Episode 17: Sports Bras, Sweatpants, and Wardrobe Malfunctions: Activewear

The activewear industry is *massive,* expected to exceed $500 billion per year by 2024.  The U.S. alone is consuming more than a third of the activewear made globally every year.  It's no surprise that fast fashion brands are trying to cash in on this market.   The research, development, and design of activewear is a very specific skill set and area of knowledge.  Fortunately activewear designer Meghan joins us to talk about the highly technical fabrics and extensive testing required to create a great pair of leggings or a sports bra!  And she will help us understand why we should skip the activewear offered by fast fashion retailers.

Because activewear is such a huge industry, it has so much impact on both the planet and its people. So it's very, very important that we customers do our research about the brands we buy.  Do they use toxic chemicals to treat the fabrics in the clothing? It's more common than you probably think.  And are the workers in the supply chain  being paid fairly and working under good conditions? In other words:  is this brand making our leggings in a sustainable way?  Odds are high that they are not.    Check out the Good On You guide to ethical and sustainable activewear here to discover brands that are doing it right!

In 2020, it's virtually unavoidable to buy a decent pair of leggings or a sports bra that does not contain Lycra (spandex) and other synthetic fabrics.  We just haven't found a natural fabric that has the same fit and recovery.  Unfortunately these fabrics shed microplastics every time they are washed.   However, technology is beginning to tackle this problem. There are numerous filters and devices that can catch the plastic microfibers from your laundry load.  Girlfriend Collective offers a microfiber filter that attaches to your washing machine.  And there are other options that are simply thrown into the washing machine with your clothes. 

Lastly, please check out this article from NPR about how the oil and gas industry has deceived consumers (that's us) into believing that plastic recycling is more viable than it really is.  We need to share this article with everyone we know!