Image: Girlfriend Collective
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The Best SUSTAINABLE SPORTS BRAS For Your WorkOuts
If you are someone who likes being active and regularly works out at home or at the gym, sports bras are essential activewear pieces you probably have in your wardrobe.
Invented in the 1970s, sports bras are designed to provide support during your workout sessions so that you can move easily and freely without feeling uncomfortable. They are incredibly useful whether you are running, hiking, playing tennis, or doing yoga.
Sports bras are so comfortable that many women also wear them for running errands or lounging around their homes. They are a lot more enjoyable to wear compared to traditional lingerie bras, which is partly why they have become so popular.
However, most sports bras are made from virgin synthetic fabrics, usually polyester or nylon. Both of these are very practical because they are elastic and have moisture-wicking properties, which is ideal for working out. But they are also among the most unsustainable fabrics we can find.
If you are trying to live a more eco-friendly and conscious lifestyle, it does not mean you need to stop wearing sports bras altogether.
In this article, you will learn about 11 ethical brands selling sustainably made sports bras that are both comfortable and supportive.
WHAT MAKES A SPORTS BRA SUSTAINABLE?
A sustainable sports bra is always durable and made to last. It is an essential factor because you need to wash it regularly, after every workout session, so it should be designed to stand the test of time.
An eco-friendly sports bra is also made by a brand committed to the well-being of the workers in its supply chain. Workers should be paid a fair living wage and work under ethical conditions in a safe environment.
The brand also needs to be transparent about where and how it produces its products, and use sustainable fabrics and non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes to make its sports bras. It is even better if the fabric is certified Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which means that it is free of harmful chemicals.
Finally, make sure that the sports bra fits you, is comfortable, and provides the support and coverage you need. That way, you will be more likely to use it for a long time, making it even more sustainable.
WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY FABRICS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?
Most brands selling sustainable sports bras make them out of recycled polyester or recycled nylon. Both are sustainable fabrics as they are produced by turning plastic waste into new products. However, they are not ideal because they can still shed microplastics in the wash.
You can also choose sports bras made of natural fabrics, like organic cotton or responsibly-sourced bamboo fabric. These will usually be mixed with a bit of spandex for stretch though, but they are still great sustainable options.
OUR TOP PICKS FOR SUSTAINABLE, COMFORTABLE & SUPPORTIVE SPORTS BRAS:
1. PAKA
Materials: Royal Alpaca, Tencel, Organic Cotton
Price: $35
Sizes: XS-XXL
Founded in Peru, PAKA has created a natural, sustainable clothing line for those who love the outdoors.
They believe using eco-friendly materials like their super soft Royal Alpaca can connect consumers more to nature and sustainably support small communities.
Their products are fully traceable from the fiber source, each product features a QR that shows the consumer the farm where the fiber was harvested.
Even the dyes are environmentally friendly (OEKO-TEX & GOTS certified), and the packaging is biodegradable.
We love that PAKA is a certified B-Corp that works hard to create a better, sustainable future for the fashion industry!
Their Alpaca Bralette is lightweight and super soft, and anti-microbial & odor-resistant. You can find it in four beautiful colors: Forage (pictured), Black, Quail and Birch.
2. tentree
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Elastane
Price: $27-48
Sizes: XS-XL
tentree sells all kinds of clothes for women, men and children, all made under fair and safe working conditions and using only recycled and sustainably sourced materials.
Its InMotion collection has a couple of classic sports bras, available in different colors. Their fabric is very soft and made from recycled polyester in a closed-loop system that recycles post-consumer garments.
tentree’s Double Scoop bra features scooped front and back necklines and an encased elastic hem. We also recommend the InMotion Mesh Insert bra top, which has a racerback construction with cool mesh details and a scooped front neckline.
The brand is very transparent about its carbon footprint at every stage of its supply chain, and it ships its products in 100% recycled plastic mailers.
tentree is also climate-neutral certified and a Certified B Corporation, and it plants 10 trees for every purchase. So far, it has planted more than 81 million trees!
