Get your Sweat On! How to Shop for Sustainable Activewear

Need some sense of normalcy during this time? 

How do you preserve your sanity? 

What do you do to preserve your strength amidst the situation we’re facing? 

Staying home for extended periods of time could be detrimental to our well-being and quality of life, as if our sedentary lifestyles pre-Covid aren’t damaging enough already. 

To cope with the challenges of self-quarantine, many people have sought out home workouts to stay active, relieve stress and improve their mental health, following the indefinite closures of gyms and fitness classes. 

Along with an uptick in Instagram live workouts and dance parties, activewear sales have also been booming as brands encourage consumers to work out at home. In fact, activewear sells outs shot up to an astounding 40% in the US, and 97% in the UK! Kohl’s on the other hand, has seen 100% increase in activewear sales last quarter. With the number of Covid cases picking up in recent weeks, it’s unlikely the fitness frenzy is coming to an end anytime soon. 

While new workout attire could definitely boost the spirits for a live training session with your favourite fitness influencer, but what have you considered before purchasing new activewear? Perhaps a reasonably-priced and squat-proof fabric is most definitely at the top of your mind, what about the environmental impact of it? 

The environmental consequences of synthetic workout apparel are now compounded by the fact that activewear is becoming a form of fast fashion. Fashion trends from the runway eventually find its way into activewear; and just like regular fast fashion clothes, we buy them frequently just to stay on top of trends, but we don’t keep them for long. 

Activewear may promote a healthy and active lifestyle for all of us, but the conventional production of it doesn’t do the planet’s health any justice. Certain sportswear-centric businesses have realized this, and have stepped up and are trying to change the game by improving their manufacturing process and sourcing more eco-friendly materials. So, what if you could help to reduce your environmental footprint at the same time working up a sweat in the comfort of your home? 

We’ve prepared a sweet and concise guide on what to consider when shopping for activewear to help you sweat out in style, without costing the earth! 

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SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

How many of us are aware of the fact that the majority of sports bras and leggings are made of virgin polyester? Polyesters are one of the most damaging fabrics for the planet, as they are non-biodegradable and energy-intensive. With each wash of your polyester gym gear, microplastics are released, contaminating the seawaters and consumed by the marine life, which eventually find its way into your plate of seafood. However, as synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon come with breathable, lightweight, and sweat-wicking abilities, as well as being economical, they are still used in production for activewear today. 

• Recycled Materials

Innovations such as recycled polyester and nylon fabrics are having a moment. Major apparel brands like Nike and H&M rolled out exclusive collections featuring recycled polyester. Since then, other brands have followed their lead, even disclosing the percentage of recycled polyester content of each product on their website. Brands like Econyl and Repreve are leading the recycled fabric movement; those companies gather PET plastic bottles, fishing nets, industrial plastic and so on, recycle them back to their original purity, then are processed into yarn and fabric to be used in the fashion and textile industries. Those fabric can be recycled infinitely, reducing energy and water needed to process virgin polyesters.

Even though activewear made with recycled fabric is definitely a better option compared to those made with virgin synthetics, it still isn’t really a long-term solution for sustainability. Recycled materials still have the tendency to release microplastics with each wash. On the bright side, recycled polyesters could save much more resource consumption and reduce discarded plastics. Therefore, using clothing made with recycled materials is still much better than using more energy and resources to make new polyester. To reduce the shedding of microplastics when washing, we recommend using a Guppyfriend laundry bag, which filters the microplastics, preventing them from making its way into the oceans. 

• Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is farmed without the use of insecticides, fertilizers, and GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).  In addition, organic cotton is produced strictly according to internationally recognized organic agricultural standards. While the farming and processing practices of conventional cotton inflicts a huge environmental impact, organic cotton is much safer for farmers, garment workers, and the earth. 

Organic cotton boasts superior comfort, is breathable, and is great for people who are suffering from allergies due to its hypoallergenic quality. You can find workout gears made with blends of organic cotton and lyocell and perhaps even linen.

• Wool

Wool’s sustainability, luxurious feel and texture, coupled with its performance benefits make it a great choice for everyday apparel and activewear. Breathable, moisture-wicking, odour management, and highly durable. Garments made with wool can be washed less often too, therefore increasing its shelf life, making it a more longer-lasting, sustainable piece. One of the drawbacks of wool is that it has to be treated with some chemicals before being processed into apparels, to get rid of pests. 

Regardless, wool is a naturally renewable and biodegradable fibre; so as long as consumers use more sustainable fabric options, it’s still much better than opting for and discarding synthetic garments due to their lack of durability. 

• Lyocell

First produced about 30 years ago, lyocell is derived from the cellulose fibre in plant-based materials, like cotton scraps and wood. Lyocell employs a closed-loop production process, which ensures all water and solvents are reused at a recovery rate of more than 99%. The extraction process from wood pulps is also non-toxic, thus the fibers produced are certified compostable and biodegradable. Organic cotton and lyocell-based material break down in 11 to 27 weeks, compared to the 20 to 200 years it can take to degrade a polyester shirt. Lyocell however, is 50% more absorbent than cotton, and uses less than half as much water in production compared to cotton. One of the best parts about lyocell fabric? As it’s breathable, it doesn’t start smelling as quickly, and can be washed less frequently, resulting in less water usage.

