5 Sustainable Activewear Brands On THE Rise
A lot of people think that eco-friendly fashion items can't be trendy or high-quality. And sure, maybe that was the case a few years ago. But nowadays, this isn't the case at all.
Today's outdoors-focused brands can be eco-friendly and still create stylish and high-performing apparel in high demand. And there are a handful of rising stars getting attention from consumers.
5 trending activewear brands with a sustainability mission:
Stronger
d+k active
United by Blue
Bamboo Ave
DAY/WON
While some in this list are new entrants, others have been creating sustainable activewear for over a decade; but what each has is a rising share of interest from consumers that's worth taking notice of. This wasn't accomplished overnight though.
It's been decades in the making, and required global brands to open their doors.
Major Apparel Brands Ushered Sustainability into Fashion Culture
Patagonia, prAna, and REI Co-op all fit that intersection of style, performance, and sustainability.
Certainly juggernauts in their respective verticals, each has proven that sustainable apparel can be stylish and maintain the performance attributes required of the garments.
Specific to activewear and athleisure, Lululemon has been wildly successful.
The brand's performance and style have never been called into question, but admittedly, Lululemon has challenged itself to do better with sustainability. Lululemon established an ambitious goal of going 75% sustainable with its materials by 2025.
This includes sourcing recycled and renewable fibers, in responsibly managed methods, using low energy and water consumption, and creating minimal pollution.
While Lululemon is one of the most recognizable brands in activewear with sustainable goals, other activewear brands are emerging rapidly with advanced sustainability practices.
The following five brands are poised to be the next big names in the space - even if some have been around for some time.
5 Trending Eco-Friendly Activewear Brands
This article will walk you through five of the most exciting brands in activewear and sustainable apparel and how each is using sustainability to do some good for the planet while winning the consumers' hearts and wallets.
1. Stronger
Stronger is a Swedish activewear brand that embraces a lifestyle brand philosophy. Founded in 2014, the brand is by no means new to the space or in startup mode, as evidenced by a significant acquisition of the company in 2020.
Stronger has a clear sustainability plan that encompasses the full supply chain, making it one of the most ambitious statements in sustainable activewear.
Stronger's Standout Sustainability Feature - Carbon Emissions Plan
While Stronger has a robust plan in place to become a more sustainable activewear brand, its plan to reduce carbon emissions is most noteworthy. Two elements stand out in particular:
Stronger is actively working with and seeking manufacturers that use renewable energy sources like solar.
The brand actively participates in carbon offset programs for product deliveries as well as returns - partnering with Tricorona Climate Partner to manage.
Other Sustainability Features:
Recycled Packaging - This is quite an accomplishment, as most brands can only accomplish one component of creating sustainable packaging. But Stronger has implemented all recycled materials in the creation of plastic bags, hang tags, and mailers.
Recycled Fabrics - To create 70% of all Stronger products with recycled fabrics by 2023, recycled polyester and recycled nylon are two of the main fabrics that are leading the way for Stronger's push for eco-materials.
Example of Stronger's Sustainable Activewear: Glossy Tights
Made from 85% recycled polyamide, which is a form of recycled nylon
All recycled packaging
2. d+k active
d+k active is an Australian-based activewear brand that's positioned in the luxury quadrant of the category. The brand gives equal weight to its sustainability message as it does its quality, inclusivity, and style. It's been in business for several years now but has started to garner momentum in the US in the past year.
d+k active's Standout Sustainability Feature: Alternative Energy
d+k active works and produces a few steps of the supply in the same location, based in Brisbane. This facility is solar-powered, giving them an important advantage in taking the full supply chain to new eco-friendly heights.
Not only does having a multi-function location reduce overall carbon emissions, but it also has numerous other benefits. For example, it can help improve efficiency and productivity, as well as save on costs.
Other Sustainability Features:
Eco-Friendly Fabrics - Econyl, Repreve, organic cotton, bamboo, modal
Packaging - 100% compostable packaging
Example of d+k active's Sustainable Activewear: Essential Crop
Made from Econyl regenerated nylon
Manufactured in the same location as designed, Brisbane, AU
3. United by Blue
United by Blue has been around for over a decade, creating quality home goods, outdoor goods, and apparel within the outdoors vertical. United by Blue is far more than activewear, but its sustainable activewear line is rising in popularity online.
United by Blue's Standout Sustainability Feature: Water Waste
The "blue" in the brand's name is a focused reminder that water - be it ocean, river, or lake - is a unifying force. Reduction of waste in the water is at the heart of United by Blue's identity.
