10 Best Eco Activewear Brands Using Natural & Recycled Materials
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 the top eco-conscious using sustainable materials and ethical practices, so that you can make thoughtful choices!
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!
As with any type of clothing activewear has become part of the fast fashion phenomenon. The overproduction of exercise clothing has caused an increase in the use of synthetic materials.
Let’s discuss how we can be part of the solution by buying mindfully made clothes.
What Sustainable Materials Conscious Consumer Should Choose?
If you’re concerned with lowering your exposure to chemicals, consider choosing natural fabrics like linen, hemp, organic cotton, or wool. If you’re okay with synthetics then consider looking for recycled materials.
You can read this guide to learn more about these materials, microplastics in activewear, and mass production of exercise clothing.
List of the Top Sustainable Activewear Brands with Ethical Practices
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!
Beaumont Organic's Activewear Made with Natural Fibers
Price Range: $60-$130
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.
Girlfriend Collective's Workout Clothing Made from Recycled Materials
Price Range: $50-$150
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.
PACT's Activewear Made with Organic Materials
Price Range: $30-$100
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 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
Price Range: $45-$200
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.
prAna’s Eco-friendly Activewear
Price Range: $59-$140
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.
REI’s Outdoor Clothing & Activewear
Price Range: $20 to $120
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.
Boody's Affordable Bamboo Viscose Clothes
Price Range: $26-$100
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.
Also be sure to read my review of Boody products!
Quince’s Affordable Sustainable Activewear
Price Range: $20-$100
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 and they have options for men and women’s activewear.
Along with these brands you can also check your local thrift store for options!
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!
Hopefully this guide helped you discover a new sustainable clothing brand to consider the next time you shop for activewear!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Claudia Hauter is a South African writer, copy editor, and content creator with degrees in Drama and Anthropology. She works in television managing web content. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s walking her dog, finding small businesses and markets to support, or attracting butterflies and bees with her vegetable garden. Learn from Claudia on Twitter or Instagram.
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