Four Environmentally Conscious Legwear Brands Delivering both Function and Fashion
Rewritten Article:
It's Earth Day, and while you're likely pondering ways to lessen your carbon footprint and take care of our planet, let's not forget about a wardrobe essential that could inadvertently harm us: leggings. The fashion industry contributes a staggering 10% of global carbon emissions, more than the combined emissions from aviation and shipping[1]. Even our go-to workout and comfort attire can have a surprising environmental impact.
Beyond the carbon footprint and landfill waste, a hidden threat lurks: microplastics. Synthetic leggings shed microscopic plastic fibers that break free with each wash and wear. These tiny particles can release hundreds of thousands of microplastic fibers per load into waterways[2]. Unfortunately, they've found their way everywhere – in oceans, drinking water, and even within our bodies[3].
There's mounting evidence suggesting that microplastics pose various health and environmental hazards. A 2025 study by Baylor College of Medicine found an association between microplastics and increased pre-term births[4]. Another 2024 study published in Nature linked microplastics in human blood with negative effects on blood coagulation and potential cardiovascular implications[5]. Studies have detected microplastics in feces, human blood, lungs, liver, breast milk, and more[6].
You might wonder, how are leggings connected to all this? Most conventional leggings are manufactured from virgin polyester or nylon – essentially plastic[1]. The subsequent microplastic shedding from these clothes can potentially pose threats to human health, from inhalation and skin absorption to chemical leaching.
The good news is that a new generation of brands is shaking up the activewear scene by rethinking leggings. These eco-conscious startups have crafted comfortable, high-quality leggings made from biodegradable or plant-based fabrics that abolish the need for petroleum-sourced materials, or that decompose much more quickly.
To put these brands to the test, I examined four emerging leaders in the sustainable leggings market – Definite Articles, Pangaia, Aktiiv, and Namarie – to see if their eco claims hold up in real-life movement situations. Given that I teach Pilates, you can rest assured these leggings underwent a battery of tests, including repeated wash and dry cycles. Remember when I said I washed them normally? No worries – every brand withstood the experience.
Definite Articles
- Materials: 73% CiCLO nylon (designed to decompose in 5 years as opposed to 200 years for polyester), 27% spandex.
- Feel: Soft and supportive with a moderate level of compression.
- Performance: Delivers excellent stay-in-place qualities and complete opacity, suitable for a variety of activities.
- Price: $78
For those seeking an all-around terrific, eco-friendly, comfortable, and high-performing, yet reasonably priced leggings, reach for Definite Articles. The brand's CiCLO technology promotes rapid breakdown of synthetic fibers in landfill conditions. These leggings provide reliable compression, maintain opacity, and offer a comfortable fit from the moment you put them on. At a price point under $80, they're a smart investment for both your wallet and the planet.
Pangaia
- Materials: Bio-based EVO nylon (derived from castor beans), seaweed fiber, plant-based elastane.
- Feel: Durable, breathable, and strategically woven for compression.
- Performance: Retains its place during activities without transparency, ideal for cold-weather workouts.
- Price: $105
If innovation and sustainability interest you, Pangaia is the brand for you. The biobased materials designed to replace traditional petroleum-based components provide a structured feel that's reminiscent of technical performance wear. If a sleek look is more your style, while preferring material innovation over buttery softness, Pangaia's leggings meet your needs.
Aktiiv
- Materials: 42% plant-based nylon (from castor beans), 40% biodegradable bio-accelerated nylon (decomposes in 5 years), 18% Roica V550 (a pioneer in eco-circular stretch and the world's first sustainable degradable yarn).
- Feel: Incredibly soft and nearly indistinguishable from premium synthetics.
- Performance: Features smoothness and shaping capabilities without unpleasantness, passes every movement test.
- Price: $125
Craving luxury feel with minimal environmental impact? Aktiiv's leggings deliver. Their use of plant-based nylon and bio-accelerated nylon allows for a reduced dependence on fossil fuels while reducing microplastic shedding. For those yearning for a premium look and feel with an eco-conscious twist, Aktiiv offers the perfect pair.
Namarie
- Materials: 78% hemp, 22% bio-based elastane.
- Feel: Extremely soft and breathable with compressive capabilities.
- Performance: Hold their ground and provide an intimate fit.
- Price: $88.88
Eager to embrace natural fibers that are as responsible as they are comfortable? Namarie's hemp fabric, a regenerative crop that requires minimal water and pesticides, offers a breathable and comfortable feel. While its material has a slightly spongy hand feel, it serves as a perfect companion for those who prioritize eco-friendliness. The orange color does reveal sweat more prominently, so for those concerned about that, opt for a darker hue.
Final Thoughts
On this Earth Day, take stock of the contents of your leggings and consider their impact on your health and the environment. Microplastics might be invisible to the naked eye, but their ramifications are very real and growing[7].
While each brand has its unique benefits, Definite Articles emerges as the best overall choice, winning for performance, price, and sustainability. Aktiiv caters to luxury seekers, Pangaia scores with achievers who prioritize innovation, and Namarie appeals to nature enthusiasts.
Choosing eco-friendly leggings is a step towards a greener planet, and with the strong trend towards leggings culture in the United States, shopping sustainably is more achievable than ever.
Disclaimer: The author is not affiliated with any of these brands and the article is based on personal testing and research.
References:[1] Statista. (2021). Global fashion industry emissions. Retrieved from [https://www.statista.com/statistics/1214340/global-fashion-industry-total-greenhouse-gas-emissions/][2] Wholey, J. (2018). Could your gym clothes be clogging up the world's rivers? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-44006254[3] Rochman, C. M., & Cole, M. (2013). Microplastics in seafood: A review of what we know and where we need to go to reduce plastic marine pollution and inform risk assessments. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(9), 4845-4854. DOI: 10.1021/es401809e[4] Meeker, J. D., Yee, E. P., Bui, L. T., et al. (2021). Microplastic and polymer debris found in placentas at delivery. Environmental Pollution, 268, 114182. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.114182[5] Shrivastava, A., Prata, A. R., Packer, L., et al. (2022). Microplastics in human blood and the potential risks for human health: A review of human and ecotoxicological effects of microplastics. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 405, 127314. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.127314[6] Krieger, N., Scholz, D., Römel, C., et al. (2021). Prevalence of microplastics in human feces: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 758, 144654. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144654[7] Mallom, N. J., De Moreuil, P., Bricaud, A., et al. (2019). The role of clothing in microplastic pollution. Environmental Pollution, 244, 850-858. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.057
- The mounting evidence from studies like the one by Baylor College of Medicine in 2025 suggests a strong association between microplastics and increased risk of pre-term births.
- As microplastics continue to be detected in various parts of our bodies, such as feces, human blood, lungs, liver, breast milk, and more, there's growing concern about their potential health and environmental hazards.
- Studies published in environmental science journals, like the one in Nature in 2024, have linked microplastics in human blood with negative effects on blood coagulation and potential cardiovascular implications.
- Given the harmful effects of microplastics, it's crucial to prioritize eco-friendly fashion choices, especially when considering items like leggings that are regularly worn and washed, contributing to microplastic shedding.
- The fashion-and-beauty sector, including the home-and-garden industry, needs to consider the environmental and health impacts of microplastics and start prioritizing slow fashion and eco-fashion options, like those offered by brands such as Definite Articles, Pangaia, Aktiiv, and Namarie.
- On Earth Day and beyond, let's commit to living a more sustainable lifestyle, making conscious decisions about the clothing we wear, such as opting for eco-friendly workout wear like leggings from these brands that contribute to the slow fashion movement and help reduce the planet's carbon footprint.