With Spring in full force we are humbly reminded Mother Nature is powerful. Between seasonal allergies and hell-raising storms, she is not one to be messed with, but greatly respected. So how can we show our respect to MN? One way is to stick top brands that preach AND PRACTICE sustainability.
In a fashion world driven by 'athleisure' the first place to start is with our athletic brands. After some much needed research I chose a few brands that go the extra mile in the sustainability department.
Understanding Sustainability
As we all know, there are SEVERAL athletic brands out there, ranging in price and quality. They also range in level of sustainability. While yes, you may p[ay a little bit more for sustainable pieces, some sustainable brands are still cheaper than a few of the current industry favorites that are less sustainable, if not harmful. For a brand to be considered sustainable they must use eco-friendly materials, ethical practices, and they should be carbon neutral.
There are a few eco-friendly materials that the companies may use for their activewear such as organic/natural fibers like hemp or cotton, plant-based materials such as tencel, which is made from the eucalyptus plant, or even recycled materials.
7 Highly-Rated Sustainable Brands
Organic Basics
This brand is known for their highly ethical business model. With locations all over the world they are able to produce many different kinds of products, all while remaining incredibly sustainable.
"We only work with trusted, certified factory partners - these are the good guys. They have the same sustainable vision as us - and follow it through by continuously reducing their environmental footprint. These factories also ensure that their workplace is free of child labor and forced labor, their workers are surrounded in a safe working space, paid a living wage, offered employee perks like free lunch and childcare - and of course, they are treated with respect at all times."
The Girlfriend Collective
If you do some independent research on sustainable athletic clothing you will quickly realize that The Girlfriend Collective is the highest rated and most common suggestion out of all of these amazing brands. They are know to be very comfortable, long lasting, and eco-friendly.
"When we started Girlfriend Collective our first goal was to be as transparent as possible. So many companies tout transparency but only offer flashy headlines instead of substance. We chose every part of our process, from our raw materials to our facilities to our partners, with care.
We also discovered quickly that high-end fit and feel is not a matter of cost, it’s a matter of time. We take the time to make sure every single one of our designs is so beautiful that you won’t cycle through it the next time you look through your closet.
Beyond that, we wanted to find a community of people who cared about where their clothes come from as much as how they look. We're lucky to have found you. Take a look around, we're glad you're here."
Pact
Pact uses Organic Cotton to create not only amazing athletic gear, but everyday-wear for women, men, and children, as well as household essentials such as bedding and bath linens.
"Cotton is a crop. In fact, it is a HUGE crop, just like corn, wheat, and soybeans. This means it accounts for a massive amount of farmland, and just like our food crops, it can be grown with organic or non-organic methods.
At Pact, we choose to use organic cotton because it sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people by using natural farming processes. That means no toxic chemicals and 81% less water than non-organic cotton.
Pact’s products are Certified Organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). If you would like to learn more about GOTS or explore even more of the benefits of organic cotton farming, please visit the following websites:
Patagonia
You've likely heard of this popular cold-weather clothing brand but did you know that Patagonia is one of the most sustainable clothing companies out there. Plus, they make more than just robust parkas, they also make pieces for workouts.
"We’ve built robust environmental and animal welfare responsibility programs to guide how we make our materials and products.
What we’re doing to ensure that our products are produced under safe, fair, legal and humane working conditions.
We share information about our owned facilities and our suppliers across the supply chain, so you know where and how the clothes you buy are made."
Summersalt
Summersalt, usually known for their swimwear, also has a line of activewear. They are also known for their fabrics that are made from recycled materials. Not to mention, their products are reasonably priced and very cute.
"There are two things at the root of everything we do: our customers, and our planet. We believe that the companies of the future must have sustainability at the core of their business model to make a lasting impact and do right by the environment. We are not perfect, but we are working toward sustainability at every turn.
We work with our partners and design team to prioritize creating collections using sustainable materials and components. For example, our swimwear is made from a luxurious fabric that is crafted from 78% Recycled Polyamide / 22% Lycra. These fabrics are crafted from post-consumer materials and nylon waste—like old fishing nets—that are literally pulled from our oceans.
Many of our garments are made with recycled or eco-friendly materials like TENCEL™, TENCEL Modal, and Cupro. Products that are made with traditional materials have a path to sustainability through ongoing fabric development, research and development, and trials. We are constantly striving to refine processes and push ourselves to keep operations and products as eco-friendly as possible."
Tentree
This brand is all about trees. With every item purchased they plant 10 trees (now the name makes sense). Theydon't stop there, they also use environmentally friendly materials and are always striving to lower their carbon footprint.
"Everything we do stems from how to do better by our planet—like planting trees. We plant trees because it’s one of the best ways to create a more sustainable future. But over the years, we’ve realized that our journey doesn’t start and end with planting trees. We’re constantly looking at innovative ways to make apparel with the smallest possible footprint and create more circular supply chains. To give you some context, a tentree sweatshirt uses on average 75% less water to make than the other sweatshirts in your closet.
Earth-First is our commitment to making choices in a world where the planet and its people come first, always."
Wolven
Wolven is out to prove that sustainability doesn't mean no-fashion ability. They offer their recycled fabrics made from water plastic bottles in amazing patterns and colors that will keep you stylish and guilt-free.
"It's not enough to operate as sustainably as possible, so we also invest in programs that offset the emissions we've created. To address our carbon footprint we've partnered with Climate Neutral. This means each year we measure our greenhouse gas emissions, purchase carbon credits to offset that footprint, and implement plans to reduce our emissions moving forward. In 2020 we worked to offset our footprint of 1,045 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
This means your Wolvens are carbon-neutral (yay!). These carbon credits support a range of projects such as rainforest conversation and landfill methane-capture.
Rest assured that we're doing everything we can to deliver a product with the lowest possible impact."
With so many sustainable brands to choose from, offering many different environmentally-friendly solutions, there are no excuses to not put the planet first while looking and feeling good.
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