10 Affordable & Sustainable Activewear Brands
These ethical activewear brands use recycled materials and fair labor. You’ll find pieces in a range of budgets, including some price points that aren’t that much higher than mainstream brands.
When possible, I’ll include my personal experience with the brand as a sustainable fashion blogger and marathoner.
What Makes Activewear Ethical and Sustainable?
Before we dive into the brands, it’s important to clarify my criteria for making this list. Here are the main characteristics of sustainable activewear.
Recycled materials
Because activewear usually needs to be moisture-wicking, most pieces are made from synthetic fibers. Unfortunately, these synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon shed microplastics into our water and take hundreds of years to decompose.
Recycled synthetics like rPET (recycled plastic bottles) or ECONYL (recycled nylon) at least reduce demand for virgin synthetics.
Fair labor
One of the most overlooked aspects of sustainability is responsible manufacturing. Check to see if the brands trace their supply chain and ensure safe conditions for their workers, including fair wages.
Circularity
Because activewear is often synthetic, it’s important for brands to have an end-of-life plan for their pieces. Some brands will offer recycling programs where they make new pieces from worn ones, resell the items that are still in good condition, or host used gear swaps.
Ethical, Sustainable, and Affordable Activewear Brands
1. Secondhand activewear
Activewear lasts years and years, and you can find great deals on secondhand pieces. Since they’re used, they’re automatically more sustainable.
I recommend searching on apps like Poshmark and Mercari for specific brands (get $10 off your first purchase with my referral links). I also like ThredUP, an online thrift marketplace (get 40% off your first purchase + free shipping with my referral link). I’ve gotten plenty of secondhand pieces this way from more premium activewear brans.
Some brands to look out for secondhand include the brands on this list, as well as any mainstream brand that you’ve used before and love.
2. Janji
Pricing: $$
Size range: S-XL
Country: US
This small Boston brand gives 2% back to clean water, and uses recycled materials in many of their products (their goal is 100% primary recycled yarns by end of 2025). Their items ship in paper envelopes to reduce plastic usage.
I fell in love with their running pants this past year; they’re comfortable enough for everyday wear and technical enough for road and trail running. Their bike shorts also have silicone grippers on the hem so they don’t ride up; the only thing I’d change is the angle of the pockets since they open from the back rather than the top.
If you join the Janji Collective (a membership program), you can also get access to members-only gear swaps.
3. tentree
Pricing: $-$$
Size range: XS-XXL
Country: Canada
Tentree is a Canadian brand that plants 10 native trees for every purchase made. You can scan the QR code on the back of item tags to see where the trees are being planted.
Their activewear is made from recycled materials and is extremely comfortable—I particularly like the bike shorts I’ve gotten from them. Tentree lists their factories on their site, including their certifications, last year audited, and their social compliance programs.
Tentree also has a take-back program where you can send in your worn items for credit. You can also buy preloved pieces on their Treet website.
While the retail price of tentree’s products is pretty standard for a sustainable brand (on the higher side in general), they have great sales. I’ve been able to get sports bras and bike shorts for under $30. See my full tentree review for more info.
4. Yes Friends
Pricing: $
Size range: XS-XL
Country: UK
Yes Friends offers some of the most affordable and versatile basics. While they’re known for their everyday wear, they expanded to activewear in 2025. They offer a simple lineup of recycled t-shirts, shorts, and leggings.
The brand manufactures in Fairtrade and GOTS-certified factories in India, and they pay a fair wage. Their main factory gets 50% of its energy from solar power.
I haven’t tried their activewear yet, but I have an organic cotton t-shirt of theirs, and it’s super comfortable and high-quality.
5. Wolven
Pricing: $$
Size range: XS-XL
Country: US
Wolven has colorful and geometric print activewear inspired by South Asian patterns (the business is South Asian and woman-owned). Their clothing is made from rPET, or recycled plastic bottles, and the texture is a unique vegan suede. Even better, a lot of Wolven’s activewear is reversible.
I have a sports bra and bike shorts, and the bike shorts are some of my favorites; they don’t ride up and don’t show sweat even though they’re a lighter color.
Wolven pieces are sewn primarily in China and import shipments are carbon offset. Their Chinese manufacturer is audited by Intertek’s Workplace Conditions Assessment, and it scored 87% overall across the categories of labor, wages & hours, health & safety, management systems, and environment.
6. Girlfriend Collective
Pricing: $-$$
Size range: XS-6XL
Country: Canada
You’ll love Girlfriend Collective’s bright colors, sustainable practices, and size inclusivity.
Their activewear is made from post-consumer recycled bottles in an SA8000-certified factory. This certification ensures fair wages, safe conditions, and no forced or child labor. The company also has a recycling program for their clothing.
Sizing runs from XS-6XL, though I’ve personally found their bras to be too compressive (at least the Dylan sports bra). Make sure to check the reviews for more details on sizing. Despite that, Girlfriend still has a more inclusive size range, and they feature a diverse set of models in terms of size and ethnicity. The brand itself is also Asian-owned.
Keep an eye out for sales and for used GFC pieces on their pre-loved platform, as well as on secondhand apps.
7. Boody
Pricing: $
Size range: XS-XL (2XL-4XL in some styles/colors)
Country: Australia and worldwide
Boody is an Australian brand available almost worldwide. They’re known for their affordable basics made from closed-loop bamboo viscose.
Their clothing is made in a WRAP-Certified factory, so they’re manufactured responsibly. The fabrics are also Oeko-Tex certified.
I’ve tried their active pocket leggings, which are perfect for both exercise and everyday wear, as the bamboo viscose feels more breathable than synthetics but still somewhat moisture-wicking. They no longer make the pocket ones specifically, but they still offer regular leggings, gender-neutral sweatshorts, and sports bras.
8. Pact
Pricing: $
Size range: XS-XXL
Country: US
Pact offers organic cotton activewear, including leggings, crop tanks, and sweats.
I have their pocket leggings, and I appreciate how they’re more breathable and comfy than synthetic leggings. That said, their durability isn’t as good and I have to replace them more often than synthetic options due to wear and tear on the organic cotton.
Pact’s pieces are sewn in a Fair Trade factory, their cotton is GOTS-certified, and they emit net zero carbon emissions after offsets.
9. MATE the Label
Pricing: $$
Size range: XS-3X
Country: US
MATE the Label has activewear made from GOTS-certified organic cotton. You can choose from neutral tones and a more inclusive size range. Just keep in mind that cotton pieces are less moisture-wicking and may show sweat (if you buy lighter colors).
MATE traces their most of their supply chain, with their cotton being grown in India and the majority of their pieces being dyed, cut, and sewn within 10 miles of headquarters in Los Angeles. They visit their local suppliers regularly, though I’d like to see more info about wages.
Once your MATE pieces are worn thin, they’ll take them back to be recycled into new pieces. They also turn their fabric scraps into new clothing.
Finally, MATE the Label has some impressive certifications. They’re B Corp and also Certified Climate Neutral.
10. TomboyX
Pricing: $
Size range: XS-6X
Country: US
If you’re looking for gender-neutral activewear, TomboyX features compression tops, sports bras, sweats, and shorts.
The company is queer-founded, majority female-led, and 1/3 BIPOC and LGBTQ+. They’re B-Corp certified, meaning they meet high standards for environmental impact and fair labor.
Let us know if you’ve tried any of these brands and if we should add any to the list!
