Our activewear is doing us dirty - and not just in the laundry. While we often focus on what we put into our bodies - nourishing food, supplements, filtered water, working up a sweat for our health - our synthetic activewear could be releasing a cocktail of chemicals straight into our skin.

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We're a family run business that started with a passion for reducing plastic in our everyday lives. As a result, we're always on the look out for natural, non-toxic and plastic-free alternatives in all areas of life, which we love sharing with you here.

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Let's get back to plastic-free activewear...

Let's GO!

Yes it's time to sweat the small stuff! Microplastics!

Turns out, polyester, nylon, and spandex aren’t just clingy—they’re full of endocrine-disrupting compounds like phthalates, BPA derivatives, and PFAS (aka "forever chemicals") that love to hitch a ride into your body via sweat and open pores.

A 2023 study from the University of Birmingham found that sweat can actually leach harmful additives from synthetic fibres, making them more bioavailable for our skin to absorb. Turns out the the oil in our sweat acts like a chemical taxi service. Over time, repeated exposure may impact everything from hormone balance and fertility to skin irritation, thyroid issues, and neurological function.

It also doesn’t workout (ahem!) too well for the environment either, with every laundry cycle containing plastic-based clothing (yes, that’s most activewear!) releasing microplastics into our waterways, impacting marine life and even sneaking back into our food chain. 

But there is a better way to move. Choosing activewear made from natural fibres like hemp, organic cotton, merino wool, or TENCEL™ means less exposure to toxic chemicals, less plastic pollution, and way more comfort without compromise. These fabrics are naturally breathable, biodegradable, and often antibacterial—meaning fewer smells, fewer washes, and zero sketchy side effects.

Bottom line? Natural fibre activewear isn’t just a “crunchy” lifestyle trend—it’s a glow-up for your skin, hormones, and the planet. Let's sweat smarter.

Does Plastic-Free Activewear Exist?

In short… yes! Some brands are even 100% plastic-free. But if you want a little stretch in your leggings, then expect to find a small percentage of elastane also known as spandex or Lycra ™ although some brands we've featured below use natural rubber instead.

Whilst elastane is synthetic, choosing items with a small percentage is better than an entire workout kit of plastic based materials.

What About Recycled Polyester?

It’s the worst! Recycled polyester fibres have be shown to breakdown more easily and release even more chemicals onto and into our bodies, especially when sweating.

Which Natural Fabrics Are Best for Activewear

• Merino Wool: Lightweight, moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating, naturally odor-resistant.

• Organic Cotton: Soft, breathable, and free from harmful pesticides and dyes.

• Hemp: Durable, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial.

• Bamboo (if sourced sustainably): Soft, breathable, but check for responsible processing methods.

• TENCEL™: produced by Lenzing, sustainably made from wood pulp using a closed-loop system, silky-soft, breathable, moisture-wicking, and compostable.

The Benefits of Natural Fabrics for Activewear

• Breathability & Moisture-Wicking: Merino wool, hemp and organic cotton regulate temperature and wick sweat naturally.

• Skin-Friendly & Hypoallergenic: Fewer chemicals mean less irritation and better for sensitive skin.

• Biodegradability & Sustainability: Natural fibers break down in the environment, unlike synthetics.

• Odour Resistance: Wool and hemp in particular, have natural antibacterial properties, reducing the need for frequent washing.

The Best Natural Fibre and Plastic-Free Activewear Brands For Everyone

Looking for plastic-free activewear? We've compiled the best natural fibre sportswear around. Let's jump in!

Wellicious

London born brand, Wellicious makes long lasting yoga clothing and activewear from GOTS certified organic cotton and compostable elastane which breaks-down without releasing any harmful substances into the environment and tested by Hohenstein. They are Cradle to Cradle certified for material health, avoiding harmful toxins and additives with no trace of microplastics.

Their organic cotton is sourced from Peru and everything else is made in Europe, including labels, thread and fabrics. Despite their activewear being very long lasting, Wellicious do have a take-back system to help customers dispose of their worn out clothes when they do eventually come to the end of their useful life. 

Wellicious discount code: KATEARNELL

Zone by Lydia

Their natural fibre activewear is made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton with only 5% elastane in some pieces for added stretch and resilience needed not only for yoga but also great for movement-heavy workouts - all without the chemical overload. Hemp is a bit of a wonder-fabric: it’s naturally antibacterial, odour-resistant, breathable, hypoallergenic, and even helps regulate body temperature. 

