Let’s talk nontoxic activewear
As your resident polyester hater, I pretty much boycott all typical activewear brands. I used to have a larger lululemon collection than anyone I knew, but now I only can fill a small drawer with activewear. I’ve tried a lot of ‘nontoxic’ brands and let’s just say some are less than impressive. But I’ve curated a list on ones I think are actually worth your money and I’ll get into those in this post!
Why many “traditional” leggings can be a problem
Most mainstream leggings are polyester/nylon + spandex with performance finishes that can raise health and environmental flags. Examples over the last few years include:
PFAS water-/stain-repellents detected by watchdog testing in yoga pants and sports bras from popular brands (including reports of findings in some Lululemon items). PFAS are “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment.
BPA in activewear: consumer tests and legal notices have cited elevated BPA in certain sports bras, leggings, and tops from multiple major brands.
Antimicrobial/odor-control treatments (often silver or silver salts): effective against bacteria, but the silver can wash out and is toxic to aquatic life; it may also disrupt skin microbiota.
Microfiber shedding: every wash releases microplastics from synthetics into waterways.
What to look for in lower-tox activewear
PFAS-free (skip “sweat-wicking” or “water-resistant” claims)
Water/stain repellency and some moisture-management finishes are often achieved with fluorinated chemistries (PFAS). If a product touts water resistance, stain resistance, or “advanced wicking,” assume a chemical finish unless the brand clearly states PFAS-free and describes a purely mechanical (knit/structure) approach. Choosing uncoated fabrics avoids this risk.No antimicrobial additives
Avoid odor-control claims that rely on silver, nanosilver, zinc pyrithione, triclosan, or quats. These biocides can wash out into waterways and aren’t necessary for most use cases. Good wash care beats chemical “perma-fresh.”Certifications: OEKO-TEX® and GOTS
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 means the finished garment is tested for a long list of harmful substances (residual solvents, formaldehyde, heavy metals, etc.).
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) covers the whole chain for organic fibers and restricts dyes/finishes and wastewater practices. Look for “GOTS-certified product,” not just “made with organic cotton.”High natural-fiber content (e.g., organic cotton)
Favor pieces that are mostly natural fiber—ideally 90–100% organic cotton for low-sweat days. Natural fibers don’t shed microplastics like synthetics do. A small elastane content can help fit, but if you’re very sensitive, seek elastic-free or cotton-covered elastics. Undyed or lighter shades generally mean fewer dye auxiliaries.
My Recommendations for Nontoxic Activewear:
Mate the Label: FABRIC: 92% organic cotton, 8% spandex. These are all around good options. I like their bras and tops especially. The leggings are comfy and they have good colors / styles. I will say that the leggings come up really high on my stomach (I’m 5'2), so even though they say ‘mid rise’,they’re definitely more high rise on me. I really wish their bike shorts were 2 inches shorter. Their scoop bra top has the most flattering bra shape of any ‘nontoxic’ activewear brand I’ve tried.
Layere: FABRIC: 95% organic cotton, 5% spandex. This collection hasn’t launched yet, but I’d sign up for drop notifications immediately. From a design standpoint, Layere far exceeds other brands. The pants have flattering seams (not just the straight across T) and the tank tops have a built in shelf bra with flattering thin straps (most ‘nontoxic’ designs have super thick straps). Looks exactly like a lululemon align tank and their groove pant, but in nontoxic fabric. I will be setting an alarm to purchase this. Kat also just recently did a squat test and it passed. Color choices are fab as well. Launches Oct 14.
Jungmaven: FABRIC: Bottoms are usually 61% organic cotton, 27% hemp, 12% spandex and Tops are usually 66% organic cotton, 29% hemp, 5% spandex. If you don’t love the cotton aspect of nontoxic leggings, I think you’ll like Jungmaven’s fabric. It’s a little thicker and has a little more compression. It also has a slicker, less ‘cotton’ feel to it. I’d order true to size in this brand. They were out of stock of most colors / sizes when I first purchased, so I got everything in an XS and it’s definitely too small. I really want to buy the racer bra (pictured) to test out - the shape looks really flattering.
Gil Rodriguez: FABRIC: 90% cotton, 10% spandex. This is not an ‘activewear’ brand, but they do have a couple active pieces that I personally own and love. This is the only place you’ll find a cotton capri legging that actually fits right and is the correct length. The halter top is also exceptionally flattering. Everything is true to size. These pieces are niche but really cool and hard to find in nontoxic fabrics.
Pact: FABRIC: 90% cotton, 10% elastane. Pact is by far the best priced leggings I’ve seen. Their ‘On the Go’ leggings are priced at $38 and are actually really great for an everyday legging. They are very similar material to Mate the Label and definitely have that cotton feel to them. Very reliable choice, especially for someone that is just getting into swapping out their old activewear for better fabrics. I wish the cut of the pants were more flattering / they had more flattering shapes in general, but I think that I’m not their target demo.
Other Brands I Do Not Recommend and Why
Glas active: I personally ordered from them and didn’t receive anything for 4 months. Couldn’t get ahold of customer service and ended up disputing it with my bank.
Namarie: enough people have commented on my videos and dm’ed me about quality to make me not want to recommend.
Indigo Luna: their primary fabric is bamboo viscose, which has extremely toxic processing. Bamboo Lyocell is better because it has a closed loop. I do appreciate that is it organic and OEKO though.
Studio K: this is actually one of the better options shape-wise, but I was recently informed they have extremely high import tariffs right now (from Bali). I also tried to return something because the bra was extremely tiny (even though I ordered the same size as my other bra from them that fit perfectly) and the returns process was a nightmare and I paid $40 to ship the 2 bras back to them in Bali.
Lezet: I just can’t get behind their odd patterns and shapes.
Groceries: honestly the pants dont even look flattering on the models on the website so I haven’t wanted to order from them.