Shiny, synthetic activewear is passé. Not only do they irritate your skin, but they’re also detrimental to the environment. Which is why sustainability seems to be the new buzzword in this space, with brands increasingly becoming conscious of their carbon footprint and social responsibility. Here’s to saving the planet, one run at a time.
Deivee
This athleisure brand, founded by fitness heartthrob Milind Soman, aims to make things more comfortable for women, by creating organic fitness-wear designed exclusively for the Indian frame. Seeking inspiration from Indian weaves and prints, the brand designs racer backs, leggings, printed shorts, capris and crop tops, among others, using natural materials such as banana fibre, bamboo fibre, Fairtrade cotton, samba grass and dharba grass, besides recycled PET bottles. Shop at deivee.com
RUMI X
Coffee grinds in your activewear? This edgy Hong Kong-based brand uses a patented technology to infuse upcycled coffee grounds into its yarn fabric, as it claims to offer numerous benefits, including better odour control, quicker drying and higher UV protection. The process involves extraction of oil from the grounds, followed by shaping them into pellets, which are then converted to recycled thread. The brand also uses dried and shredded plastic waste to make spunky leggings and workout pants. There’s free worldwide shipping for orders exceeding 200 USD. Shop at rumixfeelgood.com
Beloforte
It’s not often that you’d use the words high fashion, organic and activewear in the same sentence, but California-based Beloforte checks all three boxes. Each of their pieces is cut and spun from recycled materials by artisans, and the fabric is sourced from mills in California, making the entire process sustainable in every sense. The brand designs stylish and sweat-resistant workout tights, racer backs, monochromatic tank tops and more for women. Shop at belo-forte.com
Do U Speak Green
Eucalyptus and hemp may not be the first things that come to mind when you think of activewear. But this Indian brand uses an eclectic mix of natural blends to create fashion-forward, sustainable clothing. Think Fairtrade cotton, bamboo fibre, recycled waste and fabric, eco-friendly dyes and water-based prints. They do a wide range of chemical-free T-shirts, track pants, shorts and more. The clothes are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)-certified and come with the SGS Carbon Footprint mark. Shop at flipkart.com, amazon.in, myntra.com, organicshop.in
Satva
Thi s brand taps the goodness of organic cotton and coconut oil to design sustainable clothes targeted at women. With high-quality, GMO- and pesticide-free cotton sourced from organic farms across the country, Satva believes in promoting a strong synergy between farmers, the environment and the end-user, and empowers local communities through its socially-conscious programmes. The brand does a range of allergen-free apparel, from tank tops and casual tees in bold, solid colours, to printed leggings and bomber jackets. Shop at in.satvaliving.com
Athlos
The active-wear brand uses breathable bamboo fibre to create stylish, minimalist and comfortable apparel. Each piece of clothing has a layer of invisible silver eons to cut out odour. They do running shorts, training tees and workout towels. Shop at goathlos.com
Proyog
Designed for women yoga practitioners, the clothes are made of trademarked Hyperbreath fabric, an in-house blend of organic cotton and other natural fibres. The fabric is non-abrasive and non-restrictive, promising a 20% better stretch than conventional cotton elastane, thanks to the addition of Lycra as the core yarn with an organic cotton sheath. Proyog uses GOTS-certified moisture-wicking technology to ensure quick drying and greater comfort. Shop at proyog.com
Stretchery
The brand uses fair trade organic cotton and the clothes are designed bereft of harmful chemicals or toxic pigments and dyes. The women’s line comes with a 5% lycra blend to ensure free movement, and the fabric is breathable, soft and highly durable, claims the brand. Shop at stretchery.in
Prana
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, this 25-year-old brand caters to the outdoors-loving fitness enthusiast, with hiking, climbing, swimming, yoga and running wear. The brand has made a commitment to reducing polybag use and invests in responsible sourcing of forest materials. You can choose from lightweight activewear made of organic Fairtrade cotton, hemp, recycled polyester with the addition of spandex for extra stretch. The products are Bluesign-certified, implying they meet the highest environmental, safety and health standards. Shop at global.prana.com
Spiritual Warrior
Seeking inspiration from yoga and mindfulness, this athleisure brand makes simple, comfortable clothes and accessories. The brand designs handmade minimalist activewear from organic cotton, including workout leggings, racer back tops and T-shirts for men and women. Spiritual Warrior works with local communities in India to ensure ethical labour practices, while empowering underprivileged women and children through education. They offer free shipping to India. Shop at spiritualwarriorshop.com
Manduka
This US-based brand believes that sustainability is the new technology, and true to its principle, sticks to natural fibres and fabrics. Apart from organic cotton and hemp, Manduka also uses other fibres such as Modal Sun (a manmade fibre made of sustainably grown beechwood), Tencel (made from regenerated beechwood with zero waste) and Sorona (an eco-friendly alternative to polyester made from bio-based products). They create leggings, shorts and tops from discarded plastic bottles, and all their recycled polyester products are certified by GRS (Global Recycle Standard). Shop at manduka.com
Reebok
Reebok now has a dedicated line of sportswear made using recycled materials. Employing a technology called Speedwick, these outfits made of recycled polyester mix come with pentagon-shaped fibres that create airy spaces, providing more ventilation and better moisture wicking, says the brand.
They will soon be launching Cotton+Corn shoes made entirely from natural materials that can even be used as compost once they’re worn out. Shop at amazon.in, myntra.com and flipkart.com
