If you are an active athlete, a workout enthusiast, or simply someone who wants to stay healthy with proper diet and exercise, you will likely be looking for activewear one time or another. Wearing the right clothes while working out is not just a matter of fashion, but also comfort and safety to prevent injuries when doing specific exercises. That said, the fitness industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, causing the activewear market to grow just as significantly.
With more people hitting the gym and the athleisure trend staying strong, activewear companies are now putting their focus on sustainability. You may have noticed recycled plastic activewear and similar products popping up in the market lately as companies realize that eco-friendly is now the way to go. The fashion industry has often been linked to a large percentage of waste generated each year, so consumers are now becoming more selective about the brands they purchase from.
Sustainable activewear is perhaps one of the biggest trends nowadays, and it is not going anywhere anytime soon. Wondering how companies are incorporating this into their products? Here are some of the top and most common eco-friendly materials you may find in activewear today!
Econyl
If you love shopping for clothes, you may have heard the term econyl pop up a few times while browsing through your options. Econyl is essentially a combination of the words “eco” and “nylon” as it refers to an alternative to nylon that is made from recycling industrial wastes like ocean fishing nets. It has the same quality and works just as effectively as traditional nylon, easily making the material a favourite for top fashion brands, and activewear brands are no exception.
Recycled Materials
Oceanic plastic pollution is a critical issue, so activewear companies are doing their part in mitigating its spread by reusing the plastic to make recycled plastic activewear. Water bottles are some of the most common types of recycled plastics used as they are extremely prevalent in every part of the world. Over the years, Repreve has emerged as a top-performing quality fibre made out of recycled water bottles.
Recycled polyester has also made its way to activewear products, given that polyester is suitable for clothing used for running. The problem with traditional polyester is that it is synthetic and can shed tons of microplasticfibres throughout its lifetime, contributing gravely to environmental degradation. Recycled polyester thus aims to eliminate this issue by reusing materials from the circular economy.
Organic Cotton
Cotton may not be as commonly used as nylon, polyester, or spandex for activewear, but it is used nonetheless, specifically in clothing pieces like leggings and yoga gear. Traditional cotton can be unsustainable due to the amount of chemicals and water that go into the production process. To remedy this problem, activewear companies make use of organic cotton, which is just as comfortable as regular cotton but produced with more ethical procedures–ones that reduce the use of toxic chemicals and limit waste generated.
Sustainability may be termed a “trend” in the activewear industry, but in reality, it is not merely a passing hype that will die down after some time. With the growing global consciousness for environmental protection, it is clear that sustainable activewear is here to stay and will likely be a redefining point for activewear companies.
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