What do athleisure and sustainability have in common? They’re both trends that are here to stay for the long run (thank goodness, too). And just like athleisure lets you work out and relax in style, the best sustainable athletic gear has the dual benefits of being good for your closet and the environment. And maybe it’s because both are undeniably, undyingly on trend, but there is also no shortage of sustainable products from sneakers to bedding. No matter how you like to look when you are working out (or not), there’s a sustainable brand out there that makes choosing the planet easy when shopping for that new athleisure. But there is a lot to consider when browsing, like manufacturing processes, fair-trade suppliers, green initiatives, and sustainable materials sourcing — the whole sustainable supply chain shebang.
Although shopping sustainably is a tricky thing, with all the buzzwords (renewable, recycled, eco-friendly) saturating the fashion industry these days, one never really knows if a company has a true commitment to sustainable practices or if they’re just hopping on the greenwashing bandwagon. Fear not! We are here to help you cut through the mumbo-jumbo. (Just one note when it comes to buzzy jargon: “Biodegradable” doesn’t mean anything; if something isn’t certified compostable and also properly composted, its ability to degrade won’t make a huge difference in a landfill.)
After deep diving into the multitude of sustainable athletic brands currently on the market, we’ve found the best sustainable brands to outfit you head to toe.
DashDividers_1_500x100Outdoor Voices
If you are looking for a sustainable athleticwear brand that embraces its name, Outdoor Voices is a great place to start. Outdoor Voices products are designed with longevity and circularity in mind to minimize environmental impact. The brand offers a number of cute athleisure basics designed to minimize their impact on the environment. While the brand admits that it isn’t 100% sustainable, it strives to incorporate environmentally-conscious decision-making in business processes, like reducing the use of conventional fabrics and choosing packaging materials that are environmentally friendly alternatives.
Shop Outdoor Voices
DashDividers_1_500x100Girlfriend Collective
If you’re looking for sustainable activewear, Girlfriend Collective is one of the best places to begin your search. The AAPI-owned and founded brand makes sustainable and size-inclusive activewear and loungewear that is both affordable and stylish. Transparency and sustainability are two of the brand’s main priorities, and both are taken into account throughout the whole shopping process, from using recycled materials when creating products to utilizing 100% recycled and recyclable packaging. The website is flush with great information and explanations on its sustainable practices — each product page even includes a breakdown of the product makeup. The brand also offers Recycle. Reuse. ReGirlfriend., an initiative that allows customers to send back old activewear items for store credit.
DashDividers_1_500x100Everlane
One of your favorite one-stop shops for effortless, elevated basics is also committed to minimizing its impact on the environment, giving us another reason to love Everlane. The company does its part by creating an ethical supply chain with everything from choosing the most sustainable materials to using renewable energy certificates for 100% of the power at its stores. Each product’s sustainability efforts can also be read on the product page.
Shop Everlane
DashDividers_1_500x100Mate The Label
Sustainable? Yes. Chic neutrals? Yes. Clean materials? Of freaking course. Mate is leading by example toward a more sustainable future for the fashion industry. For starters, the company only uses nontoxic, natural, and organic materials. The woman-founded company also operates on The Mate Eight, or eight guiding principles, one of which includes plastic-free — meaning that the company eliminated all the plastic in its labels and packaging. We also love how the brand breaks down the cost of each product by the number of wears to know you are getting your bang for your buck.
Shop Mate
DashDividers_1_500x100Pangaia
The name of the B Corp-certified brand Pangaia says it all. ‘”Pan” means all-inclusive or uniting, and “gaia” means Mother Earth. The brand is all about working with the Earth and minimizing negative impacts on the environment by integrating science, purpose, and design in its products. Each material is designed to have a net-positive impact on the Earth and is either next-generation bio-materials created in the Pangaia Lab (like Panettle, a plant-based denim fabric made from Himalayan wild nettle) or recycled fibers. The brand’s environment-first efforts have not gone unnoticed; you can find celebrities like Bella Hadid, Jaden Smith, and J.Lo sporting the iconic tracksuits.
Shop Pangaia
DashDividers_1_500x100Summersalt
Summersalt is known for its supersoft signature French terry fabric, but did you know it also has great sustainability practices? Many of Summersalt’s products are made from eco-friendly or recycled materials, such as recycled polyester or Tencel Modal, a supersoft material made with sustainable beach wood. We love being comfy while breaking a sweat.
Shop Summersalt
DashDividers_1_500x100Under The Canopy
In addition to sustainable (and affordable) bedding and textile goods, Under the Canopy also has clothing. The sustainable production athleisure collection is comprised of staples available in five earthy colors that will have you moving and grooving — or just potato-ing on the couch. With numerous certifications under its belt — including GOTS-certified, meaning the company uses a minimum of 97% organic cotton, OEKO-TEX certified, a global certification guaranteeing the most eco-friendly dyes are used — Under the Canopy is sure to have you and Mother Earth feeling good. You can read more about the brand’s commitments to sustainability on it here.
Shop Under the Canopy
Pact
Pact does indeed practice what it preaches in terms of sustainability practices. The company has partnerships with a number of organizations including Fair Trade USA, Global Organic Textile Standard, and SimpliZero to further its commitment to both people and the planet. Each product page provides a breakdown of the product’s organic cotton water savings, carbon offset for the climate, and the fair trade factory it was made in. Pact also has the Give Back Box program where shoppers can use a prepaid free shipping label to send gently used clothes (in a recycled box) to one of five charities. The revenue earned from the charities is used to help fund community-based programs such as job training and support services.
Shop Pact
DashDividers_1_500x100Wolven
Founded as a way to challenge fashion industry norms, Wolven aims to address unethical fashion practices and environmental impact with clothes that not only celebrate differences but also promote sustainable practices. Wolven ensures that sustainably flows into all facets of their production process, from ethical manufacturing to investing in programs that offset the emissions created during production. The company’s athleisure wear has vibrant designs that are soft, sustainable, and stylish for all bodies. A true triple threat.
Shop Wolven
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