8 of the Best Woman Owned Sustainable Activewear Brands
It’s time for another sustainable fashion round-up! Today I wanted to show you some of my favorite sustainable activewear brands.
The best part about these brands is that they’re owned by boss women you can feel good supporting.
And, considering many parts of the world are going back into lockdown, it’s the perfect time to find some more comfy workout clothes and loungewear to cozy up in. (Speaking of which, check out my 15 favorite sustainable & ethical loungewear brands here!)
Now, let’s talk about these ethical & sustainable activewear brands:
dk active is an Australian activewear brand that was established in 2017 by our first boss babe in this round-up: Danielle Kay (pictured at the top of this post). It was born from a place of wanting the activewear industry to be more ethical and inclusive.
Plus, she’s all about helping you feel comfortable and empowered while living a healthy lifestyle.
How is this brand sustainable?: all garments created in one place at HQ (reducing “clothing kilometers”); HQ is solar-powered; dead stock and offcut fabrics reused for other purposes; fabrics are eco-friendly i.e. made from natural or recycled items, free of toxic chemicals, etc.; earth-friendly packaging materials; and carbon neutral shipping.
How is it ethical?: everything made in-house and factory meets all Australian standards for ethical clothing manufacturing.
Tala is one of my absolute favorite ethical & sustainable activewear brands. Why? Not only do they have gorgeous, sexy products, but they’re actually affordable!
Many of you may already know of Tala’s founder, Grace Beverley (pictured above). She’s an influencer and accomplished entrepreneur who is absolutely killing it.
How is this brand sustainable?: fabrics used are accredited by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) such as Q-Nova made from regenerated waste and Lyocell, a fiber made from wood pulp. They also sell a “fibre filter bag” to use when washing clothes that collects microplastics.
How is it ethical?: they only work with suppliers that align with their values, conduct regular external audits, set parameters for overtime, fair wages, anti-discrimination policies, and uphold international regulations.
First Base is another Australian brand with sustainable activewear that’s just plain cool. These clothes will have you looking like a badass while still being super functional and versatile.
The brand was created by female founder Alison Cotton. She wanted to take her love of surf and sports culture to build something “clean, simple and iconic, just like Bondi Beach.”
Mission accomplished! I can’t wait to buy from this brand.
How is this brand sustainable?: packaging made from biodegradable plastic; recycled paper used for everything from invoices to swing tags; 100% certified organic cotton and bamboo materials used as well as ECONYL material made from waste collected from the ocean; and they have pre-loved vintage collection.
How is it ethical?: designed in Bondi Beach; produced at WRAP-compliant factories only; and factories audited twice a year to ensure standards are upheld.
This beautiful brand was started by founder Hannah Tomita, who wanted sustainable outfits to wear for her favorite activities: yoga and surfing!
Hannah says, “What you wear is an extension of you and our mission is to create clothing that facilitates all the adventures you take in your life. When you wear Kaira Active, my hope is that it makes you feel confident, sexy, and comfortable so you can be fully present in the moment.”
So be sure to consider buying from Kaira Active for your next adventure! Their clothes are gorgeous, flattering, and functional.
How is this brand sustainable?: they partnered with a non-profit that provides discarded fishing nets used to produce their clothing (turned into ECONYL fabric); use recycled packaging; and 1% of each purchase goes to Healthy Seas.
How is it ethical?: they work with local factories in Los Angeles that treat and pay workers fairly so they have the freedom to pursue their passions and spend time with their loved ones.
Olly Olly & co. is a slow fashion sustainable activewear brand founded by Lauren Oliver (read more about her in an interview here). She launched the brand in early 2020 when the pandemic had just hit, but that hasn’t slowed her down at all!
Having grown up spending summers on the beach and after working in a beach bar in Peru and doing regular beach clean-ups, she was inspired to create this sustainable and ethical brand.
The garments are clean, simple, high-quality, and flattering, making them super functional. This is definitely a great brand to keep your eye on!
How is this brand sustainable?: all garments made of ECONYL fabric (a 100% regenerated nylon) and are OEKO-TEK certified (free from harmful substances); eco-friendly packaging used; 100% carbon neutral shipping; and non-toxic label stamps used instead of regular labels.
