When it comes to activewear, finding gear that’s not only functional but also natural and eco-friendly can feel like a workout in itself, am I right?! However, choosing sustainable activewear matters more than ever. Many conventional options are made with synthetic materials that shed microplastics and chemicals on our bodies and aren’t great for the environment, either. Fortunately, there are soooo many amazing brands that are creating comfortable, cute, natural, and high-performing sports bras, yoga pants, shorts, and more. Let’s jump in and learn more!
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Why Choosing Natural & Sustainable Activewear Matters 💪
If you’re unfamiliar with the ins and outs of sustainable, natural clothing, check out this blog post for a deep dive:
Why Natural Clothing Matters & 12+ Best Sustainable Fashion Brands (For All Budgets!)
To summarize, what we wear also impacts our health, the environment, and the lives of the people who make our clothes.
- Many clothes are made from synthetic fibers that are derived from petroleum and plastic (such as polyester and nylon)
- They can contain Bisphenol A (BPA), PFAS (forever chemicals), harsh dyes, pesticides, formaldehyde, and synthetic fragrances
- The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters; it’s estimated that 92 million tons of textile waste are thrown away yearly—yikes!
- The industry is notorious for unsafe and unfair working conditions for garment workers
- Opt for natural, non-toxic fabrics that are healthier for our bodies and better for the earth, such as organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, wool, or lyocell
- Recycled fabrics like polyester, diverted ocean plastic, or upcycled water bottles are a better solution than virgin plastic but aren’t the best for clothing since it’s still synthetic
In addition, it’s especially crucial to choose low tox activewear! There have been so many alarming studies coming out lately, from high levels of hormone-disrupting BPA in sports bras to PFAS in yoga pants. We wear these fabrics closely on our skin, the largest organ, and sweat in them—so you bet it’s important to prioritize safer, natural options instead 🧘♀️ (when we sweat, our pores open up, making it easier for these substances to seep in!)
FYI, if you’ve never worn natural fibers before, they do feel slightly different compared to conventional ones. For example, if you’re used to those buttery smooth Lululemon leggings, don’t expect the same from organic cotton. While cotton is incredibly soft, it won’t have that “slick” feeling like plastic-based materials. Just so you’re aware! ◡̈
Related post: “How to Choose a Natural Non-Toxic Yoga Mat (& Ananday Cork Mat Review)“
The Best Natural & Eco-Friendly Activewear Brands 🏃♀️
Boody
Materials: Organic bamboo viscose, organic cotton, elastane
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $$
Made In: China, Vietnam, or India
Certifications: OEKO-TEX, Certified B Corp, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Boody is an Australian-owned company. Their signature fabric is bamboo, which doesn’t sound comfortable, but it is! It’s the fastest-growing plant in the world and doesn’t require pesticides to grow, plus it uses ⅓ of the water that cotton does. Boody’s bamboo viscose is breathable, stretchy, and moisture-wicking, which makes it ideal for athletic clothes! It feels a bit more compressive than cotton.
Wearing a Boody sports bra (this specific style is no longer available)The company takes a responsible approach to manufacturing, focusing on ethics, fair trade, safe labor, and minimal environmental impact. I also appreciate that their clothes aren’t outrageously expensive!
They have tank tops, leggings, sports bras, and biker shorts. Everything I have tried from Boody is true to size; I wear a 34B for reference, and the Small bras fit me perfectly! They are supportive and work well for high-impact workouts, too.
Groceries Apparel
Materials: Organic cotton, eucalyptus TENCEL, hemp, spandex
Sizes: XS-XXL
Price: $$$
Made In: Los Angeles, CA
Certifications: GOTS-Certified (Global Organic Textile Standard)
Groceries is majorly impressive! The name is so cute because they literally dye each piece of clothing with upcycled food scraps (avocado, carrot tops, onion skins, coffee grounds from a local roaster, and pomegranate peels). Zero chemicals or harsh dyes at all! They also house the entire manufacturing process under one roof in downtown LA, from design to dyeing, sewing, and shipping.
Wearing Groceries 422 BraletteThey make shorts, biker shorts, sports bras, tank tops, and leggings. I own the 422 Bralette, and it’s seriously comfy! It’s thinner yet durable and doesn’t have much padding (more ideal for low-impact exercise). I’d say it’s mostly true to size; I’m in between sizes and ended up sizing up for a slightly looser fit.
MATE The Label
Materials: Organic cotton, spandex
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Price: $$$
Made In: Los Angeles, Peru, India
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral
⭐️ Becca’s favorite crop tank!
MATE is a trendy woman-owned brand with impeccable quality! Most of their manufacturing happens in Los Angeles, but some production is ethically and fairly outsourced. They’re super transparent, and you can view details about their materials, factories, and supply chain. For example, they uphold a strict list of restricted substances that includes 31 chemicals and 49 dye products, including pesticides, BPA, PFAS, formaldehyde, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens. Nice!
The clothes are a tad more expensive, but you can feel that they’re well-made and have a durable feel! Not to mention, they’re totally plastic-free.
Wearing MATE The Label organic sports bra
Wearing MATE The Label racer tank and poplin pantsMATE has sports bras, leggings, biker shorts, tank tops, and unitards. I own a couple of pieces and love ‘em! The Organic Stretch Racer Tank is amazing because has a built-in shelf bra layer. And you can’t go wrong with the Organic Stretch Sports Bra, which is unpadded but has a double layer for thickness and coverage.
Heads up, they do run a bit small in my experience (especially the bras), so I recommend sizing up.
