Last Updated on February 12, 2024
Did you know activewear can have a larger environmental impact than other clothing? This is due to the abundance of synthetics used and we tend to be harder on sportswear so it gets worn out faster. So look for durable and sustainable activewear, which I have collected for you!
Let’s get those muscles moving 💪
(please note: some affiliate links are used in this post which means we may get a small commission)
Tripulse
Plastic-free activewear does exist!
Tripulse is taking an innovative approach – their clothing is made from Tencel and Roica V550 which is a biodegradable and certified cradle-to-cradle alternative to spandex/elastane. They also have good transparency and certifications for their manufacturing and supply chain.
Watch my review of their pocket leggings.
Size range: XS – XXXL
Values: sustainable materials, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified fabrics, made in a GOTS certified factory in Portugal
Ordering: based in Sweden, ships international
Tentree
One of our family’s favourite brands, Tentree has an active line including sports bras, leggings, shorts, joggers, and tops made from recycled materials. Their name represents their commitment to planting 10 trees for every purchase and they have a variety of other sustainability initiatives as well.
Size range: XS – XXL
Values: sustainable materials, recycled materials, B Corp certified, public code of conduct for manufacturing, gives back
Availability: based in Canada, ships to North America, EU, UK, and some international
Happy Earth
Happy Earth makes “polyester free” lounge, yoga, and activewear. A great option if you’re looking for natural fabrics! Their PlantTec™ pieces are made from a blend of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane.
Happy Earth manufactures in Fair Trade certified factories and is also a vegan brand.
Size range: XXS – 2XL
Values: sustainable materials, B Corp certified, Fair Trade factories, public code of conduct, carbon neutral, gives back
Availability: based in USA, ships international
Girlfriend Collective
Known for their solid colour sets, Girlfriend Collective has an extensive collections of bras, leggings, and shorts made from recycled PET (plastic bottles). They manufacture in Vietnam in an SA8000 certified factory.
They’re also have the most inclusive size range I’ve found from XXS-6X!
Watch my review of their leggings, bras and shorts.
Size range: XXS – 6X
Values: recycled materials, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified fabrics, SA8000 certified factory
Availability: based in USA, also ships to UK, Australia, and Canada
Groceries Apparel
Groceries Apparel has a selection of yoga, lounge and exercise clothing, mostly made from organic cotton. They prioritize non-toxic dyed and many of their items are even dyed with natural, plant or food-waste dyes!
Their activewear is locally made in LA, California.
Size range: XS – XL
Values: sustainable materials, natural dyes, made in-house, made in USA
Availability: based in USA, ships internationally
Wolven
Wolven is a a swim and yoga/active brand great for unique kaleidoscope prints and recycled fabrics. Their collection is made in China and LA (read more about their manufacturing) from OEKO-TEX certified recycled PET and modal.
Watch my review of their racerback bra.
Size range: XS – XL
Values: recycled materials, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified fabrics, carbon neutral, gives back
Availability: based in USA, ships internationally
Alder
Outdoor recreation apparel that is inclusive and sustainable. Alder ‘s clothing is specially designed for hiking, camping, climbing and other outdoor activities. They use primarily modal and recycled nylon and polyester.
Size range: XS – 6X
Values: sustainable materials, recycled materials, factory transparency
Availability: based in Canada, ships to Canada and US
MATE
Another great option if you’re looking for organic cotton activewear. MATE makes essentials, loungewear, and workout clothes from organic and natural fabrics. While their regular clothing line is completely plastic-free, their ‘Move’ exercise apparel is 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex
Size range: XS – 3X
Values: Sustainable materials, GOTS certified, climate neutral, plastic-free packaging, take-back recycling program, gives back
Availability: Based in the US, ships international
PACT
PACT has some activewear basics made with GOTS certified organic cotton in Fair Trade certified factories (some, not all are certified).
Size range: XS – XXL
Values: GOTS certified organic cotton, made in Fair Trade certified factories
Availability: based in USA, also ships to Canada
Elle Evans
Mainly know for their swimwear, Elle Evans also has a line of athletic leggings and tops. Everything is made to order from ECONYL® which is regenerated nylon often made from ocean plastic such as recycled fishing nets.
Size range: XXS – XXXL
Values: recycled materials, made in-house, made to order, low waste
Availability: based in Australia, ships internationally
Asquith
London based, Asquith has a range of lounge and yoga wear made from bamboo, organic cotton, and Bambor® which is their own bamboo and organic cotton blend. They manufacture in a GOTS certified, family-run factory in Turkey.
