Sustainability Meets Style with Circular Economy Luxury Sportswear
Everyday, we hear more and more about the irreparable damage that humans are doing to the planet. The realities of climate change are becoming scarier with every news article we read. It leaves us wondering what we can possibly do to combat the current state of our planet.
The fashion industry has one of the largest effects on climate change as a result of greenhouse emissions and the use of unsustainable materials. That’s what makes sustainable fashion so important. One of the ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint is by spending our money on products that are sustainable, efficient, and that use recycled materials.
Therefore, we’ve curated some of the most energy efficient (and stylish) luxury sportswear brands that represent that the fashion industry is taking strides in becoming more circular. These companies remind us that sportswear doesn’t have to compromise style for sustainability.
1. Sundried Activewear:
According to Sundried–an active sportswear company focused on sustainable fashion–275,000 tonnes of plastic are used each year in the UK, which is about 15 million bottles per day. That why as Sundried, their ethos surrounds “leaving the planet in a better state than how it was found.” In order to achieve this goal, Sundried has created ethical activewear that is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Three plastic water bottles go into each piece of their recycled collection, such as the women’s training vest (£35) and men’s gym shorts (£50).
But the sustainable products don’t just stop there; they also have a line called Eco Charge which boasts recycled activewear made from bottles and recycled coffee grounds. And these products aren’t only sustainable; they claim to be “fast-drying, sweat-wicking, and de-odorising” which means they aren’t compromising their effectiveness for the sake of sustainability. The fast-drying qualities of the Sundried products are quite innovative, in that they don’t need to be tumble dried and dry fast enough that they can be used soon after washing. Another element they aren’t compromising on is style. The Sundried recycled collections manage to maintain a chic and modern look that any fitness enthusiast will gravitate towards. The designs are fitted and conform to your body so you can feel comfortable being as active as possible.
Our Star Buy: Sundried Piz Ela Sports Bra (£40)
This sports bra is our Star Buy because it is truly astounding in the fact that it’s made from 100% plastic water bottles, yet it manages to be breathable and lightweight. It boasts having sweat-wicking, multi-way stretch, and temperature control, and its high neck gives support and a “locked-in feeling”, perfect for those especially active gym days. The neon red trim is detailed and eye-catching and the racerback style will make you want to sport it with nothing but your confidence.
2. Form:
Form is a UK based retailer of carbon negative, sustainable yoga mats. They seek to make “sustainable thinking the standard, not the exception,” with the aim of “taking more carbon out of the atmosphere than we put into it.” The company is known for their beautiful carbon-negative yoga mats that are made out of completely recycled materials. They boast their mats being made out of the best quality materials, giving the mat user an efficient and comfortable experience that is slip-free as a result of the high-performance, grippable materials, as well as it being alignment improving. And again, the style is not compromised by the attention to sustainability.
Their newest line, The Pro Collection, is nature themed, with images of the cosmos, galaxies, snow, and water, and they are just as a dreamy as you’d imagine; the purples, blues, and greens will certainly propel you into a state of serenity as you’re stretching and downward-facing-dog-ing. Form has recently introduced a circular-shaped mat, which they claim “shows positive effects on the human mind, with circles shown to help increase focus and evoke feelings of completeness – ideal for those practicing yoga and meditation.” The price of this sustainable fashion ranges from £59 to £84.
Our Star Buy: Spring – Pro Round Mat (£79)
This gorgeous yoga mat with its detailed image of greens will catapult you into a state of serenity. Why chose this particular design? According to Form, “Spring invites you to take on a new perspective by zooming into details that we may often miss in our everyday lives. By taking a moment to acknowledge our surroundings we can become more mindful, improving the quality of our lives.” Form is proudly presenting their new–and quite unique– round mats, that they claim helps you create your own space and improve your focus. The mat is recyclable, carbon negative and made from durable recycled material, and simultaneously helps with gripping and alignment, and is portable and machine washable.
3. H&M: Conscious
The well-known high street Swedish fashion retailer, H&M, released their very first line of sustainable fashion in 2016, called Conscious, and it includes a wide range of sportswear to choose from. According to H&M, the collection is made from organic and recycled materials, and the exclusive seeks to “prove that there’s no contradiction in loving beautiful clothing and living a sustainable life.” Their goal is to offer 100% sustainable clothing, and to create a “closed loop for textiles in which unwanted clothes can be reused or recycled into new treasures, with the ultimate goal that by 2030 all of its products will be made of more sustainable or recycled materials.”
Some of the sportswear includes Yoga Tights (£19.99), Shaping Waist Tights (£24.99), a Running Hat (£8.99), and more. And, just as H&M always is, this line is sleek and simple, offering buyers products that they know will be comfortable and reliable, while simultaneously allowing them to sleep well knowing they are doing their part by giving their money to the circular economy fashion market.
Our Star Buy: The Running Top (£17.99)
The Running Top is simple and sleek with its basic long sleeve cut and rounded hem, and is offered in the colours Petrol and Black/Light Pink. H&M claims that the fabric is fast-drying (which makes washing and wearing it a breeze) and includes recycled polyester and ventilating mesh sections.
4. Protest:
Protest is a luxury sportswear brand based in the Netherlands that offers anything sportswear you can think of– fleeces, bikinis, bags, hats, and even thermo underwear, all of which are available for women, men, and kids. Their mission is to end stigmas surrounding snowboarding and to make activewear available for all people – especially those living in Holland, which they deem to be home to “exactly five hills and fourteen waves.” AKA, one of the flattest place in the world.
However, what makes Protest distinct is their desire to incorporate eco-friendly materials and fabrics into their pieces, without compromising style or function. GeoGreen is their label that is the most heavily focused on circular fashion, the products all being made from recycled products or sustainable fabrics. Indeed, their focus on sustainability does not compromise their dedication to fashion and style; Protest makes products for the more “fashion focused”, and they offer three families of colours: winter berry, sky blue, and grass green.
Our Star Buy: The Sloane Jacket (£179.99)
Not only is it our Star Buy, but Protest, themselves, are quite fond of the the Sloane jacket, as well. They claim that it is was “made from biodegradable bamboo-blend with mechanical stretch and waterproof breathable hydrophilic lamination.” According to Protest, bamboo is “a sustainable resource which is also moisture wicking, breathable and stretchy.” This particular jacket comes in “True Black” and “Concrete”– the Concrete is a gorgeous navy blue colour with a coral coloured zipper. They call is the must have piece of the year.
Research and writing by Cassidy Anthony. Cassidy is studying for an MA in Journalism at Kingston University, London.