Sustainable yoga clothes

When I started doing yoga, I was so determined not to be ‘all the gear and no idea’ that I wore very old Topshop leggings and vest top in classes for months. And there is nothing wrong with that.

I later succumbed to the temptation of acquiring a ‘yoga wardrobe’. I’m not proud, but I was a member of Fabletics VIP scheme through which you buy new clothing each month. I know. Not only does this encourage excessive consumption, the brand’s clothes are synthetic, hard to recycle and don’t last long. The definition of unsustainable!

Since becoming more conscious of the social and environmental impact of clothing, I’ve bought this pair of papaya-decorated yoga leggings from Puka Wear. I love these. If I’m ever tempted to take myself seriously when I’m practicing yoga (which I am, often), these leggings are the perfect antidote.

Puka manufacture their clothes from organic cotton and recycled materials in Portugal. As part of the Fashion Revolution scheme, they’re very transparent about how the clothes are made, even down to publishing the salaries paid to workers in factories.

East London-based yoga teacher Anna Byworth, founder of Prana Space, buys most of her yoga clothes second hand. She loves eBay and loves a charity shop. Yes! Buying second hand is more sustainable than buying new, even when new has been made from organic or recycled material. A tip when perusing eBay is to check the ‘used’ box to find preloved, instead of goods that have been bought from China and resold at higher prices. Like many platforms that began as peer-to-peer, eBay has attracted professional sellers too. Avoid!

This photo shows Anna in a second hand top and vegan leggings. The top is in fact a dress that Anna has repurposed — this is the essence of second-hand style brilliance.

For new yoga clothing Anna recommends Gnger Bees. The brand’s site explains that it reclaims what was once labelled waste and transforms it into a high quality, lasting product. Gnger Bees work with social enterprises to manufacture their range of clothes, bags and accessories. It’s very clear that this is no greenwashed brand; instead it’s one born out of a true desire to serve people and planet. I didn’t know about this brand, but I’ll certainly buy from it next time I need yoga gear.

Thanks for reading

Jen

#prelovedfashion #preloved #sustainablefashion #ethicalfashion