Zone’s dyes are Oeko-Tex 100 certified and low-impact, meaning they’re gentler on your skin and safer for waterways. Everything is delivered in plastic-free, compostable packaging, including their yoga mats which are made from natural rubber and cork, not synthetic foams!

Founded by Olympic gold medallist Lydia Lassila, Zone by Lydia is all about combining high performance with ethical production. She personally vets suppliers to ensure fair practices, and even offers free online yoga classes to support your flow on and off the mat.

Zone by Lydia discount code: KATE_ARNELL

Zubek

Zubek is a sustainable clothing brand created by two sisters who recently launched their plastic-free, non-toxic activewear made from PYRATEX® SeaCell - a unique moisture-wicking fabric made by blending responsibly harvested North-Atlantic seaweed (such as kelp) with sustainably sourced wood‑pulp cellulose via a closed‑loop process with zero chemical additives. The result is a skin‑friendly, biodegradable fibre that is said to retain the minerals, antioxidants and vitamins of seaweed even after multiple washes.

Elastic is made from biodegradable natural rubberEven the stitching is 100% cotton. Any padding is made from wool instead of synthetica foam and all Zubek pieces are made ethically in Poland.

Zubek discount code: KATE10

Community Clothing

Community clothing makes colourful 100% plastic-free sportswear from organic cotton (and natural rubber for elastic waistbands) with an 80s vibe.

All pieces from Community Clothing are made in the UK and include retro style running shorts, t-shirts and sweaters for men and women, printed with water based inks. Even the thread used is cotton!

Mate The Label

Mate The Label are best known for their organic everyday staples. But they also make natural and organic activewear for women, men and kids.

Their MOVE by MATE collection is made from 92% Organic Cotton and 8% elastane and includes sports bras, biker shorts, leggings and even organic cotton tennis skirts / skorts - all ethically made in Los Angeles, adhering to a strict list of restricted substances to ensure that carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and other toxins are kept out of their supply chain and off your body. They use non-toxic dyes and have eliminated all the plastic in their labels and packaging.

Jung Maven

Jung Maven is best known for creating hemp based clothing (think great basics and stylish pieces for women, men and kids) with everything (except for their socks, beanies, and scarves) being cut and sewn in California by local partners who are Garment Authority (GA) certified - meeting some of the highest standards in the U.S. for ethical labour and fair wages.

Their natural activewear collection is made from hemp and organic cotton with some elastane for little stretch and offers a durable, breathable and moisture wicking alternative to synthetic gym wear. You’ll find hemp leggings, bike shorts (with pockets), sports bras and even a tennis skort!

Sports Organics

Designed in California, field tested in gyms, on sports pitches, up mountains and on yoga mats, Sports Organics have got you covered in organic activewear made from natural fibres including organic cotton and merino wool.

Founders, Georgie and Frank, have personally spent the last 10 years searching for plastic-free activewear which led to them creating Sports Organics with the goal of making sportswear as clean and as natural as possible, without sacrificing performance. 

Their fabrics are GOTS-certified organic, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Class 1 certified, and intentionally designed to minimize synthetic contact with your skin. They spent two years working closely with fabric developers to engineer the perfect stretch fabric for their organic cotton women’s sports bras, bike shorts, and leggings.

Sports Organics are relatively new to the natural activewear scene and their collection is expanding rapidly with organic cotton and merino underwear, jogging bottoms, running shorts, tanks and more launching soon and they’re working with bio-based elastane suppliers to create a fully plant-derived stretch fibre blend with organic cotton that performs like synthetic elastane but is completely natural. Watch this space!

Beach Candy

Made from breathable organic cotton and hemp without toxins or synthetic chemicals, Beach Candy’s natural activewear pieces are designed to move with you - whether you’re stretching, sweating, or just living. Ethically made in Los Angeles with non-toxic dyes, you’ll find organic leggings which feature deep pockets on both legs (ideal for your phone, keys, or cards while on the go) and an organic racerback sports bra that is double-lined, providing soft yet structured hold ideal for low to medium-impact workouts or all-day wear.

Beach Candy founder, Brit Arthur, has completely over-hauled her entire collection including materials and production to be as natural and non-toxic as possible after facing her own debilitating autoimmune disease.

You can also find organic swimwear, underwear and pure copper wellness products as well as organic activewear.

Beach Candy discount code: KATEARNELL

Wild Body Australia

WildBody Australia has just launched a size inclusive (sizes 4–22) range of non-toxic, natural activewear made from 88% GOTS-certified organic cotton, 12% elastane and OEKO-TEX dyes. The collection includes organic cotton leggings and biker shorts - both with pockets and NO front seam, a bralette, tank top, t-shirt and zip-up jacket and everything comes in compostable packaging. 