Size range: XS – XXL
Values: sustainable materials, made in GOTS certified factory in Turkey
Availability: based in UK, ships internationally
Looking for running shoes? Check out my sustainable shoe roundup.
PS. Remember to also never use fabric softener with your athletic clothing!
Manuela Lucia
Hi, everyone! There are a few more sustianable active-wear / yoga brands I like.
Bewildher: small womenowned brand, canadian based, slow fashion, amazing core values (local production etc). Also great prints (landscapes), patterns, and also leggings for running
Arcticflamingo: based in Munich, Germany, one-woman show, insanely stunning prints from nature (macrophotography) obv. all environmental friendly.
Budevi Yoga clothing: Based in Köln, run by two women, the comfiest leggings on the planet, stunning patterns, all eco etc aswell 🙂
Def. check them out! I bought from all of them and can recommend them all. Also the owners are the kindest, sweetest women you’ll ever meet!
Laura Weatherly
Where is the top you are wearing in the first photo from? Thanks!
Verena Erin
The light purple one? It’s from Wolven, you can see my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKDEKwDJWq8
Franciful
Late to the party here, but I recently purchased a pair of leggings from Vancouver based brand Daub+Design. They are extremely comfortable, and so far have stood up to the HIIT style workouts I like to do. And I believe they are all hand died. Unfortunately, it does not seem they have high impact bras or bras for larger cup sizes with smaller bands (a problem I too am familiar with).
Free Label, another Vancouver designer, has a range of bras for cups bigger than D, I have yet to try them but have heard great things!
Faith
I know this is 18 months old but just in case you are still searching for a sports bra that actually functions for sport, then Adidas do some out of recycled materials. I’m not convinced about all the designs tbh, I don’t think the sizing chart is accurate and I would say check whether the design you are looking for has adjustable shoulder straps but there is support to be had…
Emmy
You are so right on the eco sports bra front lacking! I need Bravissamo kind of bras as I am a FF, Organic Basics sent me a “sports bra” last year and honestly I’d struggle to do more than low impact yoga in it.
Annie
Thanks for sharing the size ranges on this article, it’s so important and makes it really easy to quickly scan which ones are relevant for what I’m looking for. Another eco activewear brand that has a larger size range is Day/Won which I just discovered.
Grace
My mom and I tried Girlfriend Collective, and we really wanted them to be good, obviously. However, the first day my mom wore them, they already started pilling on the outside of her thigh, which is such a random place, so not super sure about the durability of this brand.
Also, Asquith’s XXL is a US 14, which is not really an XXL, in my opinion, so just something to note.
Victoria
TALA makes great sport bras! They’re also highly sustainable with fair wages and eco-friendly materials!!
Maureen
Do you have an opinion on the brand prAna? I don’t see them listed in your directory. I really like the style of their clothes, and a lot of people recommend them as a green brand, but for some reason I get a greenwashing vibe from them
Verena Erin
I haven’t looked into them recently but I remember a while ago I wasn’t very impressed by what they’re doing and also heard mixed things about them. 🤷♀️
Kristyn Laird
I’m not sure if you’ve heard of them or how they would rank for you but Inner Fire (myinnerfire.com) is a legging brand based in BC that uses material that is recycled polyester mixed with spandex. The leggings are sewn in BC but I’m not sure where the material is from. They have a wide variety of prints and although I’ve never bought a pair (I can usually find suitable activewear in thrift stores) I’ve seen people wearing them at the gym/yoga studio and they all speak positively of them. I’m not affiliated with the company in any way, just sharing a sustainable Canadian company. 🙂
Mona
I’ve found good high-impact sports bras at Patagonia. I’m a relatively small bust size, though.
Jacqueline
I purchased two pairs of leggings from Pact a while ago and have been very unimpressed with the quality. They are 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex and rip very easily. I’m not sure if it’s because of the cotton-to-spandex ratio, the quality of the fabric, or something else? I have other leggings from a conventional/non-conscious brand that are 88% cotton and 12% spandex and they have held up very well over time, so Pact’s leggings were a disappointment to me.
Verena Erin
Thanks for sharing, disappointing to hear that about Pact.
Anna
Hey there are a lot more from europe and germany: vaude, patagonia, ognx, hey honey, vegan savage, trigema, openwear, ocean apart, essencials for zula, rhonisch, bleed and avocadostore.de has a bunch of different options as well!
Unfortunately I have the same sports-bra problem and no solution yet…
Gitte
Thank you! Some of these brands are also interesting for basic casual wear, and it is amazing you included brands from a wider range of countries and continents, probably because you lived in Germany. A lot of North American sustainability influencers tend to forget Europe exists.