The new ethical fitness fashion is created with anything from recycled plastic bottles to coffee grounds! Healthista has put together a round-up of some of the best new environmentally friendly fitness brands
Eco-warriors, listen up. One of the most exciting trends we’ve seen in athleisure for 2017 is the rise in new, sustainably sourced fitness gear. It seems every day delivers another brand to our desks claiming to help save the planet by using ethically sourced, smart fabrics. So we have tested endlessly and edited down our seven favourites that tick our boxes for sustainable, functional and gorgeous.
Ellesse ethical range
Ellesse, the retro brand that we all know and love, is no stranger to a little eco-friendly fitness fashion. Ellesse has just released a new ethical capsule collection comprised of bras, leggings, tops, shorts and trainers made from recycled polyethene (which is one of the most common consumer plastics). The range was designed by model and reality star, Lucy Mecklenburgh and aims to take the plastic bottles that we use during our workout and make them into some amazing kit.
The range was designed by model and reality star, Lucy Mecklenburgh and aims to take the plastic bottles that we use during our workout and make them into some amazing kit.
The eco-friendly fabric has the Global Recycle Standard (GRS) stamp on it which means environmental standards have been checked along the whole supply chain, addressing traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, and labelling. Look cool and do our bit – don’t mind if we do.
Must try: the Ellesse Battio shorts
In keeping with traditional Ellesse design, the Lucy Mecklenburgh collection adds exclusive camo-like prints in green, yellow and grey that reflect the environmental message of the range. Mecklenburgh has focused on great fits and luxurious fabrics, whilst also making sure the pieces are functional, lightweight, strong, and water resistant.Our absolute favourites from the collection are the Battio Shorts. The shorts are made in a strong lightweight fabric that’s also water resistant. The fun yellow, green and grey print makes them a great buy for those spring and summer workouts.
Trogym
A small production team in Brazil create Trogym’s ethical products, working to seek solutions to control the impact that the company has on nature. The raw material that their fabric is made from is sourced sustainably and is even dyed using industrial waste water. We were gobsmacked to find out that Trogym claim that if the kit was left in a landfill site it would decompose after three years.
The raw material that their fabric is made from is sourced sustainably and is even dyed using industrial waste water.
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Must try: the Exotic Carnival set
The Exotic Carnival sports kit from Trogym is definitely not for the faint-hearted. You won’t be blending into the background at your gym class in this getup. Fluorescent, covered in zebra stripes and swirling with colours it’s a psychedelic set that is a lot of fun to wear. Although it looks more like something you would wear to a rave rather than a gym class, we can guarantee that as soon as you build up the courage to put it on, you will feel fabulous and ready to work out. And according to Trogym the Exotic Carnival sports bra even doubles up as a maternity bra for breastfeeding mothers.
the Exotic Carnival sports bra even doubles up as a maternity bra for breastfeeding mothers.
Available here for £48 (Exotic Carnival leggings) and £26 (Exotic Carnival sports bra)
Vyayama
Brand new to the UK and stocked exclusively at Reve En Vert, eco fitness clothing brand Vyayama says that they are committed to the future of sustainability. Named after the Sanskrit word ‘to move’, Vyayama was founded with the intention of providing an alternative to synthetic yoga wear.
Vyayama was founded with the intention of providing an alternative to synthetic yoga wear.
Heavily focused on botanically sourced fabrics, the brand has created Kalablack, a custom fabric that is described as the ‘blackest black’ matte which they explain is gentle to the skin and non-toxic.
The collection is comprised of 11 mix and match pieces: this special black fabric is offered in five styles—a legging, short, tank, crop top and bralette. Vyayama also stock warmer clothing to layer over your kit, including a black seamless cashmere/modal blend long sleeved t-shirt and a black seamless Italian spun cashmere sweater.
Plus, the company explains that workers at Reve En Vert have a commitment to sustainability that goes beyond their clothes – they work in a virtually paperless office, even taking their own cups to coffee shops rather than using plastic ones.
Must try: The Kalablak crop top
We love the Kalablak crop top for how beautiful and flattering it is. It has a plunge-v neckline and supportive elasticated under band to give you a great shape. The straps are smooth and slim, with an added metallic detail where they merge in one single, central back strap. It has a flat-seam design construction ensuring a smooth fit and our favourite feature is the singular back strap – you’ll be the most stylish yogi in class.
Available to buy for £77.50 here.
