Is it time for a sustainable 'new you' in 2024?
If it's time to get back in the gym, maybe it's time to get some new kit. There is now a growing range of sustainable activewear that will help you get fit and look great without costing the planet.
Combining the eco-friendly materials to use with the latest fashions. The Activewear brands are leading the charge for sustainability combining materials such as bamboo, recycled polyester, hemp, organic cotton, modal and aloe vera.
9 Sustainable Activewear Brands to Seek out
We have listed the Top 9 Sustainable Activewear Brands you need to know about in 2024. Find out which brands are doing their bit to lower the environmental impacts of the industry. Let us tell you what they do, how they do it and why we love them:
- Bam
- Sundried
- Carrot Banana Peach
- Tentree
- Jillia Active
- Howies
- SOS Activewear
- RubyMoon
- Stripe & Stare
1. Bam
Bam is an environmentally friendly business that creates clothing from bamboo and organic cotton. Sustainability is at its heart and they aim to be impact positive by 2030. Why? To prove a clothing company can have a positive impact on the planet. They fully believe bamboo is the way forward as bamboo absorbs five times more carbon than hardwood trees and only needs half the land cotton needs to produce the same amount of fibre. Bam is also a no-plastic zone. Their packaging consists solely of cardboard, paper or compostable garment bags.
Bam Clothing is available for a variety of leisure activities from yoga & pilates, running to gym wear. So whether you're in need of some new high waisted leggings, a hoodie or a new training vest Bam has you covered.
2. Sundried
Founder Daniel Puddick launched Sundried in 2016 after noticing a gap in the market for quality, eco-friendly, triathlon clothing. To support his idea he created their EcoTech® fabric collections. This features clothing made from recycled plastic bottles, recycled coffee grounds, and biodegradable yarn. The benefits of this are ideal for activewear and gym clothing as it is fast-drying, sweat-wicking, and deodorising. It also doesn't require the high-temperature treatment that other materials need which reduces CO2 emissions.
Their eco charge collection which features t-shirts and tank tops are made from 100% recycled coffee grounds. The eco core collection featuring running vests and compression leggings are made from 100% recycled bottles.
3. Carrot Banana Peach
Carrot Banana Peach produces eco-friendly, plant-based clothing from extracted fibres of plants. Plants such as bamboo, soybean, aloe vera and banana. Their activewear offers comfort, performance and breathability concentrating on clothes for yoga, running and fitness. The soft touch stretchy fabrics are perfect for yoga wraps, leggings and fitness t shirts as well as breathable under garments such as a sports bra or tank tops. As well as clothing they offer environmentally friendly fitness accessories such as Jute yoga mats, washable paper bags and bamboo face masks.
With a yoga retreat centre in Cheshire and an insta shop there are plenty of ways to get your fill of the brand where they showcase their love for all things natural. #carrotbananapeach
4. Tentree
For the love of trees is the philosophy behind Tentree. Their fashionable sustainable activewear basics such as t shirts, tank tops, beanies and bottoms are available to purchase for all the family. All of their garments are made with environmentally conscious materials such as Tencel, recycled polyester and hemp. Materials that are kinder to the planets as well as feeling great to wear. As well as opting for a sustainable business model they promise to plant a tree with every purchase. So as well as your new activewear item, you will also get a tree code in your delivery which allows you to track your impact. Just register your tree and see!
What makes them a little different is in addition to clothing they also offer climate plus packages. This is where you can pay them to offset your carbon footprint. You can pay to offset a bath, a car journey or a take out delivery. Every sale goes on the purchase of a tree. These get planted all over the world in places such as Madagascar, Cambodia, Canada, and Mexico. This B Corp brand really does want to do their bit to protect and preserve the world we live in.
