From performance bras to cool leggings, these sustainable activewear brands have the gear you need to get moving while treading lighter on the planet.
Whether you’re a #gymrat or a workout novice, what you’re wearing is one of the most important decisions you’ll make before you begin working up a sweat.
Fashion aside, making sure you have the right workout gear that will work with you and not against you is key. But that fact isn’t only limited to performance materials that don’t chafe, it also includes the inner contents of your activewear fabrics and what they are treated with.
So we did a bit of digging to find some sustainable activewear brands that are conscious of what goes into their clothing and are finding ways to avoid toxic chemicals and polluting fibers.
One of the key ways in which brands are doing this is by prioritizing plant-based materials that are GOTS Certified, a third-party certification given to clothing that meets their strict criteria for the use and approval of chemicals which includes banning all chemicals like flame retardants, PFAS, and toxic dyes. (P.S. To learn more about PFAS and how you can avoid them, read our informative guide on the topic.)
We know just how vital a role activewear plays in motivating us to work out, so here are 15 sustainable activewear brands offering stylish workout wear for when you’re hitting the gym, the pavement, or the yoga studio.
Note that this guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, all brands meet strict standards for sustainability and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love, too!
1. Reprise
For those of you who prefer avoiding polyester in your wardrobe, this brand might just have the activewear choices you’ve been looking for. Reprise is a female-founded brand creating activewear made using only plant-based materials. All of their pieces are produced in small batches, where everyone involved in their manufacturing process is paid fair wages.
With fabric compositions that comprise TENCEL™ Lyocell (with 7% spandex for stretch), their leggings are treated with GOTS Certified organic dyes.
From unisex options to matching sets and beyond, you’ll be sure to find something for your next Ashtanga class here (even a yoga mat!).
Size range: XS–6X
Price: $$-$$$
2. Organic Basics
Organic Basics is a Danish brand that creates a wide range of organic activewear in fabrics like organic cotton, Tencel™, and recycled cotton, along with a few items in recycled nylon.
Whether you like sorbet pastels or deeply saturated hues, their activewear collection will inspire you to get out of bed every morning and hit the ground running.
A lot of their pieces are dyed using natural dyes made from natural, non-edible agricultural landfill-bound industrial waste like scraps from rosemary, palmetto fruit, and beetroot production.
Size range: XS–XXL
Price: $$-$$$
3. tentree
With pieces that’ll take you from the gym to the juice bar, tentree’s sustainable gymwear collection does a great job of merging performance and street chic to keep you moving at the elliptical and beyond.
We love the fact that most items come in a wide spectrum of colors that range from delicious pastels to some highly saturated hues to suit all preferences. Made from lightweight and breathable blends that compose of Repreve® Polyester and TENCEL™ Lyocell, these materials are armed with eco-friendly drirelease® technology to manage moisture and odor.
P.S. Most of their leggings and shorts come with pockets to stash your tiny essentials while you’re on the go.
Size Range: XS–XL
Price: $$
4. Pact
If you’re looking for a bunch of throw-on-and-go gym styles that cut your dressing time in half, then pact is the place to find them. With a colorful range of covetable matching sets, pact’s PureActive range is designed for low-impact workouts.
Crafted from a sustainable blend of GOTS Certified organic cotton and elastane for stretch, all of their pieces are made in Fair Trade Certified™ factories.
With details like side pockets on leggings and skorts, to pair with bra tops that are just the right length to provide enough coverage, these sets will take you from your pilates class to a power walk at ease.
Size range: XS–XXL
Price: $$
5. MATE the Label
MATE is a woman-owned brand based out of LA that makes functional yet fashionable activewear from organic cotton. From sustainable sports bra bundles to biker shorts and midi leggings, their pieces are designed to help you feel supported throughout all sorts of low-to-medium impact activities.
All of MATE’s garments are free from PFAS, BPAs, formaldehyde, and a range of other harmful chemicals. In order to keep the brand’s carbon footprint low, its entire supply chain is localized within a 17-mile radius of its headquarters.
P.S. Watch out for their breakdown of cost per wear derived out of each activewear item on individual product pages to help you make a more mindful purchase.
Size Range: US 0–20
Price: $$-$$$
6. prAna
Whether you’re into yoga, climbing, hiking, or simply working out at a gym, prAna is the place to find responsibly made activewear filtered by all your activity needs and preferences.
Crafted from compositions that include either hemp, organic cotton, TENCEL™, or recycled fiber blends, their range of activewear is treated with PFAS-Free DWR (Durable Water Repellent) for when the product performance requires water repellency.
You know you’ve stumbled upon a serious activewear brand when you find a special range of UPF tops that claim to have an ultraviolet protection factor of UPF 30+ to 50+ that’ll go the extra mile shielding you from the sun when you’re hitting the trails.