3. Boody
Materials: Bamboo Viscose, Nylon, Organic Cotton
Price: $46-50
Sizes: XS-XL
Boody sells sustainably produced, comfy clothing essentials all made with bamboo. The brand has two sports bras, both of which provide medium support and removable padding.
They are made of viscose derived from organically-grown bamboo, but the Active Longline bra also contains a bit of organic cotton.
The bamboo Boody uses is produced without fertilizers, pesticides or artificial irrigation, and it comes from FSC-certified forests. It is grown using rainwater and all the water used is recycled and reused.
The fabric also has thermo-regulating properties, and it is soft, breathable and odor-resistant. Exactly what we need when wearing a sports bra!
Boody is a B Corp certified business and it only works with factories that are Fair Trade certified. The factories use innovative computer knitting machines to create the garments, thus minimizing fabric wastage.
The brand also supports non-profit organizations helping victims of domestic violence and aiming to eliminate malaria in South Africa.
4. Patagonia
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Recycled Nylon, Polyester, Nylon, Spandex
Price: $49-69
Sizes: XS-XL
Patagonia is a sustainable fashion brand selling outdoor gear and clothes for women, men, children, and babies. It makes everything with comfort, performance, and the planet in mind.
The company has several sports bras, each of which has a different style and cut.
You can choose between bras featuring a racerback construction, cross-back straps, or a crossover front design.
Patagonia’s sports bras are also sold in different solid colors and patterns. From low to high-impact activities, they provide the support you need whether you are at the gym, hiking, or doing yoga.
All of them are made of recycled polyester produced from plastic water bottles. The Cross Beta sports bra also contains recycled nylon made using post-industrial waste fiber, fishing nets, and leftover material from weaving mills.
The brand is extremely transparent about where its clothing is made. For instance, its sports bras are produced in Sri Lanka, but their fabric comes from Taiwan.
Patagonia is a certified B Corp and a California benefit corporation, and it has been a member of 1% For The Planet since 1985. It even launched a platform where you can buy used Patagonia clothing!
5. Girlfriend Collective
Materials: Recycled Plastic Bottles, Spandex
Price: $26-58
Sizes: XXS-6XL
Girlfriend Collective is an ethical activewear brand crafting workout clothes using recycled materials, like recycled plastic and fabric scraps.
It has a huge variety of sports bras designed for different types of workouts, from low to high-impact activities. You get to choose between various cuts, necklines, straps, and colors.
All the bras are made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and dyed using eco-friendly dyes. The fabric is also certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, meaning that it is free of harmful substances.
With sizes ranging from XXS to 6XL, the brand is incredibly size-inclusive! It has also taken many steps to minimize its environmental footprint. For instance, it donates the dye mud created during the dyeing process to a local pavement facility to turn it into roads and sidewalks.
All its shipping packaging is 100% recycled, and once you are done with them, you can send back your worn-out Girlfriend Collective sports bras and the company will recycle them into new clothing.
6. Silverwind
Materials: RPET, Recycled Plastic Bottles
Price: $27-54
Sizes: XS-6XL
We love finding more ethically-minded brands with larger size runs, and the prints at Silverwind (a UK-based brand) are absolutely beautiful!
From butterflies to floral prints, there is something for every susty girlie!
Each sports bra is made from recycled waste, helping keep plastic out of landfills. Plus, they use 100% compostable mailers for shipping!
7. Wolven
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Spandex
Price: $30-68
Sizes: XS-XXL
Founded by artists, Wolven creates beautiful clothing featuring bold patterns inspired by nature and different cultures. So if you think solid colors are boring and love incorporating prints in your wardrobe, this brand is for you!
Its sports bras are designed in many styles and cuts. Many of them are even reversible, which means that you can wear them in up to four different ways.
