Yahoo News Eco-activewear: how to save the planet while exercising in style
Chances are that while you might remember to take a couple of reusable bags to the supermarket, ask for your drink without a plastic straw, or even pour your morning coffee into a KeepCup, you probably haven’t yet thought about the impact our growing activewear obsession is having on landfills, oceans and the wider environment.
This summer, when I attended LoveFit festival, a three-day adrenaline-inducing fitness festival at St Clere Estate, one particular company caught my eye: League Collective, a sustainable and high-tech sportswear brand for women. Designed by yoga instructor Lilly Richardson – who can usually be found teaching at the likes of Hotpod Yoga or Triyoga in London – all the League Collective garments are made in the UK with 100 per cent recycled fabrics.
“As a yoga teacher in London, I am constantly moving from A to B (biking, running, sweating),” says Richardson. “Over the years I found my clothing has broken pretty quickly or loses shape. So I wanted to create something that can sustain the amount of activity I do.
“Fashion is so fast-moving, and sewing technology is coming on leaps and bounds, but no one is putting pressure on big corporations to deal with the repercussions of producing so fast,” she adds. “The industry has the means and technology to be recycling all of our clothing, but because the demands aren't there, it is still a costly process. If we want to see this world continue, something needs to change.”
Ben Moreland, founder of Asuno Activewear, says there's a natural link between fitness and good intentions.“You only have to look at events such as the London Marathon, Race for Life, the Moonwalk to see that people who exercise to feel good and live a healthy life are very often aiming to do good at the same time.
"There is a lot fitness fans can do to make a difference in the world; ensure your activewear purchases are sustainable or give back, made from recycled materials wherever possible, and that your sports bottles are made from metal rather than plastic, to minimise plastic waste.”
Here, then, are some of the most sustainable and fashionable activewear brands that are reusing ocean plastic or minimising fabric waste. It’s all about quality, not quantity – and certainly not landfill.
1. Adrenna
Tackling mass-production and fast-fashion, every piece from Adrenna is made to order in London to minimise waste. So although that means there's a 14-21 day turnaround time, you can choose the exact design and colours to suit your style. Their goal: “The planet shouldn't have to sweat while you do. So we only produce what is needed”.
This cross-discipline sports bra is perfect for both HIIT classes and spin, and I love that you can choose whether you want a fixed band or a hook and eye for the clasp.
2. Asuno
UK based fitness and yoga clothing brand Asuno is pretty incredible. Every item in the fitness range is linked to an individual charity and each purchase provides a specific action, from alleviating hunger to providing access to water.
“Doing good and feeling good are the key motivators for launching the brand and ensuring that every single purchase of Asuno activewear raises money to help children in need,” says founder Moreland. “Asuno’s primary directive was to give to good causes from our profit but using ‘do-good’ materials is very much part of our vision as the brand grows.”
The company's yoga leggings in heather grey support the charity Plump’d, where seven life-saving RUTF sachets are provided with each purchase.
3. League Collective
Want to save the environment but not compromise on either style or comfort? League Collective creates multipurpose, sustainable and high-tech sportswear for women that are both practical and fashionable. So whether you’re a runner, yogi, cyclist or swimmer, you can reduce the amount of landfill caused by fast fashion, and look fantastic too.
I especially love the one-piece which can be used for either swimming, dance or hot yoga.
£95 from leaguecollective.co.uk
4. Adidas
Dip your toe into sustainable fashion with Adidas. Lightweight and comfortable, these running shoes are created with yarn made in collaboration with Parley for the Oceans. The material is created from recycled ocean plastic. You can even scan the chip in the heel of the right shoe to find out the story from plastic bottle to final product.
Adidas also recently teamed up with Wanderlust Festival to create an exclusive ‘mindful’ collection. My favourite piece from the collection has to be the forest green yoga bra (it’s made from recycled polyester and is super comfy, too).
5. Vyayama
Made from Tencel, an eco-friendly, renewable fabric, Vyayama is pretty heavenly for getting your flow on. Founded with the aim of providing a natural alternative to synthetic yoga wear, they create both innovative and environmentally friendly pieces.
The company's yoga crop top is super flattering and comes in a cute contrasting black and white reflection print.
6. Manduka
Sustainable yoga mat? Tick. Manduka's yoga mats are renowned for being the most durable rubber mats on the market, which means that they don't compromise on grip, and your fingers won’t slide when you’re practising ‘downward dog’. But, they’re also biodegradable and made from non-Amazon harvested tree rubber.
7. Yoga Democracy
Made and designed in the US, these bold and eye-catching patterns aren’t the only striking thing about Yoga Democracy – they’re also made from recycled bottles.
Their vivid leggings, for example, have recycled over 336,000 plastic bottles… and counting. So instead of reaching for the same pair of boring black leggings, why not opt for something a little brighter?
8. Davy J
As a complete water-baby and ex-competitive swimmer, this British sustainable swimwear brand, Davy J, has my full attention. Did you know an average of 640,000 tons of fishing nets are left in our oceans every year? Well, for every ton of waste nets collected there is enough nylon to create more than 10,000 swimsuits.
Davy J's classic, sexy red number is made from 100 per cent regenerated nylon yarn from waste including fishing nets. So you can look like a member of the Baywatch team and know you’re literally saving the ocean.
9. Silou London
The epitome of mindful manufacturing, Silou London designs use new non-toxic fabrics and manufactures them in Lithuania (Sweatshop-free, its production house exceeds European standards plus offers good working conditions and fair pay for employees).
Sleek and minimal, this unitard shows off Silou’s tailored and flattering style perfectly.
10. Vivobarefoot
Tackling the crisis of throw-away plastic, Vivobarefoot’s recycled PET range transforms roughly 17 plastic bottles into a durable, high-performance pair of shoes. Their tagline, “healthy for the feet, healthy for the planet” wonderfully sums these shoes up.
They’re even working on a new Plant Shoe (which is coming next year).
11. Starseeds
Just when I thought I couldn’t love coffee any more, I found that Starseeds create leggings from recycled polyester and wasted coffee grounds. The smart fabric reduces moisture, while the coffee fibres absorbs odour – ideal for literally any sweaty gym session.