How is it ethical?: manufactured in Portugal in a factory that strictly adheres to European Standards of Labour.
Miakoda has several beautiful, simplistic, and cozy items to wear to the gym or just lounge around in. And actually, that’s one of the main pillars of the brand – to be physical and mentally comfortable!
This brand was founded by Julia and Laura Ahrens, who want you to let your mind be at ease in their garments. How so? Well, when you’re wearing their garments, you know that neither the planet nor its’ inhabitants were harmed in the making of that product.
Julia beautifully put this concept into words on their website: “Nothing looks as good as ethical feels!! But in all seriousness– feeling cute or saving a few dollars will never justify hurting, exploiting, and taking advantage of other humans, animals, and our planet.”
I absolutely love this brand and everything they stand for. Please consider buying from them if you want to make a difference through your clothing!
How is this brand sustainable?: they use eco-friendly plant fibers such as organic cotton, bamboo, and soy; they pledge to “social sustainability,” meaning their brand is as inclusive as possible in terms of representing all sizes and ethnicities; they’ve even partnered with a consultant, Quincie Zari, helping them to invest in and uplift Black voices; and they use eco-friendly packaging and have zero waste initiatives.
How is it ethical?: they work with suppliers who monitor their supply chains, standards, and certifications; fabrics made in factories abide by WRAP regulations; they personally visit and inspect their factories; and “workers are trained for their jobs, treated with respect, paid fair living wages, provided health insurance, and no child labor is used, ever ever ever!”
Vyayama offers a range of basic and fun sustainable activewear. Founded by Rachel Bauer, their mission is to provide a natural alternative to synthetic activewear.
The brand is all about mindfulness, quality, and beauty. And, they believe that our products should be held to the same standards that we are in terms of taking care of the earth. In essence, it comes from a place of respectfulness and thoughtfulness for the earth around us.
Clearly, this is a great mission to support!
How is this brand sustainable?: they use TENCEL fabric that’s crafted in Europe from sustainably-farmed eucalyptus; their fabrics are third party tested and certified safe for the wearer and the environment by the European Oeko-tex Standard 100; their dye houses have clean internal water treatments and cause no harm to the local environment; and fabrics are knitted in same area as garment production to reduce transportation impact.
How is it ethical?: they only work with partners who produce ethically and whose teams are protected by unions and strict health and safety standards.
As you can see, Nube offers super unique, interesting, and fun sustainable activewear! The brand is owned by Ruth True, who’s all about giving people more ways to shop with a conscience.
The designs themselves were motivated by the environmental crisis and aim to inspire connection and action. They’re proud to be woman-owned, US-made, and part of a platform that sparks mindful consumption.
I love that this brand is truly trying to make a difference on our planet through uniting and inspiring us all to take action. After all, we’ve each contributed to climate change in some way. On the flip side of that coin, however, is the fact that we can make a positive impact by coming together.
How is this brand sustainable?: they use recycled materials and make products to last; they work hard to source fabrics as locally as possible; shipping materials are plastic-free, made in the US, and 100% recycled and recyclable; their dyes are non toxic, low impact and lead-free; and they work with artists, fashion students and rag traders to turn fabric scraps into something new.
How is it ethical?: they manufacture locally to help local economic environment and establish relationships with their makers; and they make sure that their manufacturers comply to the highest garment standards of fair-wages and ethical working conditions.
what are your favorite sustainable activewear brands?
I’ll be honest, I just found out about some of these brands as I did research for this post. But that’s what I love about blogging – I get to learn alongside each of you!
And now that I know about them, I can’t wait to try them out.
That’s why I’d love to hear what your favorite ethical & sustainable activewear brands are. I’d be happy to add them to the list and I’m always excited to discover more brands like these.
Also, which of the above is your favorite? Have you bought from any of them before?
Let me know!
Otherwise, stay safe and healthy out there and I’ll catch you next time.
Love,
Emily
P.S. – Head to the Sustainability page to check out my other favorite sustainable & ethical brands.
P.P.S. – Want to know how I found these brands? I looked at my Good On You app! It’s a super easy thing to use to check whether or not a brand is ethical/sustainable.
For other easy & affordable tips to build a sustainable wardrobe, check out these tips about what I’ve learned through years of personal experience.