5. Jillia Active
Ethically made activewear is what Jillia Active is all about. Based in the London docklands, their small but dedicated design team develops comfortable, soft and seamless activewear aimed at yoga yogis and gym bunnies. Many products are made from eco friendly fabrics including bamboo yarn, modal and recycled polyester. ‘We are personally passionate about becoming a more sustainable brand, so we are always looking at ways to incorporate this into the product and its packaging.’ Ensuring an ethical supply chain they work directly with a family-run factory making sure working conditions for all of the team are kept at a high standard. They also took part in the Fashion Revolution campaign #who made my clothes which helps give transparency to the production process.
Their sustainable products include leggings, sports bras, yoga vests, tops and tanks. Explore their sustainable styles now.
6. Howies
Howies has been making high quality, low impacting outdoor clothing since 1995. Based in Wales, their award winning mens and womens activewear is ethically produced using organic, recycled and natural fabrics such as merino wool. One of their biggest goals is to ensure their products are made to last, keeping them out of the landfill as long as possible. In 2016 they also became the first clothing company to become 100% PET / PFC free. Meaning no harmful man-made chemicals are used on their outdoor clothing range. Their t-shirts, trousers, and jumpers are all made with organic cotton. Their underwear range is made using plant-based modal fibres and their sport base layers are made from Merino wool.
Being a Better Cotton Initiative and Oeko Tex certified company, you can be reassured that when buying from Howies you really are doing your bit for the environment. #howiescape
7. SOS Activewear
SOS Activewear lives and breathes their motto to Save Our Seas. They do this by creating sustainable, reliable and functional activewear made by ECONYL®. This is a fibre made from recycled fishing nets and other plastic waste products found in the ocean. Their sports bras which are available in red, white, blue and black offer a breathable lightweight feel, designed to move without any restriction. Other clothing on offer includes hoodies and t-shirts.
All of their activewear is made in London and contains at least 70% recycled materials. Power your workouts and the planet simultaneously with sos activewear.
8. RubyMoon
RubyMoon is also on a mission to clean our oceans as well empowering women to live healthily and sustainably. Their all-women team believe we can change the world through what we wear. Their activewear clothing range includes leggings, shorts, sports bras and sports tops. All products are made from a super soft, sustainable stretch fabric that is made from recycled ocean materials. It is vegan, durable and certified against chlorine, sunlight and saltwater. Meaning all of their clothing can be used in the gym or on a swim.
With every RubyMoon purchase, you also help empower women worldwide as each purchase makes a micro finance loan to a women entrepreneur through lendwithcare.org. Information about women they have already helped can be found in their shop as every product is named after an entrepreneur.
9. Stripe & Stare
Stripe & Stare have recently introduced their new sustainable activewear range and it is as fashionable as it is environmentally friendly. They make their products from TENCEL™ Modal, an eco-friendly fabric which is said to have numerous benefits. Not only is the material made from sustainably forested trees, but also Tencel is 100% biodegradable since it is made from wood pulp. This means that instead of ending up in landfill, Stripe & Stare’s Sustainable Activewear can fully revert back to nature. What’s more, Tencel Modal is known for being exquisitely soft, very breathable and highly flexible which makes it perfect for working out in. We love their tie dye prints and think their bike shorts are a particularly funky piece of sustainable activewear.
As part of their commitment to helping the planet, all of Stripe & Stare’s packaging is 100% biodegradable and they even have an option to go packaging free so your order will arrive in no extra boxes. They are also partnered with Ecologi and have a tree planting scheme where every order placed results in a mangrove being planted in Madagascar
An Active Sustainable Future
Sustainability and slow fashion aren't just phrases people throw around. It's an important part of all of our futures and we can all make a difference. The sustainable fashion brands above are doing their best to bring you quality, comfortable clothing as well as lessen their impact on the environment. From bamboo t-shirts, aloe leggings, to sustainable sneakers they have you covered. Keep active, buy sustainably and spread the word! #sustainabilitymatters
What are your go to activewear brands? Let us know who to check out for our next update. Drop us a line and let us know!