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person wearing more sustainable activewear from girlfriend collective
05 Jan
person wearing more sustainable activewear from girlfriend collective

The Ultimate Guide to More Ethical and Sustainable Activewear

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Launch into your fitness routine while looking and feeling good with our ultimate roundup of more ethical and sustainable activewear.

Sweat it out in more sustainable style

Whether you’re looking to start a new training regime or you’re deep in the grind of your exercise routine, good clothes can help you stay focused and comfortable.

Activewear is traditionally made with harmful materials like virgin polyester and nylon, which require hefty chemicals to produce and continue polluting by shedding microplastics during use and packing landfills at end of life. Lower-impact activewear might be made from materials like recycled polyester, organic cotton, bamboo viscose, or hemp, which are better alternatives to the new, plastic-based fabrics that still flood so much of the market in fast fashion listings around the globe.

The following brands are either dedicated to making activewear or have some great options within their ranges, helping you keep the motivation high and your impact lower. Each of these responsible activewear brands is rated “Good” or “Great”, so you can exercise easy knowing they’re committed to reducing their impact on people, the planet, and animals. We also recommend searching for secondhand options and checking your local charity or thrift shops, which often have great options at much lower prices than new. With that, let’s jump in.

CASAGiN

Rated: Good
woman wearing black light compression sports bra by CasaGIN

Be.GiN | Light Compression Sport Bra – Ships internationally from Italy

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.

LANIUS

Rated: Good
image of person in yoga pose and image of sneakers by LANIUS

Active Athleisure Collection – Ships internationally from Germany

“Love fashion, think organic, be responsible” are the maxims of LANIUS. The German brand uses lower-impact materials, like GOTS certified cotton. All LANIUS facilities are SA8000 certified and it is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation.

LANIUS’ clothes are available in EU sizes 34-44.

See the rating.

Shop LANIUS.

Girlfriend Collective

Rated: Good
Someone in hooded puffer by Girlfriend Collective.

Dusty Olive Hooded Packable Puffer – Ships internationally from the US

Girlfriend Collective creates minimal, luxury clothes made with fair labour, certified by the Social Accountability Standard International SA8000. The brand uses lower-impact materials like recycled polyester as well as lower-impact, non-toxic dyes and is fully OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified.

Inclusively sized Girlfriend Collective offers products from 2XS-6XL.

See the rating.

Shop Girlfriend Collective @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Girlfriend Collective.

Patagonia

Rated: Good
Running pullover from Patagonia.

Men’s Airshed Pro Pullover – Ships internationally from the US

Patagonia is a brand that truly lives and breathes the great outdoors. It makes clothing for trail running, climbing, mountain biking, surfing, skiing, and snowboarding. Patagonia has “Good” labour practices, and uses recycled, rather than virgin, polyester. It has also committed to reducing its energy use and emissions.

The brand stocks sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Patagonia second hand @ Retykle.

Shop Patagonia.

Colorful Standard

Rated: Good

Colorful Standard is a Danish clothing brand that makes organic fashion essentials for men and women. The brand doesn’t care much for seasons or trends, instead, it creates timeless and long-lasting products to avoid the downward spiral that is over-consumption.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Colorful Standard.

Boldwill

Rated: Great
woman wearing emerald green sustainable performance tshirt by Iron Roots

Beechwood Performance T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the Netherlands

Boldwill is a Dutch sportswear brand that makes all its apparel from plant-based fabrics. Its pieces effortlessly combine more responsible design and functionality.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boldwill.

Shop Boldwill @ Shop Like You Give a Damn.

tentree

Rated: Good
Someone stretching in more sustainable activewear by tentree.

InMotion Pocket Bike Short – Ships internationally from Canada

Canadian brand tentree 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 clothes are typically available from XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop tentree.

Outerknown

Rated: Good
Someone wearing blue Outerknown surf trunks.

Apex Trunks in Pacific Surfature – Ships internationally from the US

Founded by surf champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a more responsible brand that aims to blend style and function with the protection of natural resources. The brand is Bluesign certified and has partnered with the Fair Labour Association.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Outerknown.

PANGAIA

Rated: Good
view from the ground looking up between a person's legs along a snow slope at two people standing in view, all dressed in Pangaia

PANGAIA designs products for living in any situation, sustaining your basic needs with smart technology and utilizing recyclable elements wherever possible.

See the rating.

Shop PANGAIA second hand @ Retykle.

Shop PANGAIA.

Wellicious

Rated: Good
Person wearing activewear from Wellicious

Wellicious makes more responsible cotton yoga clothing with circularity at its core. The brand uses lower-impact materials, traces most of its supply chain, and all its products have the Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification.

See the rating.

Shop Wellicious.

Shop Wellicious on The Revivas.

Tripulse

Rated: Great

TENCEL™ Made to Move Shorts – Ships internationally from Sweden

Tripulse is a Swedish activewear brand on a mission to create high performing activewear that protects our planet and its people. The brand believes that fitness, both physical and mental, is the foundation for a good and healthy life and gives people the courage to live the life they dreamed of, become their best selves, make bold moves, and change the world for the better.

Find most items in sizes XS-6XL.

See the rating.

Shop Tripulse.

Organique

Rated: Good
person posing in nude tank and cream active shorts by Organique.

Cycling Shorts – Ships internationally from Portugal

Organique is a Portuguese athleisure brand made for the contemporary woman. It is entirely produced in a high-end local atelier and promotes slow fashion by designing with longevity in mind. It uses high-quality, organic materials and lower-impact fabrics such as organic cotton and TENCEL Lyocell and is completely vegan.

Find the range in sizes S-L.

See the rating.

Shop Organique.

