Girlfriend Collective is a sustainable, ethical, size-inclusive activewear brand that’s also quite affordable. This brand is so amazing, no wonder why it’s at the number one spot in my top 100 sustainable fashion brands list.
Besides all the ethical practices, the eco-sportswear brand’s aesthetic is so seriously spot-on, it puts all other activewear companies to shame.
Girlfriend Collective was founded by husband and wife duo, Ellie and Quang Dihn in 2016. When Ellie couldn’t find workout clothes that were produced ethically and sustainably, the couple decided to start their own company and fill this need in the market.
They launched with a very unusual campaign, to say the least: they were giving away free leggings for almost a year for anyone who was willing to pay for the shipping. Girlfriend Collective was sure that people will love their free pairs so much they will come back for more and even invite their friends. And this is exactly what happened!
Since then Girlfriend became a cult brand for conscious consumers with a cool aesthetic. There are so many things to love about them. Keep reading and you’ll also see why this is the best activewear brand that exists today!
Made of recycled plastic waste
Girlfriend Collective is one of the most sustainable activewear brands. They turn recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets into sports attire, reducing the waste in our oceans.
It takes 25 post-consumer water bottles to make a pair of leggings and 11 to make a sports bra. The result is a durable, stretchy fabric that’s perfect for activewear. It also absorbs a lot of water so you can sweat as much as you want in it!
The brand also sells T-shirts and tank tops made of cupro which is a material based on waste from the cotton industry.
Aside from using super sustainable, recycled fabrics, Girlfriend Collective strives to make every little detail more eco-friendly. The factory that produces the recycled yarns is zero-waste and zero-emission. The dyes they use are also eco-friendly and don’t pollute our water. Plus, your orders arrive in recycled and recyclable packaging without any plastic or unnecessary junk!
Another thing you need to know about Girlfriend is that it produces only small batches of each collection. This way the brand may have to restock items more often, on the other hand, they don’t have to store a lot of items at the same time. The only problem with this is that the collections sell out very quickly which is especially the case with the limited edition colors. If you want them, buy them because next time you check they probably won’t be available anymore!
Produced ethically
Girlfriend Collective clothes are made in an ethical factory in Vietnam. The factory has an SA8000 certification which is currently the highest ethical industry standard. So you can be sure that your Girlfriend leggings and bras have been made by fairly paid workers in a healthy, safe environment without the use of any forced- or child labor!
The brand also stated that they would have preferred manufacturing in the USA, but there aren’t any facilities specialized in high-quality activewear, so they had to choose a factory overseas.
Spot-on aesthetics
My favorite thing about Girlfriend Collective is that people who aren’t necessarily eco-nerds are into it as well. Why? Because it keeps up with the trends and makes extremely stylish clothes.
Their designs are just so perfectly minimalist with great attention to detail, and they fit so many different body types.
And the colors, oh my… The basic collection is quite basic: black, grey, white, navy, etc. But there’s always a limited edition color palette which usually includes the hottest colors of the season. You can also mix-and-match if you want to (or when they’re out of stock of matching colors) since they all look amazing together!
Affordable prices
Another detail to love about Girlfriend is the price tag! The bras cost $38-$48 and the leggings are between $68-$88. I know, it’s not the cheapest activewear out there, but it’s around the same price range Gymshark and Nike pieces are. Yet those brands are a lot less environmentally-friendly and ethical.
Comfortable, practical, high-compression pieces
Now let’s talk about how practical Girlfriend Collective workout clothes are! First of all, they come with a pocket in the waistband or on the sides, so you can put your keys, Kleenex, etc. away during your exercise.
Girlfriend Collective leggings perfect for running, yoga, or lifting weights. and yes, they’re also squat proof! They’re compressive at the tights to give you a nice shape, but they’re stretchy enough to move in them comfortably. However, if you’re very self-conscious, opt for the darker colors (at first) because light fabrics are a little more transparent in general.
The only downside I need to mention about the bras is that they aren’t too supportive. They’re fine for yoga, and more static workouts, but not for intense running!
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Made for everyone
Last, but not least, Girfriend is one of the few brands that truly embraces diversity, not just on the surface. If you look at the models on the brand’s website you see women of different ages, races, and sizes, just like real people in real life.
Girlfriend Collective activewear comes in sizes from XXS to 6XL. And the styles are flattering for everyone, not only for skinny models.
The brand also donates to organizations that support black lives like The Loveland Foundation, The Okra Project, and the NAACP Legal & Defense Fund.
ReGirlfriend
If you live in the US, you can make your Girlfriend Collective leggings and sports bras even more sustainable than they already are. You can simply send them back to the brand and they’ll recycle them into new items! Your old clothes can be in any condition; ripped, stained, it doesn’t matter, Girlfriend will be able to recycle them and completely regenerate the fibers!
You also get $15 store credit for your next purchase, so it’s really a win-win situation for everyone, especially the planet!
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