Sustainable Workout Clothes
Be Kind to Your Body and the World With These 12 Eco-Friendly Activewear Brands
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Sustainability might not be the first thing on your mind when you're browsing for a new pair of leggings or a sports bra, but as these 12 brands prove, there's no reason why your fitness gear can't be functional, cute, and good for the planet at the same time. And with Earth Day right around the corner, now is the perfect time to give your gym wardrobe an earth-friendly refresh with clothes made from certified organic, recycled, and sustainable materials. Ahead, peruse some of our favorite green (no, not the color) fitness gear options to find something that feels good on your body and does good for the planet.
1 Smartwool
The comfy, cozy products at Smartwool are made using ethically-sourced merino wool, meaning that those sheep are healthy, happy, and clean before donating their fleece. That leads to products that you feel good about wearing them, in more ways than one. The brand has everything from heavy coats and thick, warm leggings to shorts and T-shirts, so take your pick.
Try: Women's Merino 250 Base Layer Pattern Bottom ($100)
2 Allbirds
Allbirds makes athletic shoes made out of — wait for it — wool, straight from New Zealand (where, according to the brand's website, there are six times as many sheep as there are people). The brand is B Corp-certified, meaning that it meets the highest standards of environmental safety. Shoes made from wool, laces made from recycled plastic bottles, and the shoes themselves are light, comfy, and moisture-wicking.
Try: Women's Wool Runners ($95)
3 Casall
Products from Swedish brand Casall swap polyester for polyamide. Doesn't sound like a big deal? It kind of is: polyamide is made from smooth fibers, which make it harder for bacteria to grow. This way, the brand's clothes can skip antibacterial treatments that are rough on your health and the environment's. Plus, the brand's Conscious Choice collection is made with recycled materials, like fishing nets; this low-impact bra, for instance, is actually made from recycled yarns.
Try: Seamless sports top ($62)
4 Lolë
The super-soft Half Moon Collection from Lolë isn't just comfortable — it's also Bluesign-certified, which means it's sustainable in both materials and production practices. The brand also resells its own gently-used jackets and donates the proceeds to local food banks across the US, Canada, and Europe through the Yellow Label Program. The reusing is good for the environment, and the proceeds are great for the community: win-win.
Try: Half Moon High-Waist Shorts ($65)
5 Manduka
Yogi favorite Manduka was founded with a mission to create high-quality yoga products while reducing overall global consumption. Every mat, towel, and prop is made using eco-friendly materials, such as biodegradable tree rubber, in an effort to minimize the company's environmental footprint. Designed by yogis and teachers, Manduka's products are not only sustainable, but high-performing as well.
Try: eko® Yoga Mat 5mm in Rain Check ($92)
6 Nau
From organic cotton and recycled polyester to hemp, linen, and alpaca wool, every fabric at Nau is sustainable. Plus, the company is on a mission to provide clothes that are versatile above all else. "We think it's better to have one beautiful piece that works on mountain hikes, city commutes, and international road trips," the brand says. That generates less textile waste and saves you space — and money.
Try: Hyperspacer Hoody ($130)
7 PACT
There's something to be said for keeping things simple. PACT uses 100 percent organic cotton and not much else; this sports bra, for example, is 82 percent cotton and eight percent elastane (similar to Spandex). Plus, every product tells you how much water was saved while making it, since producing organic cotton requires less water than conventional. And that cotton makes things light, comfortable, and cozy to wear.
Try: Strappy-Back Sports Bra ($30)
8 Patagonia
Patagonia is an industry leader in sustainable fitness gear. The brand is transparent about its business practices, committed to using e-fibers like hemp, organic cotton, and recycled materials, and donates a portion of its yearly profits to environmental organizations across the globe. Patagonia doesn't just offer camping gear, either; check out its lines of workout shirts, shorts, and leggings for functional clothes you can feel good about buying.
Try: Patagonia Women's Slope Runner Tank Top ($49)
9 prAna
prAna says that sustainability is part of its DNA, and has the credentials to prove it. The brand is both Bluesign- and Fair Trade-certified and uses organic cotton and recycled products like wool and polyester to create its clothing.
Try: Bohemio 7/8 Legging ($89)
10 Boody
You'd never guess what Boody's products are made of. Ready? Organic bamboo. The brand uses the plant's viscose, which it says is "easy on the skin, superbly soft, and highly breathable." That bamboo is also certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning that its farming and harvesting doesn't contribute to the destruction of natural habitats.
Try: Soft Mid-Calf Layering Tight ($25)
11 Teeki
Plastic can take up to 400 years to decompose, and even though it's easily recyclable, 91 percent of the world's plastic isn't recycled. That brings us to Teeki. The brand makes its clothes out of fibers from recycled plastic water bottles, which is great for the environment in more ways than one; beyond just conserving plastic, the brand says that every pound of product created conserves about half a gallon of gasoline, too.
Try: High Horses Blue Hot Pants ($79)
12 Vitamin A
Vitamin A designer Amahlia Stevens was told there was no market for swimwear made from recycled fibers, so she decided to design the fabric — and the pieces — herself, using recycled nylon fibers. Her creations now make up the Vitamin A swimwear line, which also incorporates organic and recycled cotton, linen, and other sustainable fabrics without sacrificing a smooth, sleek style.
Try: Bianca Bodysuit ($170)