Wolven makes its sports bras from recycled polyester, using between 10 and 20 discarded water bottles depending on the model. The fabric is very breathable, odor-resistant and soft to the touch, and it is made to dry quickly. It is also certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex so it is completely safe to wear, and it features a vegan suede finish.
The company is climate-neutral certified and a member of 1% For The Planet. It also partners with several organizations that help clean our oceans and waterways.
Wolven even launched a platform where you can buy pre-loved sports bras, so check if you can get one from there first!
8. Elle Evans
Materials: Recycled Nylon
Price: $55-62
Sizes: XXS-3XL
Elle Evans is a sustainable swimwear brand that also sells activewear, including two lovely sports bras. It crafts its clothes from the same fabric as its swimwear, which means that you can use the sports bras as supportive bikini tops as well.
The bras are made of 100% ECONYL® produced from recycled nylon waste reclaimed from the oceans, and they are dyed using water-based, non-toxic inks.
The Lila yoga bra is available in five colors, but if you like to regularly change your looks, you should definitely choose the Flora reversible sports bra as you can switch between print and color whenever you want.
Both bras are made to order, so they are produced only after you have purchased them, which prevents overproduction and minimizes textile waste.
Elle Evans reuses leftover scraps of fabric to turn them into frills or straps and incorporates them into its swimsuits. The brand also ships its products using a carbon-neutral service and donates 1% of all sales to Healthy Seas, which specializes in ocean conservation.
9. Threads 4 Thought
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Spandex
Price: $48-58
Sizes: XS-3XL
Threads 4 Thought designs casual clothing and activewear for women, men and children. It has a great selection of sports bras that are both supportive and stylish at the same time. They are great for high-intensity workouts as well as yoga and lounging.
They are all made from recycled plastic bottles with a bit of spandex.
The brand also offsets its entire carbon footprint, making them completely carbon-neutral!
Threads 4 Thought offers a wide range of colors and prints, with some of its sports bras sold in more than ten colors. The company dyes its clothes with Bluesign-certified dyes and uses an innovative dyeing technology that reduces water consumption by 95% and eliminates all harmful substances.
The company also sends its clothes using FSC-certified packing materials and compostable bags, and its main factory reuses and recycles 80% of all its industrial wastewater, which is one of the highest rates in the industry.
10. Yoga Democracy
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Recycled Nylon
Price: $44-62
Sizes: XS-XL
Yoga Democracy designs high-quality tops and bottoms for yogis and other sports enthusiasts. It has a large selection of sports bras that provide medium support for your workouts. They are all made from post-consumer plastic, including recycled water bottles and rescued fishing nets.
Made in the USA, the brand’s bras are available in different styles, many solid colors, as well as various prints inspired by nature and geometric patterns.
You can even get your hands on some unique designs like sports bras featuring feminist news or fun jellyfish.
The fabrics are printed using an eco-friendly, no-water dyeing process that is non-toxic and cuts down on waste. Yoga Democracy also reuses all scraps of materials created in the production process and turns them into new products.
The brand is a member of 1% For The Planet, and it donates a portion of its proceeds to a couple of non-profit organizations.
11. Wild About Collective
Materials: Recycled Nylon
Price: $99
Sizes: S-L
Wild About is a sustainable athleisure brand that turns trash into beautiful, functional clothing pieces. It sells a supportive sports bra that you can wear at the gym, when you are out and about, or simply for lounging at home. The Gold Dust bra features practical removable cups. Its buttery soft fabric is made of ECONYL®️, produced from pre- and post-industrial nylon waste like rescued finishing nets and other plastic waste found in oceans and landfills.
Wild About’s bra is designed in three different colors: you can choose between black, navy blue, and green. You will love the little gold detailing it has around the rib area and at the straps!
Committed to ethical manufacturing, the brand works with a factory that is WRAP certified and a member of SEDEX, which is one of the world’s leading ethical trade organizations.
Wild About also offsets its carbon footprint and ships its products in packaging made from 100% recycled plastic.
About the Author
Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.
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