If you’re anything like me you probably started this year off with the best intentions to get back in the gym, cut out junk food and swore to drink 8 glasses of water every day. Well today marks the 62nd day of 2020 and let me tell you something; I have been failing, hard. It’s okay though I’m not beating myself up over it as I’ve had a huge amount of work to deal with and some pretty big projects I’m working on outside of work too, sometimes life just gets in the way. 

I’ve now got to a place where my work has settled down and I’m starting to have that yearning for the gym again (gross I know right?), so that usually means I’m ready for a bit of a health kick. I’ve purged the house of junk food and stocked my fridge with kale and I’ve been making more of an effort to make exercise part of my weekly (not daily yet!) routine. 

If I’m going to the gym I just wear some old Nike leggings that I’ve had for years and this old man tank top I got on Depop (sexy I know), and I never really give it too much thought. However, I’ve noticed over the past year there seems to have been an increase in brands creating vegan, sustainable active wear, and we have a lot more options now! I’ve been taking boxing classes since October and I had to get myself some boxing gloves. I thought there would be no quality choices that didn’t use cow’s leather but I did a thorough internet search and found these from RDX; one of the best brands for boxing gear. It can be confusing as they say ‘leather’ but I spoke to customer services who assured me they are synthetic leather. It just goes to show how sporting industries are adapting to the changing market!

If you’re trying to motivate yourself to get back to the gym, go for a run or get back on the bike, a new workout outfit could just be the inspiration you need… If you don’t want to buy your sports wear second hand (totally understandable, not really something you’d want to buy used) then I would recommend these brands. Their collections are free from animal products, and are produced ethically and sustainably.

Girlfriend Collective is one of the best examples of brand transparency I have ever seen. If you haven’t checked out their page I would highly recommend it to see what a truly honest brand looks like. They have a sustainability page where they list all their policies on their sustainable practices throughout the manufacturing process and their commitment to protecting the garment workers who make their clothes. It’s really inspiring. 

They make leggings, bras, tees, windbreakers, unitards (yaaasssss) and bodysuits. I love that they’re size-inclusive, offering a range from XXS to 6XL – it’s really positive to see that they’re making this consideration. In terms of fabrics, they use RPET (recycled polyester), Cupro (a delicate fiber made from waste the cotton industry leaves behind), and ECONYL® yarn (made from recycled fishing nets recovered from the ocean). They use natural, earth tones across their collections and have a minimalist aesthetic that makes them the perfect choice for your next workout look. 

Californian-based organic cotton underwear company, Pansy, is an unexpected choice for active wear but I have good reason to include them. They are rated Great (5/5) on the Good On You app, signifying they have strong environmental and social policies in place, and they don’t use any animal products. All their garments are made in California, so no sweatshops, and the organic cotton is actually grown in Texas!

They make a wide range of gorgeous underwear but also make leggings, sports bras, unisex shorts, and tees that are perfect for that laid-back, not-trying-too-hard workout look. I love their range of colours; everything reminds me of summer, especially their sunflower yellow. 

UK-based brand League Collective believes they have designed the most sustainable yet functional garments on the market! Using recycled fabrics they have created a collection of active wear that looks so incredible, and performs at a high level. All the products are made in London have been designed to suit a range of activities like running, cycling, yoga and dancing.

Although only a small collection made up of leggings, yoga bra, swimsuit, hoody and bike shorts, League Collective offers a one-stop-shop for your active wear needs. The combination of monochrome colours, graphic cuts and details of floral patterns create really desirable pieces that would make a great treat to reward all your sweaty workouts! 

To get you through all these gruelling workouts you’ll need the right protein powder to build your muscles back up and keep you energised. I was recently gifted a sample of The Plant Era organic strawberry-basil vegan protein powder and it’s like nothing I’ve ever tried before! Usually protein powders are too chalky or have a weird taste to them but Plant Era have created something that you’ll actually enjoy. Using pea and rice protein, these powders also provide you with 50% of the RDA vitamin B12 – something all vegans need to make sure they’re getting enough of! Give it a try if you’re considering using protein powders as part of your workout regime.