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plus size woman of colour happy in light green recycled plastic yoga wear
19 Jun
plus size woman of colour happy in light green recycled plastic yoga wear

The Ultimate Guide to More Ethical and Sustainable Yoga Clothing

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Here are the more ethical and sustainable yoga brands serving up some of the best pieces on the market—with values and practices to match.

Wear your heart on your sleeve with these responsibly-made yoga clothing brands

If yoga is, above all, a practice of mindfulness, of ahimsa (non-violence), and compassion, then are we really staying true to this with what we wear on (and off) the yoga mat? As the popularity of yoga continues to soar exponentially, so too does the market for activewear, athleisure, and yoga brands targeting yogis both new and veteran. But what about more sustainable and ethical yoga clothing?

If you’ve either always been meaning to take up yoga, or have let your practice fall by the wayside in your busy day-to-day life, why not use this opportunity to fall (back) in love with an at-home yoga practice? And if you can, support small businesses along the way as you invest in some responsible yogawear. Talk about good karma.

We know that with higher demand and production for products often comes lower awareness and care around quality. And not just the quality of the stitching or fabric. What about the quality of the message? The care for workers all along the supply chain? The awareness of the environmental impact of producing and distributing these goods? Now more than ever, we need to make sure the brands we invest our hard-earned money into are, in turn, investing in the protection of people, the planet, and animals.

Of course, the recipe for a great yoga outfit requires a number of key ingredients. We’re talking comfort, durability, breathability (that sweat ain’t gonna wick itself), coverage, fit, and cuteness (okay, maybe that last one’s not quite essential).

So, with all that said, here are the brands serving up some of the best (and more ethical) yoga clothing on the market—with values and practices to match. Please note that these brands primarily offer womenswear, and their designs, fit, and sizing reflect this.

But yoga is for everyone, so we’ve also got you covered if you’re after more ethical activewear for men.

Girlfriend Collective

Rated: Good
plus size woman with vitiligo wearing recycled plastic black unitard by ethical fashion brand Girlfriend Collective

For the minimalist yogi or yogini, Seattle-based Girlfriend Collective is your go-to. If you aren’t the biggest fan of loud prints and flashy colours, the sleek, simple shades and silhouettes will surely please. Better still, all of the pieces are produced using certified fair labour and recycled plastic bottles—who would’ve thought it.

Another highlight is the brand’s clear focus on inclusivity and body positivity, with models who represent all shapes, sizes, and skin tones. Yoga is for people of all bodies, ages, colours, and cultures—just as it should be.

Girlfriend’s range is available in sizes 2XS-6XL.

See the rating.

Shop Girlfriend Collective @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Girlfriend Collective.

Threads 4 Thought

Rated: Good
pregnant woman wearing black eco maternity active shorts by Threads 4 Thought

Threads 4 Thought’s more sustainable yogawear and activewear is made from recycled plastic bottles and recycled nylon fishing nets so you can help keep the sea pristine. The brand’s manufacturers are a combination of Fair Trade USA certified and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certified.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Threads 4 Thought.

Purusha People

Rated: Good
woman in field of grass wearing ethical blue Purusha People unitard

Offers

Someone wearing a lavender tie-dyed crop top and bottoms by Purusha People.

Purusha People – Site-wide (US)

Ignite inspiration for your wardrobe with these limited collections made using plant-based TENCEL Lyocell. Enjoy free shipping on orders over $200. (Available in the US only) (Ends: 7 MAY)

Shop now

Purusha People adds dainty details to its range of activewear. The organic plant-based pieces will wick away sweat and keep your practice at that perfect level of "chill".

Purusha pieces are stocked in sizes XS-3XL.

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Shop Purusha People.

No Nasties

Rated: Great
A split-back lilac yoga tank top by No Nasties.

Another leader when it comes to responsible fashion, No Nasties makes simple and stylish clothing from Fairtrade organic cotton in India where it is actively working to grow the ethical consumer market.

Find styles in sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop No Nasties.

Boody

Rated: Good
woman wearing black activewear from boody doing yoga

Made from organically grown bamboo, Boody is a clothing brand that supports the movement for all things green and ethical. Boody Active offers the premium quality and innovative style you want, paired with the durability you need. What more do you need from your yoga clothes?

Find the range in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boody.

Elle Evans

Rated: Good
woman wearing reversible sustainable elle evans yoga bra

Founded in 2013 in Australia, Elle Evans Swimwear creates beautiful, lower-impact swimwear and activewear for people who care about fashion and the future. The brand uses post-consumer waste fabrics and traces all of its supply chain.

The range is stocked in sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Elle Evans.

Amble Outdoors (Team Timbuktu)

Rated: Good

Amble Outdoors (formerly Team Timbuktu) creates high-performance waterproof raincoats and sweat-wicking activewear, made from recycled plastic bottles in Australia.