Size Range: XS–XL
Price: $$-$$$
7. Nagnata
“Movements, not seasons” is a guiding force that pushes this female-founded Australian brand to churn out a covetable collection of sustainable sportswear that is equal parts stylish and functional.
Made from fabric compositions that primarily include merino wool and organic cotton, along with a small percentage of nylon or elastane for technical performance, all of their pieces are knitted to shape and linked where required, resulting in no seams or excess yarn wastage from the production process.
You can put those winter morning runs back on your radar with their range of knitted merino wool pieces (including compression leggings) that are known for their unique moisture and temperature-regulating properties.
What’s more? The brand creates an exclusive range of unisex pieces under the SAMA collection that’s designed to blur gender lines.
Size Range: XS–L
Price: $$$
8. Vege Threads
Based out of Australia, Vege Threads is a sustainable activewear and clothing brand that uses materials like GOTS Certified organic cotton and hemp that are treated with Australian Certified Organic (or ACO) dyes that are verified for being non-toxic.
Available in a wide range of solid hues, you can find a collection of tracksuits, leggings, tops, and tees — along with a few styles in maternity sizes — that you can color block or match up with at your next workout session.
Size range: US 0–14
Price: $$-$$$
9. PINKY & KAMAL
PINKY & KAMAL is an Australian woman-owned brand that was born out of the need to be the antidote to the toxic fabrics that currently control the activewear market.
Their range of preferred materials includes GOTS certified organic cotton and pre-consumer recycled nylon that has additionally received a stamp of approval by OEKO-TEX ® STANDARD 100 that ensures every trim — right from the lining to the zippers — is free from harmful substances.
Pro Tip: Try their range of SEAMLESS activewear that’s made with a minimum number of seams to avoid chafing and makes every rep feel like a breeze.
Size Range: US 2–12
Price: $$-$$$
10. Amaru America
Amaru America is an Indigenous woman-owned brand creating a handful of activewear options that are completely treated using natural dyes. With vibrant unitards and leggings that’ll help you channel your inner bohemian, most of their fabric compositions include blends of hemp, organic cotton, and a bit of lycra.
The raw materials for their natural dyes are respectfully sourced from plants considered invasive, unwanted, or treated as compost. These include plants that are healthy enough to eat like pomegranate, bitter orange, and sumac to name a few.
Size Range: XS–XL
Price: $$$
11. Ripple Yoga Wear
With activewear options that’ll help you hold those difficult poses for longer without worrying about how see-through your leggings are, Israel-based Ripple Yoga Wear is the place to find performance clothing that puts your mind at ease.
From harem pants to a range of racerback tops, and matching cardigans to cover up in before your class, their thoughtful range of yoga wear is crafted from materials like modal, organic cotton, and stonewash cotton — a type of cotton that is dyed in a process similar to jeans dye using vegan and non-toxic processes.
Size Range: S–XL
Price: $$-$$$
12. Indigo Luna
Indigo Luna is an Australian brand creating natural fiber activewear made from earth-friendly materials like organic cotton and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose fibers to name a few.
Their yoga wear is full of covetable options like flared leggings, gathered crops, and tops with cool back-baring designs in an array of earthy hues. All of their pieces are naturally treated using plant-derived dyes and are completely free from PFAS.
Size Range: US 0–14
Price: $$
13. Tripulse
Tripulse is a woman-owned Swedish activewear brand designing high-quality activewear that you’ll want to keep in use for a long time.
With a range of leggings, shorts, t-shirts, and tanks, along with a zero-waste collection that is home to their “perfectly imperfect” pieces, Tripulse also has a sustainably designed high-performance sports bra available for pre-order on Kickstarter.
From pocket to waistband, their range of thoughtful materials includes TENCEL™ Lyocell, Roica® V550 (compostable elastane), and a blend of organic cotton and natural rubber for the elastic waistbands in their leggings — all of which have been treated with OEKO-TEX ® STANDARD 100 Certified dyes and finishes.
Size Range: XS–XXXL
Price: $$-$$$
14. Asquith
For the ones who prefer their activewear with a bit more pizazz, London-based Asquith has a range of styles in vibrant prints and solid hues. Crafted from plant-based fibers like GOTS Certified Bambor®, organic cotton, and Tencel, you’ll be relieved to know that their leggings are 100% opaque, naturally sweat-wicking, and very breathable.
The brand prides itself on creating high-quality, durable activewear that doesn’t fade, stretch, or pill and is responsibly made in GOTS Certified factories in Turkey and India.
Size Range: US 4–14
Price: $$
About The Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her. When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers
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