Less-Toxic Sportswear

We ran, hiked, tennised and ballet danced in chemical-free gear just for you!

Hi, everyone! This weekend’s letter is all about detoxing your sportswear drawer. And it’s about time. Most of the stuff we exercise in contains PFAS (otherwise known as forever chemicals) and BPA (a petrochemical used to make plastic). They make fabrics repel the moisture and stains caused by sweat, last longer, smell better and retain their bright colors wash after wash. The bad news? They cause cancer and are proven endocrine disruptors, which means they mess with things like your hormone levels, reproductive system, metabolism and more. What makes the presence of chemicals in activewear so concerning is that they can be absorbed into the bloodstream directly through the skin, especially when we sweat. For those of us who exercise multiple times a week, like to wear athleisure during the day, or both, we’re looking at consistent exposure to petrochemicals, especially with skin-tight items like sports bras and leggings. The good news? There are a bunch of great non-toxic brands—based everywhere from Copenhagen to Colorado—blending elastane with organic cottons and hemp instead of polyester and other toxic synthetics. But it’s not easy to create chemical-free performance fabrics that sculpt and shape the way we want them to. So, we played tennis, hiked, ran, power-walked, practiced yoga and ballet-danced in each bra, tank, biker short, legging and skort included below to make sure they performed under pressure. Now all that’s left for you to do is stock up before sweaty summer hits!