Pact Organic
Materials: Organic cotton, elastane
Sizes: XS-XXXL (some Short/Regular options for length)
Price: $$
Made In: India
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, Fair Trade Certified™, SimpliZero Carbon Neutral
⭐️ Becca’s favorite leggings!
Pact is an OG brand that I’ve been buying for years! They are based in Denver and have slightly more affordable prices than many natural fashion brands.
One thing about Pact is that they rotate styles often (usually seasonally), which has pros and cons. One pro is that it means smaller production runs, which reduces overstock and waste. And you can usually find items on clearance towards the end of a season. However, a con is that they don’t always have the same styles available. For instance, sometimes they have sports bras, but not always!
Wearing Pact leggings and sports braBut Pact’s leggings are my FAVORITE—I have sooooo many pairs of them! They are thicker and not see-through (even when I squat); I primarily use them for working out and barre classes. Some styles have pockets, too!
Aside from leggings, Pact also has biker shorts, tank tops, crop tops, sports bras, skorts, and maternity activewear. They are true to size for me.
Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount on your first purchase 🏷️
tentree
Materials: Recycled polyester, recycled nylon, organic cotton, TENCEL, elastane
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $$$
Made In: China, Indonesia, Vietnam
Certifications: Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified, Fashion for Climate, Textile Exchange Member
Tentree is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada but also has a US-based website. Their name is quite literal because they plant 10 trees for each purchase, and you can actually track where the trees get planted, which is neat! They only partner with manufacturers and suppliers who are conscious of their environmental impact and guarantee their employees a safe and respectful environment. You can actually see a factory ledger on their site for specific info about each location.
Tentree does incorporate synthetic fabrics (so you can expect more of a traditional feel with their pieces), but everything is recycled and repurposed. They have leggings, bras, tanks, running shorts, skorts, joggers, and bike shorts. Plus, activewear for men too!
United by Blue
Materials: Organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, spandex
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $$$
Made In: China, Vietnam
Certifications: Certified B Corp, Organic Content Standard (OCS)
United by Blue is based in Philadelphia. They’re committed to ethical manufacturing, and with each purchase, the company removes a pound of trash from the oceans 🌊 Many of their pieces use a blend of materials.
I loooooove United by Blue’s clothing, accessories, and jackets—so I’m happy that they have some workout clothes too! I like that they have fun colors and not just neutrals. You can get sports bras, shorts, leggings, bike shorts, tank tops, and shorts for men. I own the EcoKnit™ Ribbed High-Neck Sports Bra, and it’s a little tight around my rib cage, so maybe size up.
(Note: They also sell some other brands on their site, such as Girlfriend, so just make sure you grab the United by Blue branded pieces!)
Vibrant Body Co.
Materials: Nylon and spandex
Sizes: XS-XXL
Price: $$$
Made In: Indonesia
Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Certified B Corp, 1% for the Planet, Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
Vibrant Body Co. is a local-to-me company based in Milwaukee! While the materials are synthetic, everything is independently tested to be Certified Clean™ and free from harmful levels of toxins (even down to the stitches, dyes, and threads!). The OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 ensures the clothes are free from contaminants such as PFAS, BPA, heavy metals, formaldehyde, pesticides, and phthalates.
So, if you don’t want to sacrifice that quintessential “slick” feeling with your workout attire but still want to avoid chemicals, you may be interested in Vibrant! They offer one style of leggings, bike shorts, and a sports bra.
Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount 🏷️
Woolly
Materials: Merino wool, elastane
Sizes: XS-XXL
Price: $$$
Made In: China
Certifications: Woolmark Certified Australian Merino, Responsible Wool Standard, Business Social Compliance Initiative
Woolly is based in Seattle, and their mission is “More wool. Less plastic.” The wool they use is evaluated for humane animal welfare, and the ranches must adhere to proper land management techniques. You can even return your used Woolly clothes (which will be recycled) in exchange for store credit.
Merino wool is excellent for workout clothing because it’s breathable, wicks sweat, has antimicrobial properties, resists odors, and dries quickly. It’s really great at regulating temperature; you’ll keep cool when it’s hot and stay warm when it’s cold! It even has some natural UV protection 🐑
Woolly has tees, tank tops, bike shorts, leggings, long-sleeve shirts, sports bras, and menswear!
Also available here on Amazon.
Budget Cotton Sports Bras: Fruit of the Loom
Materials: Cotton, spandex
Sizes: 34-50
Price: $
Made In: Bangladesh
Although these are not organic or from a “slow fashion” brand, a pack of four costs only $18, which is super affordable compared to most boutique brands 💰
Low tox living doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and if picking a “better, not best” option like this is all you can afford, you’re still making a difference!
Shop Fruit of the Loom Bras Here
You may also like:
Where to Buy The Best Organic & Sustainable Bras, Socks, Undies, and Undershirts
Finding activewear that aligns with your values doesn’t have to be a struggle! By choosing natural and sustainable options, you’re not only prioritizing your health but also supporting brands that care for the planet and the people who make your clothes. Let me know if you have any questions or comments below. Thanks so much for reading 💚
What are your thoughts on girlfriend collective? Their site says “Our recycled fabric is certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex”
Hey Kate, I’d say that’s a better option (similar to the Vibrant company I have in this post) but still not a “best” option since it’s still using plastic-derived materials and can shed microplastics. But the fact that they’re OEKO-TEX 100 is great because it means you’re not getting all the extra contaminants.
This was perfect timing… I had some Boody bras in my cart that I have been hesitating to purchase and this made me feel better about going for it!
The links in the groceries apparel section took me to your webpage 🙂
Hi Liz, doh, thanks for letting me know about the link. Boody is a great brand, hope you like ’em!