Top Australian Activewear Brands
Australians and activewear make for a heavenly match. With comfy sportswear becoming an even bigger part of of the Australian wardrobe, it’s more important than ever to be a conscious consumer.
You might be working from home, working out from home or just looking for some activewear staples that won’t cost the planet. From recycled fabrics, ethical production to total transparency, here are the sustainable Australian activewear labels you should check out.
BAY Active
Another Byron Bay-based label, BAY Active has all your activewear, lifestyle and lounge needs sorted with their range of super comfy essentials. A small team is behind the brand, but their vision is global. A certified Ethical Clothing Australia manufacture, the brand uses only organic cotton and natural or regenerated fibres.
Boody Australia
Launched in Sydney in 2011, Boody started as an ethical underwear company and has since expanded into everyday essentials made from ethically grown bamboo. Though Boody garms are certified cruelty free and from an ethical supply chain, the brand is always looking to improve their sustainable practices. With a mission to create “everyday essentials with materials that are better for the environment than the rangethat came before,” Boody is an activewear label we can get behind.
Dharma Bums
From the energy used in their offices to that involved in the production of their garments, Dharma Bums is a yoga and activewear brand seriously committed to improving their sustainability practices. Their mission is to expand their use of bio-textile modal and biodegradable fabrics, all the while ensuring their prints are produced with minimal environmental impact. If you’re a fan of great quality prints for your daily activewear uniform, you’ll want to check this sustainable Australian brand out.
dk active
The brainchild of Danielle Kay, dk active seeks to bring ethical design and inclusive energy to the forefront of the activewear industry. Their North Brisbane HQ runs on solar power and their factory ticks all the boxes when it comes to ethical manufacturing. Promoting body positivity and empowering women is as important to the brand as sustainability is. Using fabrics that are pre-washed prior to construction means that dk active garments stay true to size. Permission to wear them all day, every day? Granted.
Elle Evans
This Aussie activewear label is all about making pieces that will go to a happy home, not to landfill. Though you’d never guess it, Elle Evans pieces are created from ‘magical regenerated nylon’ made up of dredged plastics from the ocean. What’s better than a sustainably made sports bra and leggings combo? A sports bra and leggings combo that doubles as bathers when you hit the beach, of course. Beginning as a swimwear brand before expanding into the world of activewear, Elle Evans is a label that has moved into the competitive sportswear market without compromising on its sustainable approach.
First Base
Ethically produced in China and designed in Bondi, First Base is one of the coolest activewear and lifestyle brands out of Australia right now. From using certified organic cotton and recycled nylons to releasing a monthly range of re-worked vintage pieces, First Base continues to seek better ways to reduce their environmental impact and ultimately give back, too.
Jasmine Alexa
Melbourne-born Jasmine Gescheit dreamed up Jasmine Alexa for the modern active woman whose busy lifestyle doesn’t cost the planet. Most of the label’s performance garments are made using ECONYL® regenerated nylon sourced from the sea and landfill and has the potential to be recycled infinitely. Organic cotton pieces make up part of the Jasmine Alexa range and the brand aims to make all their t-shirts and sweatshirts from this material by 2021.
NAGNATA
With high-end designs that will take you from street style to spin class and back again, it’s easy to justify the premium price tag of Nagnata activewear. Challenging the churn n’ burn cycle of fast fashion, Byron Bay’s Nagnata focuses on high-end construction with serious sartorial appeal. Sister design duo Laura and Hannah May have drawn from their backgrounds in both the fashion and fitness industry to create a place for the brand on the global market. Nagnata is taking sustainably-minded Aussie design far and wide, with their range being stocked at department stores and concept stores the world over.
Nimble Activewear
Plastic has never looked so good, thanks to best friends and Nimble Activewear founders Katie and Vera. The brand’s signature sustainable COMPRESSLITE fabric is made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. To be exact, 6 plastic bottles for a pair of leggings and 2 for a sports bra. This has meant over 300,000 bottles have been saved from a fate in landfill over the last year alone! Yeah, our minds are blown too.
Niyama Sol
Niyama Sol is a sustainable Australian activewear brand that’s equal parts dedicated to ensuring their garments are as good for the planet as they are perfect for your Instagram feed. If you’re into eye-catching designs that’ll make you a standout in any fitness class, their range of eclectic pieces are for you. Worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez – the superstar has collaborated on a range with the brand – you’re in good company when clad in Niyama Sol.
P.E. Nation
Pip Edwards’ wildly successful activewear label P.E. Nation has put Aussie athleisure wear on the map in recent years. A great label if you’re in the ‘activewear all day every day’ club, the designs are so on-trend you’ll want to wear them even if you’ve never so much as looked at a treadmill in your life.
On-trend designs aren’t always synonyms with sustainability. The brand is vocal about its journey to becoming more sustainable across all areas of business. Transparency from high-end brands is particularly important, so we’re excited to see how P.E Nation adapts to appeal to the increasingly eco-conscious consumer.
Solomon Street
Proud to be “Australia’s most Sustainable Activewear” Solomon Street is an exciting label that specialises in vibrant prints made from Australian hemp and organic cotton. Undies too! A poster child for the circular fashion movement, Solomon Street, pays homage to plants through its fruit inspired patterns, via low waste business practices. Packaging is completely compostable or reusable and totally plastic free!
Transparency is key. Owner Lauren Crago and her team believe that the customer should know at every stage what their purchase is made from, who made it, its effect on the environment. Customers also receive responsible garment care and repurposing advice for when the time comes. Sizes are from 6-16, and in some lines 6-20!
Vege Threads
Vege Threads has been a go-to for the sustainably-minded fashionista for a while now, but with the addition of their yoga range, they’ve secured an even more dedicated following. Manufacturing stays 100% within Australia, with the brand’s main factory based in Melbourne and their swimwear production coming out of South Australia. Vege Threads are members of Ethical Clothing Australia and remain transparent about everything from their supply chain to their manufacturing process.
