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It’s almost 2020 and many of us are trying to make more conscious choices in every aspect of our lives. As we move away from fast fashion – or at least try to – why not apply the same ethics to your gym bag?
Because, unfortunately, much of the athleisure you know and love, while it may keep you sucked in in all the right places, is made of fabrics such as polyester and nylon, which are non-biodegradable and energy intensive to make, meaning they’re not too kind to the planet.
The good news is it’s getting easier to spread a little love to the planet while simultaneously upgrading your workout wardrobe as a number of new ethical and sustainable (or partially sustainable) brands have recently launched in the UK. While they might not all be perfect yet, they are making some consciously smarter choices when it comes to materials and supply chain.
So if you’re considering a purchase for some gymspiration come the new year, or are simply in need of some Christmas present inspo, have these cool brands on your radar, and you won’t have to sacrifice style or fit while you’re at it.
TALA
Fitness influencer and entrepreneur Grace Beverley, who has amassed over 1 million Instagram followers, launched TALA in May 2019. It’s an athleisure brand which makes garments using 92 per cent up-cycled materials, such as recycled plastic bottles and factory offcuts for materials, while all packaging and product labels are recycled and fully recyclable and can either be planted or composted.
The collection features a minimalist colour palette of chic black, light greys and burgundy, and includes on-trend cycling shorts and sleeveless zip up crop tops that will see you into the summer. The brand prides itself on affordability and is likely to appeal to Gen Z, with leggings retailing for £40 and bras from £30.
Girlfriend Collective
Seattle-born Girlfriend Collective recycles water bottles and fishnets that would otherwise go to landfill into premium-quality sports kit. Some 25 water bottles are recycled for every compressive legging, while 11 go into each bra compressive.
Sets come in varying shades from plum hues to teal, navy, burgundy and burnt orange – and we love the length of the crop, which doesn’t leave too much of a midriff gap. Again, products are reasonably priced, from £35 for tops and £63 for leggings.
Veja
Sustainable French brand Veja, whose simple white lace up pumps have earned a cult following among fashionistas over the last few years, and are also adored by the Duchess of Sussex herself, spent four years developing its debut eco running shoe which launched in September this year.
The Condor (£120) is the brand’s first sport shoe, and is 53 per cent bio-based and recycled. The outsole is partially made from wild rubber from Amazonia and rice husk, while the midsole uses some natural ingredients such as banana oil and sugar cane, and the upper is entirely made from recycled plastic bottles. For reference, most trainers are made using petroleum-based synthetic rubbers and plastics – although you should expect to be seeing lots more sustainable sneaker options come 2020, with brands like Adidas pledging to only using recycled plastic in its shoes and clothing by 2024.
Nimble Activewear
Bondi-beach born Nimble launched into Selfridges and Browns this year, marking its first physical presence in the UK. The brand creates workout gear using its custom MoveLite and Compresslite fabrics which are made from recycled plastic bottles which are cleaned, melted and turned into a yarn that’s knitted with spandex to give the tights a silky finish. The ultra light weight tight and wide waistband is super flattering, while the quick dry material keeps you cool.
Nimble also uses compostable poly bags in-store, with delivery packaging soon to follow suit, and swing tags made from recycled PET and organic cotton. There’s an ethical element to the business, too, as it donates $1 from every sale to fund projects which are dedicated to protecting Australia’s reefs and restoring its land.
Perff
Perff Studio is a Portuguese athleisure and lifestyle brand that produces eco-friendly items which are 50 per cent made of recycled materials. Many of the brand’s products are partially made using ECONYL, which is regenerated nylon waste from landfills and oceans around the world (from industrial plastic, waste fabric and fishing nets).
If you’re partial to print, or fun colour combinations, Perff is the label for you, tights start from £95, while tops from £75.
