Sweat ethically: 5 activewear brands for all values.

Updated: February 2023

Struggling to find gear to feel good sweating in?

Here are 5 ethical activewear brands to cover you for all the activities.

Sweat your values.

There's something for almost every ethical wardrobe value in this line up - each one of these brands has something different to offer, from organic materials to supporting social programs and recycling plastic bottles into fabric.

For the ORGANIC Yogi: Vege Threads

I feel like I don't even need to introduce Australian brand Vege Threads, but I also couldn't leave them off this list.

Vege Threads gear their organic active range towards the yogi, using 92% organic cotton blended with lycra, all ethically made in Australia. Their whole collection is so versatile though I feel like you could wear almost any of it and yoga/ lounge/ drink coffee/ do all the life things.

If, like me, you prefer natural fibres everywhere in your life, Vege Threads is where it's at.

Ethically made, organic lounge and activewear by Vege Threads. Image via VT

For lunges to lounging: Boody bamboo basics

Expanding on their range of organic bamboo underwear and basics, Australian label Boody has an active wear range to see you from sofa to squats.

Bamboo is great as it's naturally antibacterial meaning sweaty odours won't linger. It's so soft too! Their active range is made using FSC-certified organic bamboo from China, blended with nylon and elastane. And they also do super-soft bamboo socks! My go-to are their invisible socks.

Australian label Boody champion antibacterial bamboo fabric with their range of underwear, basics and active wear.

Pictured: Motivate 8" High-Waist Shorts, via Boody.

For the Sisterhood: Girlfriend Collective

You may have heard of Girlfriend Collective when they caused a bit of a stir offering their first range of recycled-plastic-bottle leggings FREE - you just had to pay the shipping.

These guys are just going from strength to strength, now offering a huge range of activewear, underwear, even bags and shoes! They pride themselves on size inclusivity too, ranging from XXS to 6XL, and also have a take-back program, pledging to recycle your worn-our Girlfriend garms.

They go into great depth about their recycled polyester fabric (sourced from Taiwan) and making process, truly embracing transparency.

Girlfriend Collective have expanded their range of recycled-fabric activewear. Image via Girlfriend Collective

For the all-rounder: BAY Active

BAY Active comes from a small team based in Byron Bay, Australia, with their locally-made range of active wear.

They cover the basics, yoga gear and active wear - all made using GOTS certified organic cotton, Australian Merino, bamboo and the highest quality regenerated fabrics.

BAY Active use natural and regenerated fabrics. Image via BAY Active

For the rain-won’t-stop-me: amble outdoors

Formerly Team Timbuktu, Amble’s hero product is their waterproof, windproof and breathable jacket, made for those of us who like to get out and active in any weather.

They make all their jackets and their capsule range of active wear using recycled materials with a “buttery-soft” texture.

Amble’s signature recycled-fabric, waterproof jacket. Image via Amble.

Header image via Vege Threads. This post contains affiliate links, and through buying via these links you help support the ongoing work of Shift - thank you!