Sustainable fashion is often hard to find, so looking for sustainable activewear can be even harder. Especially when only 1% of all fashion pays a living wage – it cuts things down somewhat!
Since chatting with Zara Williams, Founder of the Who Made My Activewear? Festival, I’ve wanted to share my discoveries in ethical exercise gear – and give you a few options to try too.
Just as ethical shoes are harder to find than ethical t-shirts, activewear can prove to be tricky. Clothing needs to be light, wick away sweat, and stretch in the right places. And when sustainable materials are few and far between (organic cotton, linen, possibly bamboo…) that makes things quite difficult.
My Personal Activewear Favourites
When I first wrote this guide, I stated that I could do more when it came to exercise. I’m happy to say that upon writing this update, I have done just that! I run once or twice a week, I swim, and I sometimes practice yoga both at home and at classes. That means I have a whole drawer of workout gear now – and all sourced from ethical, sustainable brands.
My favourite brands to shop with when it comes to activewear are Organic Basics*, an eco-friendly brand creating high quality activewear and basics, and BAM Clothing*, a slightly more affordable option that I use to top-up my exercise gear. I’ve shown my favourite sets from each of them above – the black set from Organic Basics has been used 100+ times now and is still going strong! Both brands focus on performance materials, predominantly recycled nylon and bamboo viscose. Their clothing has been great for running in both the summer and winter, and layers up well. I’ve actually recently shared how I like to style my activewear for everyday wear too – because loved clothes last!
15 Of The Best Sustainable Activewear Brands In The UK
Aside from what’s in my wardrobe, there are a number of small, sustainable brands working hard to provide ethical clothing for many different active lifestyles. From athleisure to hiking, yoga clothes to cycling gear, here are the UK-based brands that I like to look around when investing in new garments:
BAM*: Bamboo athletic wear that truly does last – and feels great too!
Evamoso: Tops and leggings made in small batches from organic and recycled materials.
Girlfriend Collective*: Size inclusive clothing designed for exercise and relaxing, made from recycled materials.
Go As U R*: Highlighter bright gym clothes made from natural, recycled or regenerated fibres.
Jilla Activewear: Bamboo sportswear in natural colour tones.
KAMI*: Sustainably made mens and womens gym gear in classic navy, black, and white.
NaturallyEvie*: Pastel-coloured yoga pants and crop tops, all made from recycled polyester.
Organic Basics*: High quality active pieces made in Portugal with recycled fibres and odour control fabrics. Get 10% off with code: BESMAOBX
Pals Wear*: Size-inclusive gym gear from XXS to XXL in recycled OEKO-TEX certified fabrics.
Pioneer*: Affordable activewear sets and accessories from independent brand, sold on Etsy.
Reliked*: Second-hand activewear, unworn or lightly worn, from the wardrobes of influencers and celebrities.
Silou London: Premium form-fitting, pastel-shaded activewear using non-toxic fabrics, made in Europe.
Sports Philosophy: Socially-focused activewear with bold colours and designs.
Starseeds: A wide range of activewear styles made with slow fashion principles throughout.
Twill Active*: High design gym clothes and yoga clothes, made from recycled materials.
Wellicious*: Luxuriously high quality circular yoga clothing and gym wear. Read my review plus get 10% off: CURIOUSLYCONSCIOUS
Where’s your favourite place to buy activewear? I’d love to add more brands to the list.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links (denoted '*')
