We love some good athletic wear. Leggings, a top, and hoodie are perfect for the gym (or lounging on the couch, I’m not judging). However, it is difficult to find brands that have the environment, ethics, AND comfort in mind.
Therefore, I have researched three activewear brands that fit these criteria.
Let’s take a look at Pact, Reprise, and Girlfriend Collective.
Pact
In 2009, Brendan Synott founded Pact with the goal of creating the comfiest clothes without destroying the earth or harming people.
The brand offers a wide range of products, including leggings, hoodies, and underwear. Besides clothes, Pact also has a home section where you can find towels, quilts, and sheets.
The Initiatives
Pact‘s commitment to sustainability is evident and, more importantly, certified. Pact partners with organizations such as the Global Organic Textile Standard, Fair Trade, and SimpliZero to show their dedication to sustainable and ethical practices.
The core of Pact’s sustainability initiatives revolves around its use of organic cotton, carbon neutrality, and fair trade practices.
As the brand explains on its website, choosing organic cotton means 81% less water usage and 63% less energy consumption than conventional farming.
Moreover, Pact takes a comprehensive approach to carbon neutrality, collaborating with SimpliZero to measure and offset the environmental impact of every product. Through initiatives like reforestation, renewable energy projects, and community initiatives, Pact ensures a zero-net carbon footprint.
Beyond environmental responsibility, Pact places a strong emphasis on fair trade practices. With €1.95 million invested in Fair Trade Premiums, their Fair Trade Certified™ factories prioritize safe working conditions, community support, and development funds for on-site workers.
To eliminate single-use plastic, Pact introduced Vela bags—a completely recyclable paper bag.
Furthermore, Pact‘s Give Back Box program encourages consumers to send gently used but still wearable clothes to one of the five charities associated with the initiative. This program ensures a second life for clothing items, preventing them from ending in landfills.
Price Range: €18 (underwear) – €99 (Hoodie)
When viewing a product on the Pact website, you can see the details of the specific projects through which carbon emissions were offset and how much water was saved.
On Good On You, Pact receive the score “Good”.
Interested in Pact? Please visit their website or look at their Instagram (@pact).
Reprise
Launched in 2022, Reprise is an activewear brand created by Mary Bemis to “keep plastic off your body”. The brand quickly gained popularity and was featured in magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Forbes.
Reprise’s Commitment
At the forefront of Reprise’s commitment to sustainability is its transparency, which is evident throughout its sustainability page. The brand offers customers detailed insights into the composition of their products and the reasons behind their choices. Notably, Reprise doesn’t shy away from acknowledging areas for improvement, reinforcing their dedication to continuous growth.
Reprise is committed to producing polyester-free products. While polyester is widely favored in activewear for its moisture-retention and durability, its plastic origins and severe environmental impact cannot be overlooked. As a brand that refuses to contribute to the plastic problem, Reprise takes pride in being one of the few brands creating leggings without relying on plastic bottles. Instead, Reprise opts for plant-based materials like TENCEL™, a plant-based fiber produced by Lenzing.
While Reprise openly acknowledges that their leggings currently contain 7% Spandex, the brand is actively working to transform this component into a plant-based alternative.
Furthermore, Reprise integrates GOTS and Fair Trade Certified organic cotton into some of their products, showcasing a dedication to ethical sourcing and production.
The dyes used in Reprise‘s products meet the highest standards, being both GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified. This emphasis on certifications ensures that the products are safe for consumers and environmentally responsible.
Reprise takes pride in keeping its production local to the U.S. By conducting fabric knit & dye processes in Los Angeles and cut & sew processes in NYC and New Jersey, the brand minimizes the need for extensive shipping, not only reducing carbon emissions but also supporting local industries.
Reprise recognizes that sustainability is an ongoing journey. The brand is transparent about the areas they are working on improving, including expanding Fair Trade certification, enhancing dye standards, and sourcing plant-based Spandex.
Price Range: €18,95 (Scrunchies) – €111,95 (Legging)
Reprise does not yet have a rating on Good On You.
Interested in Reprise? Please visit their website or take a look at their Instagram (@repriseactivewear).
Girlfriend Collective
Ellie and Quang Dihn, a husband and wife duo, founded the Girlfriend Collective. The pair created the brand after they realized how difficult it was to find activewear brands that are sustainable and ethical.
The Girlfriend Collective offers a wide range of clothing with sizes ranging from XXS to 6XL.
Girlfriend Collective's Sustainability
The core of Girlfriend Collective‘s sustainable activewear lies in its innovative use of recycled materials. The brand transforms post-consumer water bottles, fishing nets retrieved from the seas, fabric scraps, and other waste into high-performance activewear. On their website, the process for turning plastic waste into fabric is explained. All recycled fabrics from the Girlfriend Collective are certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex.
Addressing concerns about recycled polyester, Girlfriend Collective assures consumers that their recycled PET is BPA-free (BPA is a form of plastic that has possible health effects). By using a different type of plastic than polycarbonates found in reusable water bottles, the brand ensures the safety of its products, emphasizing that if it’s safe for your sandwich, it’s safe for your legs.
The choice of manufacturing partners plays a pivotal role in Girlfriend Collective‘s sustainable journey. Textiles are sourced from various facilities worldwide, with a primary recycling partner in Taiwan and a core sewing partner in Vietnam, both holding SA8000 certification. SA8000, a social accountability standard, ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and adherence to strict regulations.
Furthermore, the brand’s commitment extends to the dyeing process, where eco-friendly dyes are used. Wastewater is treated at a plant adjacent to the dye house, ensuring that every drop is cleaned before release. By donating dye mud to a local pavement facility, Girlfriend Collective transforms waste into resources, making sidewalks and roads eco-friendly.
Last, Girlfriend Collective acknowledges the issue of microfiber shedding from synthetic fabrics during washing. To tackle this problem, the brand recommends using washing bags or filters, offering a solution that captures these microfibers and prevents them from entering water streams, contributing to ocean pollution.
Price Range: $18 (underwear) – $298 (Puffer jacket)
On Good On You, the Girlfriend Collective scores a rating of “Good”
Interested in Girlfriend Collective? Please visit their website or take a look at their Instagram (@girlfriend).
Sources
All pictures link to their source, and all credits go to the rightful owners.
You can find the link to the header picture HERE
