The 10 Best Brands for Sustainable Workout Clothes

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Whether you’ve found your fitness rhythm or, like me, you’re still teetering between sporadic workouts and none at all — having sustainable workout clothes you love and feel good in is one key to success in building a consistent exercise routine.

Because if having comfortable, functional, flattering activewear feels good, then getting it from sustainable, ethical brands feels even better. And that’s where this guide comes in. Here you’ll find the best brands offering *actually* sustainable activewear, fabrics to seek out and ones to avoid, and thoughts on the absolute most sustainable route for acquiring activewear. I hope these brands and ideas will help put a little more pep in your 10,000 steps.

Note that all brands in this post are rated either “Good” or “Great” on Good On You, so you can rest assured that they put their money where their mouth is when it comes to sustainability and ethics. Fully vegan brands are noted with a (V).

Table of Contents

Best Brands for Sustainable Workout Clothes

1. Boody (V)

Organically-grown bamboo viscose activewear

PHOTOS: BOODY

Boody is an Australian brand that makes a range of basics from organically-grown bamboo viscose and organic cotton. Their activewear collection is small but strong; they’ve got sports bras, tanks, and leggings and shorts (with pockets!) in black, grey, and a limited edition olive green. Reviewers love how soft, comfortable, and breathable Boody’s activewear is.

Prices: $50 [sports bra] to $80 [full-length leggings]
Products: Sports bras, tanks, leggings/shorts with pockets
Materials: Bamboo viscose, organic cotton, elastane
Based: Australia
Shipping to US: $10 (or free on orders over $60)
Good On You Rating: Good

2. dk active (V)

Versatile and inclusive activewear (ft. maternity and postnatal)

PHOTOS: DK ACTIVE

dk active is an Australian, female-founded brand whose pieces, as they perfectly put it, “merge comfort, innovation, and sustainable practices to create wardrobe staples that empower and inspire.” They offer sizes from XS to 6XL, and have a whole collection dedicated to maternity and postnatal. They also offer bike shorts and bodysuits, and have a filter feature whereby you can sort to things like adjustable straps, built-in shelf bra, external pockets, and internal waistband pockets. So useful. Rated an elusive “Great” on Good On You, dk active still manages to offer competitive pricing.

Prices: $49 [sports bra] to $68 [full-length leggings]
Products: Sports bras, tops (tanks, short tees, long tees, sweatshirts), bottoms (leggings, shorts), bodysuits
Materials: Recycled plastic bottles, recycled nylon, recycled elastane, spandex, organic cotton, lycra
Based: Australia
Shipping to US: About $20 (free on orders of about $165+)
Good On You Rating: Great

3. Girlfriend Collective (V)

Size-inclusive activewear in an array of styles and colors

PHOTOS: GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE

Girlfriend Collective is an inclusive, feel-good brand. They’ve got a wide selection of options for all your sustainable activewear needs; their best-selling leggings come in, as of the time of this post, 21 different colors, with sizes from XXS to 6XL. They also have workout dresses and unitards – so fun! In addition to traditional online sales, Girlfriend Collective offers their activewear second-hand through their site, which is a unique and super sustainable option.

Prices: $56 [sports bra] to $80 [full-length leggings]
Products: Wide selection of sustainable activewear in different sizes, cuts, and colors
Materials: Recycled water bottles, spandex
Based: US
Shipping to US: $7 (free on orders $100+)
Good On You Rating: Good

4. Happy Earth (V)

Organic cotton activewear in cute, earthy colors

PHOTOS: HAPPY EARTH

Most of us are accustomed to activewear made from a plastic fabric like polyester or nylon – whether virgin or recycled – but Happy Earth is shaking it up. Their PlantTec™activewear line is made of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane (spandex) for stretch. Each piece is thoughtfully designed; their leggings, for example, offer a soft feel, breathability, sweat-wicking tech, non-toxic dyes, nice ‘n stretchy side pockets, and a ribbed design for support.

Prices: $36 [reversible tank] to $64 [full-length leggings]
Products: Tops (tanks, short tees, long tees), leggings with pockets, jackets, dresses
Materials: 95% organic cotton, 5% elastane
Based: US
Shipping to US: $7 (free on orders $75+)
Good On You Rating: Good

5. Lezat

Competitively priced organic cotton activewear

PHOTOS: LEZAT

Lezat offers sustainable workout clothes made from organic cotton at a great price. Their range provides some nice variety in styles, cuts, and colors, with interesting little details as you can see above. Note that I’ve seen some mixed reviews for Lezat’s shipping times, so if you’re on a tight timeline for your order then you might consider another brand.

Prices: $30 [sports bra] to $48 [full-length leggings]
Products: Sports bras, tanks, leggings/shorts (no pockets), jumpsuits
Materials: Organic cotton + spandex
Based: US
Shipping to US: $8 – $10 (free on orders $150+)
Good On You Rating: Good

6. NATASHA TONIĆ

Premium, small-batch hemp activewear made in LA

PHOTOS: NATASHA TONIĆ

NATASHA TONIĆ has a small but lovely collection of boutique activewear made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton. Among their collection they have stirrup leggings with a strap on the bottom (a nice, practical detail that you rarely see), plus a large pocket on the back. Certain activewear items like the One String Swim & Sport can also double as swimwear. The brand is woman-founded, -owned, and -run by Natasha herself.

