1 April 2025
An outfit that is always in fashion? Go for timeless basics!
- COSH! Member Publicity
- Lifestyle
Would you like to buy more sustainable sportswear and are you looking for quality brands that produce with respect for people and nature? Then we have some good tips for you. Discover sports brands that focus on better working conditions and environmentally friendlier production and shop them at a local retailer near you! This way, you can make your next workout at the gym, running session or yoga class even more enjoyable.
Why is a lot of sportswear made of polyester?
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, most sportswear is made from plastic fibres such as polyester, polyamide, recycled PET, etc. These synthetic materials are made from crude oil and therefore have a high impact on the environment. In addition, the fabrics spread microplastics when worn and washed.
However, there is a good reason why a lot of sportswear is made from this material: Synthetic fabrics are absorbent and dry quickly. In addition, they feel light and elastic, which makes them easy to move around in. Finally, polyester is shape- and colourfast and resistant to sweat.
Is there a more sustainable alternative to sportswear made from polyester?
Recycled polyester is often seen as a more sustainable alternative to new polyester. The advantage of this material is that no new petroleum is needed, which reduces the environmental impact. However, this material does also have a downside. Read more about the downsides of recycled polyester here.
At COSH we, therefore, recommend choosing natural materials as much as possible. Do you prefer sportswear made from synthetic fibres? Wash the clothes at 30° and use a GuppyFriend laundry bag. This laundry bag captures microplastics, so they don’t end up in the oceans and rivers.
Discover 10 more sustainable sports brands
1. Boldwill
Sportwear made from natural materials
Sportswear brand Boldwill consciously chooses not to use polyester for their clothing. In their collection, you will find sportswear made from natural materials such as Tencel (made from eucalyptus), organic cotton and hemp. Moreover, the clothes are produced in a more ethical way in factories in Greece and Portugal.
Want to workout in an eco-friendlier and fairer fitness outfit in the new year? Shop their sportswear for men and women at Restrived.
2. MOOV360
Sportwear made of recycled fishing nets
Are you looking for more sustainable cycling wear, a good running outfit or a tennis skirt? Then you have come to the right place at MOOV36O. This Belgian sports brand makes sportswear for men and women out of ECONYL. This material is made of recycled fishing nets and other industrial waste. The brand produces within Europe and donates 1% of their turnover to HealthySeas.
3. People Tree
More ethical sportswear made from organic cotton
The English clothing brand People Tree is a pioneer in the field of more sustainable and ethical fashion. In their activewear collection, you discover yoga tops, leggings, biker shorts and crop tops. All People Tree sportswear is made of 95% organic cotton with the Fairtrade label, completed with 5% elastane. The complete production of the clothes (from spinning the cotton to stitching the fabrics) happens in Assisi, India. This is a social enterprise in India where better working conditions are key.
Discover the yoga and workout clothes of People Tree at Harvest Club in Leuven, Het Faire Oosten in Amsterdam and Sophie Stone in Utrecht.
4. Vaude
German design, made under fairer conditions
Looking for a new outdoor outfit, cycling gear or a waterproof bag? Functionality and sustainability are key at the German brand Vaude. This way you can be sure that you can enjoy the outdoors and nature without damaging it with your clothing or gear.
Vaude is very transparent about how their products are made and which materials they choose. Together with the Fair Wear Foundation, they stand for better working conditions in their factories and therefore have a leading role in the outdoor industry. Vaude has everything you need to prepare you for your trip, whether it is for your daily bike ride to work, a hike, ski trip or mountain climbing.
You can buy the Vaude collection at their stores in Ghent and Leuven.
5. Colorful Standard
Sportswear made from recycled materials
For sports leggings, bike shorts, sports bras and tank tops in all colours of the rainbow, you must look at the brand Colorful Standard. The sports collection is made of recycled polyester in a high-quality, lightweight and very stretchy fabric, which makes the sportswear last a long time. Do you want to see the entire collection in real life? Then visit the brand flagship store of Colorful Standard in Antwerp.
6. Girlfriend Collective
Colorful, inclusive sportswear made from Econyl
With the colorful sports sets from Girlfriend Collective, you definitely steal the show in the gym or on your yoga mat. For their clothing, The brand uses recycled polyester and ECONYL, made from recycled fishing nets. The production of the sportswear takes place in Vietnam, in SA8000 certified factories. In addition, Girlfriend Collective dyes its colorful collection in an environmentally friendlier way and the fabrics have the OEKO-TEX label. This guarantees that there are no harmful substances present in the clothing.
You can shop the Girlfriend Collective collection at Sophie Stone in Utrecht and WESEN in Berlin.
7. TWOTHIRDS
Comfort for all types of exercise
Whether you are training very hard, doing yoga or surfing, at the Spanish brand TWOTHIRDS you’ll find sportswear that is made for all types of exercise. The sportswear is multifunctional – even the sports leggings are made so that you can do sports in them, but you also could go surfing. The brand uses different materials for their sports collection: choose from recycled polyester or organic cotton.
8. Maison Poulain
High quality, locally made cycling clothing from Belgium
Are you looking for an alternative to mass production and low quality in cycling clothing? Then you have come to the right place at the Belgian brand Maison Poulain. They work with the slow-fashion principles: minimalist design, timeless colours and small collections. The cycling clothing is made in local workshops in Belgium, so you can be sure that your cycling clothing is made in a more ethical way.
9. Wellicious
High-quality yoga clothing with a circular design
Start the new year consciously by doing more exercise. Whether you are going to train hard or want to make your body more flexible, more exercise is always good for body and mind. We would like to introduce the yogis to a German yoga brand where sustainability, circular design and a yoga lifestyle come together: Wellicious. This brand makes biodegradable, according to the Cradle-to-Cradle Gold certificate, yoga clothing from natural fabrics such as organic cotton. The production of the yoga leggings, tops and bras takes place in Europe.
10. ARMEDANGELS
Minimalist and comfortable sportswear
You probably know the German brand ARMEDANGELS from the high-quality, timeless and affordable jeans or the minimalist and trendy clothing. But did you also know that they have an activewear collection? From sports leggings that are long, short, tight or flared to comfortable sports tops and bras made of recycled polyester. They also have cool sports socks and baseball caps in the collection to complete your sports outfit.
You can shop for ARMEDANGELS sportswear at various stores in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Discover here the nearest stores you can visit.