At age 33, Wild Body Founder and devoted CrossFitter, Jade Payne was told she had an extremely rare form of kidney cancer. During her recovery, Jade began searching for answers and looking to reduce her exposure to everyday toxins. She realised the activewear she basically lived in was all made from nylon and polyester - plastic. 

Wild Body was born out of a desire to offer a size-inclusive, non-toxic and natural alternative with $2 from every order donated to cancer research.

Svante

Inspired by their own super active children who lived in sportswear, Jen and Ben, were horrified to discover that it was all made from synthetic fibres. It was also almost impossible to find any natural activewear designed for kids.

They spent three years researching materials before launching Svante and they have considered every detail; from the water-based OEKO TEX certified dyes and organic cotton thread (most factories refuse to use it) to the natural rubber logo branding and super soft and plant-based materials which include organic and regenerative cotton as well as Plantech™ (crafted from responsibly sourced TENCEL™ combined with plant-based biodegradable elastane).

All Svante pieces are ethically made and they even help close the loop via their Re:Svante scheme where you receive £10 credit when you send in lightly used children’s wear from any brand.

Svante discount code: KATE_ARNELL

Maro

Maro makes 100% organic cotton sports shorts, sweatpants (and boxer shorts too!) and uses a completely natural waistband made from natural tree rubber making them a great options for 100% plastic-free activewear. Everything is packaged in recyclable paper packaging too!

Cottsbury

Cottsbury creates beautifully made cotton activewear for men and women using only GOTS-certified organic cotton, crafted in Fair Trade certified factories in India. From seed to skin, their process is fully traceable, toxin-free, and rooted in care for people and planet.

Every piece arrives in a reusable organic cotton bag made from surplus fabric, helping to reduce waste. With decades of industry experience and a deep respect for nature, Cottsbury designs products that nurture your wellbeing while supporting ethical production and global community upliftment.

Dilling

Best known for their high quality organic merino basics, Dilling recently added merino wool activewear to their line up.

Made from 100% organic merino wool, their plastic-free activewear is treated with their signature Naturetexx® Plasma treatment, making it itch free, washable and biodegradable. Suitable for men and women and ideal for workouts, the gym, running and yoga

We love their plastic-free merino sports bras, leggings, cycling shorts and tops. 

Unlike synthetics, merino wool is naturally temperature regulating, breathable, odour resistant, and moisture absorbent. All our single wool products, 4x2 products, and wool terry products have received a Naturetexx® Plasma treatment – a shock treatment using only electricity and air to process the wool fibres. Essentially, this leaves you with a durable and incredibly soft product.

Natasha Tonic

Best known for pioneering natural swimwear with her hemp based bathing suits and bikinis, Natasha Tonic has recently added natural activewear to her line up. Expect organic cotton + hemp leggings and biker shorts with an invisible pocket in the back to hold your phone and bikini tops that double as a sports bra with extra support from a wide band and double fabric to hold you in place. Ideal for hot yoga, running, hiking, horseback riding and biking

Responsibly made in small batches in Los Angeles using low impact dyes so that no harsh chemicals come into contact with your skin while you sweat. 

Natasha Tonic discount code: TONICSUMMER

Happy Earth

Created by two scientists keen to make a difference, Happy Earth Apparel have an extensive organic activewear collection as part of their wider range where you’ll find sports bras, leggings (with pockets!), tank tops, shorts hoodies and joggers.

Their PlanTec collection is made up of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane and their Revive Collection is 100% organic cotton.

All of their products are proudly free from polyester and everything is made in Fair Trade certified factories. They only use safe, non-toxic dyes and with every item purchased you get to choose whether you want to plant trees, clean up trash, or fight climate change.

Hess Natur

Hess Natur creates a wide range of sustainable, natural, organic and  fair-trade clothing for the whole family. And their activewear collection made from materials including organic cotton, Tencel™ and organic merino wool includes a wide variety of colourful legging and sports tops.

New to their collection is Bouncy Stretch - activewear made from 100% organic cotton without any elastane making it completely biodegradable.

Not Basics

What started out as two sisters turning deadstock t-shirt fabric into undies has evolved into a collection of well made organic basics that includes organic cotton leggings, t-shirts, bodysuits, undies and sweaters all made from 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane with some of their sweatshirts and jogging bottoms made from 100% organic cotton.

Their organic cotton is OCS certified and almost all pieces (excluding their underwear) are manufactured at an OCS and SEDEX certified factory in Turkey which allows them to keep the entire production process  - from cotton seed to final product - within Turkey.