You may have heard of TENCEL (a type of branded lyocell), as it has been shaking up the industry since its invention, and has been adapted into various textile goods, especially activewear. Lyocell-based materials like TENCEL also provide the same high-performance qualities as their plastic counterparts. Due to its versatility, smoothness, absorbency, anti-microbial features and more, TENCEL branded fibers have graced the products of brands from New Balance to Patagonia. 

Although sustainable sportswear brands generally incorporate spandex into their products for elasticity, they’re still a much more earth-friendly option and less resource-hungry than a completely synthetic yet unsustainable blend of materials. 

DYES

Dyes and fabric treatments are one of the worst pollutants in the world, attributing 20% of the global industrial water pollution, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. However when it comes to activewear, natural dyes are rarely used, as they are susceptible to fading with frequent washing and exposure to sunlight.  

Perhaps new innovation in dyes and treatment techniques will enable color fastness (aka the color’s resistance towards fading or running). So in the meantime, it’s best to shop for garments that are made with waterless or lead-free dyeing techniques; which saves tons of water and energy consumption. Since labels on clothing don’t reveal the types of dye or treatment used, it’s usually up to the brand to inform its consumers on their websites.

ETHICAL MANUFACTURING PRACTICES

As most apparel production is done in developing countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, and so on, workers are often exploited in the face of profit. In order to keep costs low and production high under strict delivery deadlines, workers can often be found working long hours with low pay. In Bangladesh, garment workers earn 3000 taka a month, or 35.60 USD, which is way below the minimum amount required to raise a family under a roof, provide food and education. Perhaps calling those dismal workplaces as ‘sweatshops’  wouldn’t be an understatement. Alongside the inhumane work hours of 14-16 hours per day, 7 days a week, garment workers often suffer from cramped and unsafe working conditions and processes, without being provided safety equipment. In 2013, a total of 1134 people were killed following the collapse of Rana Plaza, a building with clothing factories and other facilities.

The tragic Rana Plaza collapse.

So how do we know if our activewear were made by fairly paid workers in safe conditions? Look for brands with seals and certifications (more on that in the following section),  such as Fair Trade and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), both of which are markers of quality working standards among a company’s employees. Stringent internationally-recognized  guidelines on various subjects, such as labor standards, conditions of employment, health and safety measures, and other ecological factors are taken into account before a brand is granted a certain certification.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certifications prove that the brands you’re buying from are evaluated and have passed the rigorous standards comprising ecological and social criterias. Rigorous policies and standards, such as the sourcing and production methods of the products, or even the working conditions of the factory are factors in ensuring that the brands are as clean and sustainable as they claim. That way you know which sustainable brands are legit and deserves your support. Not sure where to start? Below are a list of certifications to look for when shopping for clothes: 

• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The Global Organic Textile Standard “ensures organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.” The standard is awarded to textile products with a minimum 95% of organic fibres. Meanwhile, the ‘Made with Organic’ label grade is awarded to products with minimum 70% certified organic fibres. 

Some of GOTS’ extensive and meticulous criterias requires that the brand’s employees’ tenure is “freely chosen”, and that all chemicals used in the process must be tested for biodegradability and toxicity, and all wet processing units must keep full records of their use of chemicals, energy, water consumption, and wastewater treatment.

• Global Recycle Standard (GRS)

A standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. The standard applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, and labeling. Only products with at least 50% recycled content qualify for product specific GRS labeling. 

• EcoCert

An organic certification and inspection organization, responsible for evaluating the traceability and integrity of raw materials and manufacturing practices according to the Organic Content Standards. This certification serves as a guarantee that the apparel is manufactured organically, as well as the sourcing of the materials. 

• Oeko-Tex Standard 

You might have come across some clothing and home textile goods with the Oeko-Tex logo. Oeko-Tex functions as a quality mark, assuring consumers that they are protected from harmful chemicals present in clothes. Brands with the Oeko-Tex certifications show that their products and its components (buttons, sewing threads, etc) have successfully passed a series of compliance tests on their apparel, evaluating the toxicity of chemicals present in clothes such as dyes and finishes. This standard is also often awarded alongside the aforementioned GOTS certification. 

• Fair Trade Certification

Ensures that a product with a Fair Trade Certified seal was “made according to rigorous, social, environmental, and economic standards”, according to Fair Trade’s website. The certification also corroborates that employees are paid fairly, and are provided a safe environment to work in. It also ensures a transparent and ethical supply chain, from the sourcing of materials, manufacturing methods, all the way to the end product. So you can be rest assured that with every purchase from a Fair Trade certified brand, you’re supporting responsible businesses, workers, farmers, and protecting the environment. 

We hope this article is informative, and serves as a handy guide whenever you decide to splurge on new workout gears. Better yet, our next article will feature 10 earth-friendly, yet fashion-forward activewear brands to get your adrenaline pumping and your endorphins flowing! 

Interested in launching your very own earth-friendly activewear line? Or are you looking to incorporate sustainable solutions into your current clothing line?  Check out our Tech page, and slide us a message to find out how we can help you!