Things You Should Know When Buying Ethical Sportswear UK
Purchasing sustainable and eco-friendly sportswear is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. The negative effects of fast fashion are increasingly being exposed and consumers are responding by making more sustainable and ethical choices. It is no secret that the impacts of climate change can only start to be reversed by a collective effort, with the size of this effort reflected by the size of the body that is responsible. For example, large companies with a large impact can change their manufacturing processes to use renewable sources such as solar energy whilst individuals can purchase sustainable clothing.
Manufacturers of such garments have started to venture into alternative materials to be used in the construction of these pieces of clothing. From recycled polyester to organic cotton, you are more likely than ever before to be able to purchase an eco-friendly piece of clothing. Many ethical brands have even partnered with celebrities, including Stella McCartney, to spread the word about the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry.
Whereas these brands previously wouldn’t have had a notable share of the market, they are now leading the way for other brands to follow suit. This expansion has allowed them to have a presence on not just the high street, but also in high-end department stores such as Selfridges.
If anything, the boom of the sustainable fashion movement means that there is actually too much choice on the market for you to choose from. Being spoiled for choice is of course a great thing for you as consumers as it means that you get your pick of the bunch, but it also means that you will want to make more informed choices about what you are going to buy. Below we take a look at some of the important things that you should consider when shopping sustainably to help you make the best choice.
What to remember when buying sustainable activewear
Using sustainable fabrics is an important part of choosing ethical sportswear. Bamboo is a great choice as a fabric because it requires little water and no pesticides to grow and therefore deplates less of the earth’s natural resources and prevents chemicals from being spilled into the environment.
The best thing about bamboo fabric in terms of its practicality as a material is its ability to absorb up to three times its weight in water. This allows the material to get rid of perspiration and keep you dry and comfortable. It also keeps your body cool without feeling constrictive on your skin and provides you with superior breathability, flexibility and durability.
Some of the other ethical sportswear UK brands use organic materials. Some of the most popular fabrics include organic cotton, linen and hemp. Organicism is a principle by which a natural product is grown using organic production methods. This includes no pesticides, chemical fertilisers or any other type of toxic chemical. By purchasing organic clothing, you'll be supporting the company's efforts to protect the environment and help the local economy from which the material is grown, collected and made.
Aside from this, some brands even make their clothing out of recycled materials, such as recycled plastic. Some have even been able to start using biodegradable and compostable materials too, although the practicality of this is limited to some types of accessories such as hairbands.
Many of these companies will also use careful and revised production and manufacturing methods to strive towards making zero-waste clothing. This means that they have not produced any unnecessary waste that could have been prevented and used for other purposes. The best thing about all of this is that just like standard clothing, these clothes are high-performance and made to last.
Ethical sportswear companies make clothes that are not only comfortable but also good for the environment. This is the key to making ethical sportswear sustainable. You should look for clothes made from materials that are not only made from recycled and organic materials, but you should also make sure that it is something that you will be happy to wear.
It’s all well and good buying eco-friendly clothing but if you don’t end up wearing it then it defeats the purpose of sustainability. We live in a throw-away society where clothes are only worn once, or maybe even never worn and then thrown away, so avoid this by planning your outfits ahead of time.