A growing list of our favourite Australian activewear labels
Bend and stretch.
Unlike other categories of clothing and fashion, where you can usually find secondhand gems to cover all of your needs and desires, activewear is slightly more complicated. The right fit, performability, breathability and durability are integral to any purchase, and unfortunately, old-school fabrics and materials lack the technology and the elasticity that a new pair of tights can provide.
Lately, activewear has garnered a bit of a bad wrap, as it often relies heavily on synthetic fibres to be created, such as polyester and nylon, which are derived from oil, and require an enormous amount of energy to produce. But we all need at least some activewear to stay active, right?
Kickstart your wellness journey over at our Health section.
Never fear, because there are so plenty of Australian-owned activewear labels that use technologically advanced, recycled, repurposed fabric and materials to create tights and sports bras that are built to last years, not seasons – and they look damn good, too.
Hara The Label
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Not only does Hara The Label make comfortable, sustainable underwear, but it also designs activewear. Its matching organic, breathable bamboo bike shorts and sports bras in earthy tones make for the perfect yoga outfit. Hara makes a conscious effort to reuse as many offcuts as possible to minimise textile waste, as well as low-impact non-toxic dyes across its entire range.
Nagnata
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Nagnata is known for creating considered, comfortable and technically designed activewear since 2017. The label’s sustainable approach goes beyond the production process – it’s been challenging industry standards across the board. Inclusivity, diversity, community and honesty are at the core of everything the label creates. To top it off, Nagnata’s founding mantra, ‘movements not seasons’, actively opposes the ever-increasing speed of the fast fashion cycle.
Aje Athletica
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Aje Athletica is the activewear offshoot of Australian womenswear’s label, Aje. Made for movement, the collection is comprised of colourful two-piece sets, comfy tracksuits and sturdy outerwear. Appointing its first-ever Sustainability Officer in 2022, Aje works to design with consideration through its Aje Aware program.
Nimble
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Founded by high school best friends Vera and Katia, Nimble has been a go-to activewear label for women across the country since 2013. Sustainability has always been of high importance to Nimble, and the label has succeeded at making activewear that not only inspires movement but puts the planet first. Nimble’s signature fabric, MoveLite, is made from recycled plastic bottles, meaning that every garment saves multiple plastic bottles from landfills and our waterways.
Active Truth
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Founded by neighbours-turned-friends Stevie and Nadia, Active Truth was born out of a need for activewear that was built for bodies of all shapes and sizes, including pregnant women. This label is not only size-inclusive but is actively working towards a more sustainable future.
Paire
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Paire is the project of long-time best friends Rex and Nathan. Combining Rex’s experience in fabric technology and Nathan’s knowledge in sustainability, Paire is a comfortable, functional and sustainable approach to activewear. The labels uses innovative material, including Supreme CoolBlend, NudeTech and RegSilk to create breathable, sweat-wicking pieces.
The Upside
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While splitting her time between Bali, New York and Sydney, The Upside founder Jodhi Meares began to notice the power of contemporary, functional activewear. Made for yoga enthusiasts, avid runners and hot-girl walkers alike, The Upside’s range of thoughtfully made athleisurewear is designed to move with you. Adopting an ‘anti-fast fashion’ approach, the label utilises recycled yarns and biodegradable packaging.
Amble Outdoors
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Amble Outdoors’ founder Rihanna Knight is a keen hiker and launched her own label because she couldn’t find outdoor wear that reflected her passion for sustainability, without compromising on style or performance.
Since its inception, the label has evolved from using 50 per cent recycled materials to 100 per cent recycled fabrics on a number of its garments. To top it off, 1,050,162 bottles have been recycled into its fabrics since the brand began.
Boody
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Boody does it all – this activewear and basics label is good for you, good for the planet and ethically made. Boody is serious about sustainability and uses production processes that are made to minimise fabric waste, organic bamboo free of pesky pesticides, and to top it off, it uses rainwater to grow its bamboo. Since 2016, Boody has been creating quality, affordable and comfortable pieces that are built better to last longer.
Dharma Bums
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Everything Dharma Bums makes is made to last, using a range of sustainable fabrics and eco-friendly printing methods to create bold designs that stand out for all the right reasons. Dharma Bums’ designs are made using up to 60 per cent recycled materials as well as technologically advanced fabrics such as Lenzing modal, a material made from sustainable raw beechwood, that is certified compostable and biodegradable.
Pinky and Kamal
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Australian label Pinky and Kamal makes activewear designed to live beyond the walls of the gym. Many of its pieces are made with responsible yarns and low-impact dyeing processes, and the label ultimately prioritises creating pieces that last.
Avila
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Avila is an ethical, sustainable activewear label that creates sleek, minimal pieces for all shapes and sizes. By limiting fabric wastage from the sampling stage through to production and repurposing and reusing offcuts to make smaller items such as bags and scrunchies, Avila makes a conscious effort to be as sustainable as possible. The label uses the highest quality eco-friendly and low-impact fibres wherever possible to create classic, durable pieces that will last.
Dk Active
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Dk Active is an Australian-designed-and-made inclusive activewear label. Whatever you wear activewear for – runs, HIIT workouts, yoga, or just around the house, this label has got you covered. Using fabrics such as regenerated nylon, organic bamboo and modal across its range to increase its sustainability efforts, as well as taking measures such as only using 100 per cent carbon offset delivery partners, are just some of the ways the label is making a conscious effort to minimise its carbon footprint.
For tips on washing your activewear, try this.
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