Prices: $108 [sports bra] to $128 [full-length leggings]
Products: Sports bra, leggings, tanks, “catsuits”
Materials: Hemp, organic cotton, lycra
Based: US
Shipping to US: $8
Good On You Rating: Good

7. PANGAIA

Innovative activewear made from bio-based materials

PHOTOS: PANGAIA

PANGAIA describes itself as a, “materials science company bringing problem-solving innovations to the world through premium lifestyle products and experiences.” And their activewear is a great example of material innovation: the majority of it uses bio-based Evo® Nylon (made from castor beans rather than fossil fuels), and plant-based elastane for stretch (traditional elastane is synthetic). Too cool! Their activewear is also treated with peppermint oil for its anti-odor effects. PANGAIA’s activewear collection also features track pants, shorts, and a jacket made from 100% recycled nylon.

Prices: $75 [sports bra] to $105 [full-length leggings]
Products: Sports bras, tops (tanks, short tees, long tees), bottoms (leggings, shorts, track pants), jackets
Materials: Evo® Nylon, plant-based elastane, recycled nylon
Based: UK
Shipping to US: $8 (free on orders $150+)
Good On You Rating: Good

8. tentree

Sustainable workout clothes made from recycled materials

PHOTOS: TENTREE

tentree is a go-to sustainable clothing brand for lots of categories, from jackets to dresses to underwear to activewear. Their activewear collection isn’t huge, but it covers everything you might want: leggings (some with pockets), shorts, tanks, sports bras, a dress, a skort, and sporty jackets. The composition of each garment differs, but all are made from recycled materials like polyester and nylon.

Prices: $48 [sports bra] to $68 [full-length leggings]
Products: All the basics
Materials: Recycled polyester, recycled nylon, elastane, creora® regen recycled spandex
Based: Canada
Shipping to US: $5 (free on orders $100+)
Good On You Rating: Good

9. Threads 4 Thought

Great basics with detail options

PHOTOS: THREADS 4 THOUGHT

Threads 4 Thought has a great selection of sustainable workout clothes, from basics to options with a li’l extra flair. Their activewear is available in a range of colors and patterns, offering a wide selection no matter your preferences. And here’s a fun fact: their best selling leggings are made from 21 recycled water bottles! T4T’s site isn’t organized into activewear as a single section, so for your convenience: sports bras, leggings, and their new 2024 ReActive collection (made from recycled plastic).

Prices: $48 [sports bra] to $48 [full-length leggings]
Products: Sports bras, tops (tanks, short tees, long tees), bottoms (leggings, shorts), jackets
Materials: Recycled polyester, spandex
Based: US
Shipping to US: About $8 (free on orders $100+)
Good On You Rating: Good

10. Yoga Democracy (V)

Yoga clothes in bold and bright patterns

PHOTOS: YOGA DEMOCRACY

Yoga Democracy makes beautifully-patterned yoga clothes from recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets. They use a no-water process to dye their garments, and repurpose cut-off waste from their products. Their designs are bold and flora- and fauna-inspired, so whether you love florals, sea scenes, rainbows, jellyfish, or gardens, they’ve got just the thing.

Prices: $53 [sports bra] to $90 [full-length leggings]
Products: Sports bras, tops (tanks, long tees), bottoms (leggings in lots of styles, shorts, skorts)
Materials: Recycled polyester, lycra
Based: US
Shipping to US: $10 (free on orders $100+)
Good On You Rating: Good

Sustainable Materials for Workout Clothes

While your average activewear is made from virgin plastic fabric (i.e. uses plastic that’s never been used or processed before), truly sustainable activewear relies on recycled plastic or plant-based fabrics. But fear not: these earth-friendly options still offer that characteristic texture and stretch! Some common eco-friendly fabrics to look for in activewear are:

Lyocell: Made mainly from wood pulp fiber, from trees like Eucalyptus and Oak. Its production uses relatively little water & few chemicals. It creates a soft, elastic fabric that’s ideal for sustainable activewear. You’ll often see this under the branded name TENCEL™ Lyocell.
Modal: Similar to lyocell, and also made from wood pulp (often from Beech trees). It’s known for being super soft.
Organic cotton: Grown without the pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides that characterize traditional cotton. It also uses much less water & energy than non-organic cotton.
Recycled polyester: Often made from recycled water bottles, serving the dual purpose of reducing the need for new materials and providing an outlet for bottles that might otherwise end up in a landfill.
Recycled nylon: Often made from recycled fishing nets, helping to reduce the mass of plastic pollution in our oceans.

Fabrics to Avoid

Traditional activewear is full of plastic-heavy (non-recycled) materials that are very hard on the earth in their production, use, and disposal. The main ones you’ll see are polyester and nylon.

How to Shop Second-Hand for Sustainable Workout Clothes

Although the options listed in this post are a BIG step up from your average activewear, a strong case can be made for second-hand purchases being the most sustainable way to acquire new-to-you workout clothes. As a general rule, it’s usually the most eco-friendly to opt for existing products rather than to contribute to demand for brand new products. That’s not always realistic, but it deserves a shoutout.

Girlfriend Collective, as mentioned earlier, has their great “Girlfriend to Girlfriend” marketplace where you can buy pre-loved clothing of theirs. Hopefully more brands start to offer options like this because I *for one* think it’s a super cool initiative.

You can also find second-hand activewear on sites like ThredUp and The Loft. Check ’em out!

What’s your favorite brand of sustainable activewear? Let me know in the comments.