AquaSphere
Performance swimwear brand, Aqua Sphere have launched a new environmentally friendly collection. The collection is made from recycled polyester yarn – basically, it’s made from recycled plastic bottles. Identified by their stylish green lining and a swing tag which details how many plastic bottles went into each garment. AquaSphere also says that their eco-range is also chlorine resistant and UV protected. AquaSphere has also decided to keep the price for this collection at an affordable rate. ‘We really want to encourage as many active swimmers as possible to embrace and support our environmental message.’ explains head marketing and swimwear manager, Stacey Langlois.
it’s made from recycled plastic bottles
Must try: the Gianna swimsuit
The Gianna one piece features a beautiful open back fastened together with a clip near the neck. The swimsuit has a medium cut leg for a good amount of coverage. The swimming costume is fitted with bra support and bra strap adjustment for a better fit. We love the bold, block colours in this design. The piece features block coloured side panels as well as the main core colour block. Each swimming costume is made using around six plastic bottles and the green lining on the swimsuit reminds you that you’re doing your bit to save the planet
Available here from 1st March for £31.99
Sundried
Sundried is a fitness clothing brand founded by Daniel Puddick, a personal trainer, triathlete and father who had the idea that he wanted to create a brand that his children would be proud to be associated with in 15 years time.
each purchase comes with a unique code which you can enter onto the Sundried website to find out the journey that your garment has made along the way
Sundried’s products are made in Portugal with European fabrics and each purchase comes with a unique code which you can enter onto the Sundried website to find out the journey that your garment has made along the way. It also shows the donation that you’ve made to charity, Water for Kids. And then lets you know exactly where your money goes within this small charity.
The thing we love most about this eco-friendly company is that they take coffee grounds from local coffee shops, add them to the textiles of their clothing and prevent even more rubbish from ending up in nearby landfills. This clever technology uses coffee’s natural ability to block odours and is a great way to give used coffee a new life – as if we needed another reason to love coffee.
they take coffee grounds from local coffee shops, add them to the textiles of their clothing and prevent even more rubbish from ending up in nearby landfills
Sundried also make it their mission to give health and wellbeing advice to everyone along the supply chain. ‘How can you possibly call yourself a fitness brand if people in the supply chain can not afford a proper meal?’ the company asks.
Not to mention their clothing is gorgeous.
Must try: the Sundried Ruinette tights
Our absolute favourite Sundried buy is the Ruinette tights. The soft slouchy fabric is a must-have for working out in comfort and style. We love the fact that it has a drawstring for an adjustable fit, making the tights super cosy. They’re the kind of leggings that would be easy to wear around the house as well as at the gym. The fit is streamlined and according to Sundried creates an aerodynamic silhouette to give you a helping hand during that workout. They also say that their fabric stretches four ways for complete freedom of movement.
Sundried have also added a reflective strip lining to the tights for visibility as well as a back pocket to pop your keys into – making them the ideal eco-friendly leggings for your evening run.
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Asquith
Asquith with their yoga, pilates and live-in wear is another brand that is dedicated to providing an eco-friendly service to its customers and to the planet. They produce their clothing in southern Turkey where a team of 50 people work in a family run factory. According to Asquith the factory comes complete with a roof terrace where people grow their own herbs for cooking lunches in the canteen.
Asquith recycles everything that they can and package everything so that customers can also recycle easily as well. They are cruelty-free and use eco-friendly, organic cotton and bamboo fabrics. According to Asquith these bamboo fabrics are ideal for activewear because they are naturally anti-bacterial, breathable and wick away sweat. The organic cotton they use is all Oeko-Tex certified which means that it has a low carbon footprint and biodegradable fibres. The cotton is also GOTS certified organic — ethically grown, chemical free and responsibly manufactured.
They are cruelty-free and use eco-friendly, organic cotton and bamboo fabrics
Must try: the Conquer cami
The perfect top to buy if you want everything to stay in place during yoga practice. This cami top is elegant and fitted with a gorgeous double crossover strap that contrasts the sky blue shade of the best. According to Asquith the long body and smooth fit are what ensures that this vest top will stay in place during downward facing dog. The cami also has a built-in medium support bra which keeps everything else in place too. We are big fans of this ballerina-esque vest.
Available to buy here for £49.
PAMA London
PAMA London was founded by Pauline Hansen and Marcella Cavalcanti, two friends that were passionate about health, wellness and fitness. But the pair wanted to create a company that was not only focused on health and wellbeing but also supported an environmentally-conscious lifestyle. They say that they have adopted the yoga lifestyle by not only focusing on what we put inside their bodies but also what we put onto it.
The garments are all made with exclusive, ethically-sourced fabrics engineered from 100% post-consumer materials, most interestingly their ingredient, charcoal bamboo. They process the elastane and recycled charcoal bamboo that the clothes are made from in a way that has a low environmental impact. PAMA London made the decision to manufacture their clothes in Los Angeles because they explain that it’s known to be an avant-garde city when it comes to environmentally-friendly production.
arments are all made with exclusive, ethically-sourced fabrics engineered from 100% post-consumer materials, most interestingly their ingredient, charcoal bamboo.
Must try: Beverley hills leggings
These gorgeous leggings are made from 84% recycled charcoal bamboo. The other 16% is made from elastane to give the fabric stretchability. We love the sheer criss cross design that runs up the leg of these leggings. The mesh is made from a combination of nylon and elastane and makes them stand out a little from your plain black yoga bottoms. Plus the high waisted band holds you together and proves that being fashion-forward doesn’t mean you can’t be an eco-warrior too.
Available to buy here for £130.
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