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If you’re looking to refresh your gym clothes this January then you’ll want to meet BAM, a British brand founded on avoiding virgin polyester in activewear. Read on to discover the brand’s kindness-first ethos, and its super soft bamboo viscose gear.
A new attitude to business—and activewear
“We are a company founded on the passion to find the best the human spirit has to offer and we’re devoting ourselves to making this happen. Do things right and good things happen,” says David Gordon, founder of BAM, the British brand that’s leading the way in more sustainable activewear. “It seemed the bigger the business, the less human it became. I saw the lack of humanity in it all and wanted to show you could do it by doing it the right way and with a smile on your face… Success is more likely when done with kindness,” he says.
A case in point of such humanity is BAM’s attitude to the beginning of the year and what is traditionally a key selling period for activewear, as many people make resolutions and fitness goals. Because while Big Fashion seizes the opportunity to capitalise on shoppers’ insecurities and sell reams of synthetic gym clothes, Gordon is instead encouraging people to resist unsustainable ideals and focus on acceptance—to return to themselves and strengthen their values and self-belief. “No ‘New You’ pressure—just more of who you already are,” is his message to shoppers.
Humanity extends to its impact, too. BAM achieved a “Good” rating in all three pillars—people, the planet, and animals—when our analysts last assessed it. On top of tracing most of its supply chain and having it certified by the Fair Wear Foundation, the brand ensures all suppliers conduct yearly Sedex pillar 4 reports, which cover health and safety, environmental review, and ethics and governance. BAM ensures it pays a fair living wage aligned with the Living Wage Foundation’s standard to everyone in its direct operations to everyone in its direct operations, and is working to establish a living wage benchmark and calculate the gap for the workers in its supply chain. Elsewhere, it has eliminated hazardous chemicals in most of its supply chain, avoids plastic packaging, and is working to improve the proportion of clothes that are fully recyclable—which currently stands at 10%.
Your gym clothes don’t have to be polyester, and BAM is proof
Since the beginning, BAM has eschewed fossil fuel-based virgin polyester that’s usually the basis of workout clothes in favour of bamboo viscose, which is sourced from two producers that are jointly ranked third on the Canopy Hot Button Report—an important industry tool for identifying better wood-fibre sourcing.
The suppliers have also achieved the highest OekoTex SteP certification and are engaged with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Foundation MMCF [man made cellulosic fibres] module. This is important—and it sets BAM apart—because poor bamboo viscose production, particularly chemical management, can render the material less sustainable than people realise. But when brands seek assurances and certifications like this, shoppers can be confident that the materials they’re buying have been produced more responsibly and are indeed lower impact. What’s more, the material is known for its softness, breathability, and comfort, meaning you’re not going to be slowed down by irritating gear halfway through a 10k run.
BAM has introduced other plant-based textiles in recent years, too: “By blending nature-based materials with smart design, we’ve developed standout fabrics like Ultimate Balm, Enduro, and Novea, each crafted to deliver on comfort, performance, and sustainability, without ever compromising on style,” Gordon says.
Our editors’ picks from BAM’s more sustainable workout gear
“BAM celebrates a season of strength, not self-correction,” Gordon says of the brand’s latest collection, dubbed “Reclaim Your Pace”, which is a celebration of returning to oneself. In it, you’ll find items that help you show your personality in bold colourways, like chartreuse and lilac, and clothes designed to fit into your existing lifestyle. Like going from the coffee shop to the yoga studio, for which the Throw On Knitted Jumper and Nurture Sweat bomber jacket are ideal, and adaptable workout clothes that can be tied or adjusted to fit your preferences. Here are some of the highlights, along with a few of BAM’s bestselling items that conscious shoppers rely on.
Left to right: Nurture Sweat Bomber Jacket; Anything But Basic T-shirt and Enduro High-waisted Leggings
BAM celebrates a season of strength, not self-correction
Left to right: Sculpting Training Top; Unity Crop Top
We wanted to prove it’s possible for a clothing company to do things the right way, for our suppliers, our customers and ourselves.
David Gordon – founder of BAM
Left to right: Zero Boxy Fleece Gilet; Poise Bamboo Yoga Pants and Unity Crop Top
We’ve set goals for zero waste to landfill, zero pollution and zero wasted water—all by 2030. This applies to every single process from the growing and processing of bamboo viscose, to the manufacture of our clothes, to the way they are recycled.
Left to right: Tie-Back Yoga Vest; Gather Round Adjustable T-Shirt
We care about how our clothing is made and what it’s made from. That’s why we use fibres like bamboo viscose, wool and organic cotton. Our fabrics are processed with care, so they stay soft, strong, and breathable. They’re made to be worn again and again, and still feel good.
Left to right: Throw On Knitted Jumper; Packable Cloud Gilet (coming soon)