For every product it sells, it removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways. As of writing this, the brand is approaching 4.5 million pounds of trash removed
The brand has made this happen through various initiatives but most notably through its "cleanups" where volunteers help to remove trash from particular bodies of water.
Other Sustainability Features:
Eco-Friendly Fabrics - Aside from the usual suspects of recycled polyester, organic cotton (GOTS Certified), and others, United by Blue uses hemp and even a proprietary blend of hemp called SoftHemp - which is one of the most sustainable fibers on the planet.
Supply Chain Renewable Energy - United by Blue works with several supply chain partners to help offset their carbon footprint.
Example of United by Blue's Sustainable Activewear: EcoKnit Ribbed Leggings
Made with 56% organic cotton and 42% recycled polyester
Companion purchase of Guppyfriend Washing Bag - aids in reducing microplastics from recycled polyester or other plastics-based apparel from leeching into waterways when cleaned in a washing machine
4. Bamboo Ave
Based in Chicago, IL, Bamboo Ave is making a name for itself in men's shorts - finding a position in the blurred lines between activewear, athleisure, and everyday wear. This position is highly competitive with large DTC brands like Vuori, Fabletics, and others building a groundswell of popularity. Bamboo Ave is standing out with a quality product that is sustainability-forward.
Bamboo Ave's Standout Sustainability Feature: Transparency
Greenwashing is real - and nearly all apparel brands tout some sort of sustainability mission, even though it's often a thin veil. In 2021, a study by the European Commission reviewed environmental claims of brands - and found that 42% were considered, "false, exaggerated or misleading."
This practice has misled consumers for years, to the point where many don't even trust the claims. Bamboo Ave has taken a different approach, an honest one at that.
The brand calls out themselves and the industry in their materials that they aren't a sustainable brand - none of them are.
On Bamboo Ave's website, they lead the sustainability landing page with, "We're not the most sustainable brand on earth. Nope... not by a long shot."
This strategy acknowledges what consumers already know, and in the process of being honest, provides a breath of fresh air in the industry, while adding credibility in the mind of consumers as well.
Other Sustainability Features:
Eco-Friendly Fabrics - Among other eco-materials, Bamboo Ave also uses Cocotex in 38% of its apparel, which is made from the husks of discarded coconut shells. It may sound unusual, but coconut fibers have incredible antimicrobial properties and weather resistance. Plus, as Bamboo Ave points out, there are 50 billion coconut shells are discarded annually - so this goes a long way toward upcycling waste into a useful product.
Clothing Repair Program - While this initiative doesn't appear to be live yet, the brand is working on it. This is a massive step that apparel brands can take to reduce waste from clothing. It's a complex process, but if Bamboo Ave can fulfill this successfully, it will go a long way towards becoming more sustainable.
Example of Bamboo Ave's Sustainable Activewear: Boundless Short
Created with Repreve (4+ plastic bottles) and Cocotex (2+ coconut shells)
Roughly 88% of the fabric is from an eco-material
Shipped with 100% recycled packaging
5. DAY/WON
Founded in 2017, DAY/WON is a size-inclusive activewear brand from Candice Huffine, a long-standing proponent of body positivity. Throughout her notable modeling career and marathon running pursuits, Candice built a large following.
DAY/WON's Standout Sustainability Feature - Low Waste Construction
Because of its on-demand construction, DAY/WON prevents the creation of unwanted garments, scraps, and other materials that can often become manufacturing waste when building inventory.
As a truly size-inclusive brand (offering a range of sizes 0-32) bespoke garment construction benefits the consumer as well as the environment.
Other Sustainability Features:
Dyeing Waste and Reduced Water Consumption - DAY/WON uses a sublimation printing process that avoids using liquid dyes, resulting in no harmful dye waste and a high amount of water supply to dye fabrics
Commitment to Recycled Materials - A large percentage of fabrics used are from recycled materials, namely recycled polyester, which is great. But there are still fabrics in the mix from virgin materials, like micro nylon and spandex.
Low Carbon Emissions - While it's unclear where the fabric is sourced from, the manufacturing process of DAY/WON's garments (printing and construction) is all done in the same facility in upstate New York, the same location as the brand's target market. This is a great way to reduce carbon emissions in an industry that is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions.
Example of DAY/WON's Sustainable Activewear: Biker Star Short 7"
Made to order - reducing fabric waste
Sustainable Activewear is the Rising Star
As you can see, several activewear brands are taking strides towards sustainability. While all these brands have different approaches, they each have one thing in common - a commitment to reducing waste and being environmentally responsible.
This list wasn't just pulled out of a hat either.
It was compiled by looking at what activewear brands are trending in online searches, and as evidenced by this article, you can see that sustainability is intrinsically tied to an activewear brand's popularity today.