Shop Organique @ Immaculate Vegan.

BAM

Rated: Good

UK-based BAM makes womenswear and menswear basics from bamboo, and rates “Good” for people, the planet, and animals. The brand traces most of its supply chain and also offers clothing recycling to consumers to help address end-of-life textile waste.

Find most items in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop BAM.

Happy Earth

Rated: Great
Someone in activewear top and leggings by Happy Earth.

PLANTTEC™ Leggings – Ships internationally from the US

Happy Earth Apparel is a US organic clothing brand that is inspired by nature and dedicated to preserving it. Through its partnerships with non-profits and Happy Earth ambassadors, it’s planting trees, fighting climate change, and cleaning up trash.

Find most items in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Happy Earth.

Silq Rose

Rated: Good
Person wearing silq rose head wrap

Silq Rose is a UK brand specialising in hijabs. It uses some lower-impact materials, including linen, and produces in small batches to minimise waste.

See the rating.

Visit Silq Rose.

Beaumont Organic

Rated: Good
Someone stretched in a yoga pose wearing yoga clothes by Beaumont Organic.

Tiva Organic Cotton T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Beaumont Organic is a UK-based slow fashion brand that blends simple style with responsible production practices. Founded by Hannah Beaumont-Laurencia, the brand also has its own charitable foundation which supports people in Fiji.

Find the range in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Beaumont Organic.

ISTO.

Rated: Good

Portuguese brand ISTO.’s mandate is simple: create clothes to transcend the seasons and work as staple items in your wardrobe all year round. It has one single collection and pursues quality over quantity to try and make its items permanently available. It uses organic materials and is transparent in showing you the true cost of your clothes when you go to purchase a piece for your wardrobe.

The range is available in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop ISTO..

Lezat

Rated: Good

Based in Los Angeles, Lezat channels effortless style with its casual and easy-to-wear clothes.

See the rating.

Shop Lezat.

8000Kicks

Rated: Good
People standing in a forest wearing hemp trainers by 8000Kicks.

8000Kicks is a US-based brand specialising in footwear crafted from industrial hemp. Sparked by a unique vision to create the world’s first waterproof hemp shoe and empower customers with sustainable lifestyle choices, it works closely with dedicated producers, and extends its commitment to sustainability by supporting tree-planting initiatives.

Sizes range from US 6-14.

See the rating.

Shop 8000Kicks.

Shop 8000kicks @ Shop Like You Give a Damn.

Shop 8000Kicks @ Immaculate Vegan.

 

Threads 4 Thought

Rated: Good
Someone posing wearing ReActive Sportswear by Threads 4 Thought.

ReActive Sportswear – Ships internationally from the US

Threads 4 Thought uses a range of lower-impact materials including TENCEL™ Modal harvested from the limbs of beech trees. This process means that the trees are never cut down and 95% of the production materials to make the yarn are recovered and reused. The brand’s manufacturers are a combination of Fair Trade USA certified and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certified.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL, with an extended sizing range up to 3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Threads 4 Thought.

MATE the Label

Rated: Great

MATE the Label creates clean essentials made with GOTS certified organic fabrics and lower-impact dyes. Its goal is to offer women everywhere a clean product that is just as beautiful as it is responsible. It is proudly female-founded and is predominately operated by women. This US brand also manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint.

Find the range in inclusive sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop MATE the Label.

Boody

Rated: Good
Someone stretching their arms, and posing in sports bra by boody.

Racerback Sports Bra – Ships internationally from Australia

Founded in Australia by two best friends, Boody is a clothing brand with comfort, style, and health at its core. It creates comfortable, thoughtfully-made everyday essentials made from organically grown bamboo. It reduces waste through lower-waste cutting techniques and using a closed-loop system in its supply chain, supporting the green and ethical movement.

Find the range in sizes XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boody.

Yes Friends

Rated: Great

Yes Friends is a UK-based fashion brand that creates more affordable clothing for everyone. Yes Friends’ first product, classic cut t-shirts, cost less than £4 to make and the brand only charges £7.99. Using large scale production and direct to consumer margins means Yes Friends can charge you an affordable price for its more responsible clothing.

Find the range inclusively sized in 2XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Yes Friends.

Dharma Bums

Rated: Good
Someone wearing black Dharma Bums sports bra.

Sports Bras – Ships internationally from Australia

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.

Plant Faced Clothing

Rated: Good

Streetwear without the sweatshops, that’s the motto of this British 100% vegan and cruelty-free streetwear apparel brand that is all about promoting a new wave of consciousness that supports the non-harming or exploitation of any beings in fashion production.

Buy Plant Faced Clothing in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Plant Faced Clothing.

Shop Plant Faced Clothing @ Shop Like You Give a Damn.

Armedangels

Rated: Great

Innovative, responsible, and on-trend. Germany’s Armedangels gets a top score overall from us. The brand covers all the basics in womenswear and menswear. Armedangels’ quality and long-lasting pieces are made from lower-impact and certified materials, like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton. The brand also adopted the Fair Wear Foundation Code of Conduct to protect its workers abroad.

Its products are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Armedangels.

Shop Armedangels @ Shop Like You Give a Damn.

éclipse

Rated: Great

Sun Sleeves – Ships internationally from the US

éclipse creates climate control UPF 50+ clothing essentials and accessories to help keep the whole family sunsafe. It manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint, and its entire product range is vegan-friendly.

Products are stocked in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop éclipse.

Shop éclipse @ Shop Like You Give a Damn.

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

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 and beauty brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

We updated this article on 2 January 2026. Our editors frequently make updates to articles to ensure they’re up to date. We refreshed our selection to ensure we’ve got top picks from brands with recent ratings.

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