I own two pairs of their leggings  and wear them A LOT, both casually around the house, out on walks and at home exercises.

Industry of All Nations

Industry of All Nations creates unisex clothing that is made by artisans at the source using only organic and natural fibers, both undyed or naturally dyed, that supports traditional craftsmanship and minimises environmental impact and are ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Whilst they don't have a specific activewear range, a lot of their organic t-shirts, sweatpants and shorts would be ideal for sports. 

Tripulse

Tripulse creates high-performance activewear, including legging, sports bras, t-shirts, tops and shorts all made from TENCEL™ Lyocell, a silky-soft, breathable fabric derived from sustainably sourced eucalyptus and wood pulp using a closed-loop, non-toxic manufacturing process.

Ethically made in Europe, their pieces are free from harmful chemicals and plastic-based fibres, using Cradle-to Cradle certified compostable Roica® V550 for stretch and Oeko-Tex® certified dyes. Even the care labels are made from organic cotton. With a focus on circular design and a ZeroWaste initiative to give new life to imperfect garments or samples , Tripulse proves you don’t need to compromise on performance to protect your health - or the planet.

Groceries Apparel

Groceries Apparel creates plant-dyed, organic activewear made in Los Angeles. Their Upcycled Food Scraps Collections cleverly turns discarded food scraps such as pomegranate peels, carrot tops, avocado pits and used coffee grounds into non-toxic dyes in their own dye house, keeping things as non-toxic as possible. Expect to find organic leggings, shorts, sports bras and work out tops all made from organic cotton with a touch of elastane for stretch.

Sol. Dept

With a mission to include what you wear as part of a healthy lifestyle, Sol. Dept offer 100% natural Cotton USA™ certified cotton sports shorts that are soft, breathable, comfortable, durable and look good too.

We particularly love the their 80s inspired Golden Era Shorts. All fibres have are OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning they are free from harmful substances. 

Oddobody

Best known for their 100% organic pima cotton underwear, Oddobody also have a few pieces that would work well as 100% cotton yoga wear or low-impact activewear. Think racer back shelf bras and bike shorts, perfect for gentle movement or simply lounging around in.

Green Tab Clothing

If you're looking for an affordable pair of organic cotton leggings then Green Tab Clothing have just that.

Made from 95% GOTS certified organic cotton and 5% elastane, they are high waisted and toxin free.

Cottonique

Cottonique creates allergy free apparel - that's hypoallergenic clothing without elastane or latex with the option of dye-free and bleach-free clothing making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Cottonique's natural activewear collection includes sports bras, t-shirts shorts, leggings and even 100% organic cotton socks for both men and women.

Cottonique discount code KateArnell10%

Arms Of Andes

If you’re looking for truly 100% plastic-free active wear then Arms of Andes could be a great option as they only use natural alpaca fibre (and natural rubber for any elastic waist bands).

Their collection of natural activewear includes tops, leggings, underwear, sports bras, sweatpants and shorts which would be ideal for hiking and outdoor workouts. As their products don’t contain elastane, the pieces may not be as supportive as some activewear but they will let your skin breath and would make great thermal layers for extra warmth.

They also like to keep sourcing and production in one location - Peru.

Ryker

Ryker make gym shorts and tees using only natural materials including 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and 100% merino wool, and are proudly polyester free! In fact, they are completely plastic-free but offer the same activewear fit you’d expect from conventional synthetic gym wear. 

All of their fabrics have been 3rd party tested to show they are BPA, PFAS and phthalate free and their merino wool hasn’t been super washed (a process that coats wool in plastic) but instead uses an organic, plastic-free treatment.

Cima Coppi

If you’re looking for eco-friendly and plastic-free padded bike shorts (how niche can we get?!) well the options are almost non-existent right now. BUT, I have found Cima Coppi who come very close with their collection of non-mulesing merino wool cycling bibs and shorts with the most sustainable chamois pad in the market made from bio-based foam. Whilst the shorts aren’t entirely plastic-free (two of the panels on their shorts are made with recycled polyester for strength), they are likely the best natural option right now.

Cima Coppi prioritise natural materials with non-toxic or natural dyes and every item is made-to-order in house in Spain. They’re dedicated to creating the highest-performance, most sustainable cycle-wear from natural, non-petroleum material, using natural performance fibres including merino wool and cotton. As well as sustainable bike shorts, you can find merino wool cycling jerseys, tees, base layers and even cotton gilets and jackets.

If you enjoyed this, then you'll love our rundown of the best plastic-free swimwear here