Ethical & Sustainable Activewear Brands
Stylish and sustainable workout gear in Singapore and beyond
Text: Tiff H and Rachel L
With the growing need for sustainable practices and systems, the fashion industry also has a huge responsibility to help reverse climate change and support our planet. Though the fight for change is far from over, the past few years have seen multiple new labels centering themselves around creating a cleaner, greener industry. Others have rebranded themselves, transforming production processes and going the extra mile to make sustainability sexy. Amidst all of this, activewear brands are refusing to be left behind. Here are 8 athleisure labels that are striving to impact their corner of the industry by producing ethical and sustainable products.
INTERNATIONAL BRANDS
Credit: Lululemon
1. Lululemon
In line with its goal to produce all of its products from sustainable materials and end-of-use solutions, Lululemon has launched its “Earth Dye Collection”. Given the collection’s mute and earthy tones, it’s not hard to draw the connection between this new series and our planet. The collection’s nod towards Mother Nature, however, goes beyond what is seen in their prints. Interestingly, they have upcycled food waste from oranges, beet and saw palmetto trees to produce the low impact dyes. This means that less water, carbon and synthetic chemicals have been used and each piece has its own unique pattern because the tie dye results are different for each one.
Known for their silky smooth leggings and a go-to amongst athletes, Nimble Activewear use MoveLite as their signature fabric which is made from recycled plastic bottles that would have been clogging oceans and piling up in landfills if they weren’t utilised otherwise. From leggings and shorts to close fitting tanks, you can kit yourself out from head to toe for the ultimate stylish, sustainable workout.
CLOSER TO HOME
Credit: Outfyt
3. Outfyt
Founded in Singapore by Stephanie Colhaf Yeo, Outfyt is an eco-luxe sustainable activewear brand, which uses ECONYL® Regenerated Nylon. The sustainable fabric is made by recovering nylon waste — such as fishing nets or fabric scraps — and turning it into virgin quality nylon yarn. The pieces are produced in small batches to eliminate excess waste and are designed to be less trend-driven and more time-driven, going beyond aesthetics to promote sustainable and ethical living. We also love that 1% of proceeds from every purchase is donated to Healthy Seas, which go towards cleaning the seas, saving marine wildlife, preventing future pollution and recycling resources.
Offering athleisure uniquely made out of regenerated ocean waste, Sunnysix Active is a Philippines-based initiative started by two sisters, Maui and Sammy Shah. The brand’s vision is to inspire others to care more and waste less, leading by example with their attention to every single detail throughout the supply chain; from the sustainable fabric, the ethical manufacturing processes and working conditions, to their plantable cards and their donation of 5% to Healthy Seas. Their inaugural collection comes in a vibrant array of colours including cherry, pine and honeycomb.
5. Flexi Lexi
The Bangkok-based activewear brand launched its first plastic-recycled fabric collection in 2019 and since then, each of their collections has championed the sustainable fabric. From garbage to gear, each bra and legging combo is made from approximately 35 post-consumer plastic bottles. The brand’s latest collection is ideal for working out in the tropics; their “Into the Jungle” collection features vibrant designs such as “Hakuna Papaya” and “You’re the Zest”. Added bonus: each comes packaged in eco-friendly canvas zipper bag.
Credit: Indigo Luna
6. Indigo Luna
First imagined in the Australian coastal town of Torquay and based in Bali, this activewear brand focuses on ethically made, innovative yogawear and swimwear, intimates and accessories. The small, family-run brand has transparency, eco-consciousness and sustainability at its core, and uses 100% plant dyes, Italian Recycled ECONYL® or REPREVE®, and recycled nylon from plastic bottles. For Indigo Luna, ethical fashion means that there is no exploitation in the manufacturing process, whether its exploitation of human beings, animals or the environment.
7. Terrae
Too often, shopping ethically comes with a hefty price tag, but this Malaysian brand’s mission is to offer sustainable athleisure that’s reasonably priced, without sacrificing on quality or performance. Terrae’s collections are designed for real bodies and their pieces are durable, long-lasting and timeless. With their mantra focusing on high impact activity and low environmental impact, their production cycle is as circular as possible. In addition to using ECONYL® for their activewear (saving 70,000 barrels of crude oil and avoiding 57,100 tonnes of CO2 emissions for every 10,000 tons of ECONYL® used), Terrae also ensures that their packaging leaves nothing to be desired, with FSC certified and recyclable tags, as well as a 100% biodegradable and compostable plant-based garment bag.
At YOF Athletic, a Singapore-based label, every piece of clothing produced, needs to meet the criteria of quality, fairness and sustainability. Working hard to create a better fashion industry, YOF Athletica uses Eco Circle Fibres to create functional and durable athleisure. The Eco Circle Recycling System that these fibres come from reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions by approximately 50%, helping YOF Athletica to maintain a smaller carbon footprint. YOF Athletica believes that everyone stands to profit from a cleaner, greener and ethical industry, and are definitely helping to bring that about.
