear needs.

They make use of natural materials such as organic cotton, hemp, and responsibly sourced wool and down.

Recycled materials are also a go-to and include recycled cotton, polyester, wool, spandex, down, nylon, and cashmere, as well as a fabric known as NetPlus®, which is made from recycled fishing nets.

Innovative materials are also explored, making use of FSC® certified Yulex natural rubber; lyocell made using responsibly sourced wood pulp in a closed-loop solvent- and water-recycling process; and biobased polyester.

To keep clothing circulating – and out of landfills and incinerators – you can turn to their platform Worn Wear, which reuses, repairs, recycles, and resells preloved Patagonia items.  

Patagonia carries outdoor clothing for men and women ranging in price from $45-$189.

prAna’s Eco-friendly Activewear

Whether you’re into hiking, climbing, or practicing yoga, prAna meets activewear needs with a selection of joggers, tanks, hoodies, leggings, crop tops, sports bras, shorts, jackets, and whatever you may need for when you break a sweat.

Stylish and sustainable, prAna uses natural materials like organic cotton, hemp, and responsibly sourced wool and down, as well as ECONYL® (regenerated nylon), REPREVE® (recycled polyester), Tencel Lyocell, and recycled natural fibers like cotton and wool.

For packaging, they make use of the roll-pack method or use FSC-certified bags.

As a founding member of OIA Climate Action Corps, prAna measures, plans, and reduces their greenhouse gas emissions, sharing the results in annual reports.

prAna's high quality clothing can be purchased for $59-$140.

REI’s Outdoor Clothing & Activewear

Specializing in outdoor gear and activewear, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) is passionate about being in nature and protecting it, together.

Founded in 1938, REI is a co-op started by 23 friends looking to source quality and affordable gear for outdoor adventures.

REI has now grown to 20 million members, expanding from outdoor gear to include all kinds of activewear, whether it’s leggings, shorts, tops, and tanks, or sneakers, jackets, flannels, and fleeces.

Through their platform Re/Supply you can trade in and shop for used gear, including activewear.

Placing purpose before profit, they promote climate action, outdoor equity, and land stewardship through their REI Cooperative Action Network and close all their stores on Black Friday, encouraging their employees to spend the day outside with loved ones instead.

REI's sustainable workout clothes can be purchased from $20 to $120.

Boody's Affordable Bamboo Viscose Clothes

Boody is a sustainable loungewear brand encouraging consumers all over the world to add eco-friendly essentials to their wardrobe.

Their affordable, ethically made bamboo viscose products allow consumers to explore and enjoy the comfort of eco-fibers through everyday basics such as bras, underwear, and activewear.

Boody works with factories using ethical labor practices to ensure a transparent supply chain.

Shop leggings, sports bras, shorts, and more.

Boody's activewear can be purchased for $26-$85.

Quince’s Affordable Sustainable Activewear

Quince is a great option for conscious consumers on a budget. Select clothing items are made with sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and modal.

Quince carries a variety of activewear products such as organic cotton sweatpants, modal lounge pants, leggings made from recycled materials, & more.

Their affordable prices start at $20 and they have options for men and women’s activewear.

Hopefully this guide helped you discover a new sustainable clothing brand to consider the next time you shop for activewear!

No matter where you shop be sure you are choosing high-quality pieces that will last for years to come as this is one of the most sustainable things you can do!

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