Sizes offered in 2XS-XL.

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Shop Amble Outdoors.

1 People

Rated: Good
A two-tone light grey set of yoga bra and leggings by 1 People.

1 People is a Danish-designed lifestyle and luxury brand. It blends Scandinavian colour palettes and minimalist design to create effortlessly elegant collections for the conscious-minded. Its pieces are thoughtfully crafted by small family-run manufacturers using lower-impact and certified materials.

Find the collection in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop 1 People.

Shop 1 People @ Cerqular.

tentree

Rated: Good
woman stretching in pink sustainable activewear by tentree

Canadian brand tentree believes big change starts small. Small as in bringing your reusable bag to the grocery store, making fewer, more thoughtful purchases, and choosing to purchase more sustainably when you do. The brand plants ten trees for every item purchased to help regenerate ecosystems and provide planting jobs in communities around the world, and has already planted over 65 million trees.

All tentree’s products are created with an Earth-First approach, meaning they're made in fair, safe working conditions, and constructed using lower-impact and recycled materials.

tentree’s super comfy fabrics and easy wardrobe staples are typically available from XS-XL.

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Shop tentree.

Happy Earth

Rated: Good

Happy Earth Apparel is a US organic clothing brand that works to give back, inspired by nature and dedicated to preserving it. This B Corporation certified brand makes the planet a better place with every purchase. Through its partnerships with non-profits and Happy Earth ambassadors, it’s planting trees, fighting climate change, and cleaning up trash. While traditional yogawear is made from virgin plastic, Happy Earth’s leggings not only out-compete in performance, they’re also built from plant-based materials.

Find most items in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Happy Earth.

Concerned about your carbon footprint when buying from overseas? Your questions are answered in our guide to international shipping

dk active

Rated: Great

dk active is an Australian high-performance brand. It uses renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce its climate impact, and reuses all of its offcuts to minimise textile waste. It is also a PETA approved 100% vegan brand.

Find the products in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop dk active.

Miakoda

Rated: Good
A beige athleisure set by Miakoda.

If you’re all about that organic plant-based lifestyle, then you’ll most certainly vibe with NYC-made brand Miakoda and its organic, ultra-cosy active and loungewear. Its pieces include stripped-back colours and designs that are all about comfort.

Supportive of different shapes and sizes, find the range in XS-4XL.

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Shop Miakoda.

Shop Miakoda @ Wearwell.

PACT

Rated: Good
Orange and black polka dot pocket leggings responsibly made by PACT.

PACT is a brand that is passionate about being part of a movement transforming the way apparel is made. All of its clothing is sweatshop-free and child-labour-free, and its activewear range is almost entirely made from certified organic cotton, with more than 50% also certified as Fair Trade.

Find PACT pieces in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop PACT.

Ambiletics

Rated: Good
Someone wearing dark blue animal print activewear by Ambiletics.

Ambiletics is a more sustainable sports and yoga label from Munich. The brand is convinced that every (purchase) decision makes a difference. In the fashion sector in particular, far too little attention is paid to origin and production. Ambiletics wants to change this, so its motto is: MAKE IT MATTER.

Find most items in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Ambiletics.

CasaGIN

Rated: Good

Italian brand CasaGIN designs apparel for those looking to foster a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle in their closet and beyond.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop CasaGIN.

Silou

Rated: Good

Created for fitness, designed for life, Silou is a luxury activewear brand specialising in clothes that feel good on the body, perform in the gym, shape and support, and are kind to the planet. This UK brand rates highly for its environmental impact: it uses a high proportion of lower-impact materials, including recycled materials, and has a limited production run to minimise textile waste.

Find the range in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Silou.

Dharma Bums

Rated: Great
A woman with dark curl hair wear a white yoga crop top.

Dharma Bums is a yoga and activewear brand providing beautiful, high performance sportswear. Its all-Australian-made items are certified by Ethical Clothing Australia and it doesn't use any animal-derived materials.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dharma Bums.

Kysal

Rated: Good

Kysal is a sportswear and activewear brand from France for women, made from recycled materials.

Find the range in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Kysal.

Whether you’re a #yogaeverydamnday ambassador or simply looking to bring more mindfulness into your life, the principle is the same.

Whenever I talk about balance with my students, I invite them to open their minds and really take a big-picture look at their lifestyles and beliefs. It’s easier said than done to confront our own habits and contradictions. Alignment is not only a key factor in a pose—it’s a key element in finding true harmony between what we say and what we do. If we hold certain values in our hearts, do we reflect these on our shirts? Better still, do we demonstrate these same values outside of our 60-minute classes?

Whatever your sadhana, or practice, looking at what you’re sporting on your body is a great start. As for what’s going on inside our bodies—well, that’s what yoga and meditation are for, right?

Read the ultimate guide to more ethical activewear

Editor's note

Feature image via Girlfriend Collective, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world's most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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