A Look Into Sustainable Activewear
Image Courtesy: Eco Warrior Princess
There is no secret that there is an “ideal” body type portrayed in the media and on activewear websites. But what you don’t ever hear about, is the effect of this ideal body type being plastered on every corner of social media. One should begin their fitness journey with the intention of being the best version of themselves, but what often happens is that we are motivated to strive for the most common characteristics we see.
Most, if not all, activewear brands use women with similar characteristics as models. This dream woman is often quite tall, toned and tan. Now, while we can strive to have some of the traits I just mentioned, we should be doing it for our own confidence, not to comply with society’s standards.
Many brands such as GymShark and Athleta have begun diversifying their body type ranges since this outcry from young women. Gymshark in specific reposted a photo of Nelly London, a body-positive influencer on Instagram. This photo sparked many opinions on what fitness “should look like” with many brutal comments such as “wearing those leggings won’t unclog your arteries.”
Image Courtesy: Instagram
This was just recently posted in September of 2020, which really shows how late activewear brands are to include more diversity in their model choices. Those leaving negative comments are the ones not making an effort to improve themselves. Fitness is subjective!
When girls have a positive figure to look up to on social media, they are more likely to be motivated in a healthy way to exercise and focus on what is best for them. On the other hand, if girls are surrounded by unrealistic standards, they could begin to feel insecure and possibly overwork themselves in the gym.
While it is important that brands like GymShark are actively trying to improve their ranges and sustainability, it's also important to shine light on companies like Tala, who have been doing this since the beginning.
Tala claims to be a “slow fashion, sustainable style” brand which has promoted being comfortable in your own skin since their first day. Their core values include transparency, accessibility and inclusivity; all of which are essential when choosing a brand to support. Not to mention the diversity of models on the brand’s website, from all different sizes and various ethnicities! Believe it or not, this diversity is peculiar when it comes to activewear, where typical size “mediums” are shown in the plus-size shopping section.
Not only does Tala prioritize inclusivity in their advertising but they also touch on informative topics such as mental health and sustainability hacks on their website! The brand has a whole section on their website dedicated to education of their customers, under the “TalaTalks” tab.
Image Courtesy: Tala Talks
It is much more common for a sustainable activewear brand to promote confidence and loving your body than unethical or partially ethical companies. These brands understand modern problems and do their best to tackle them! When choosing what activewear to invest in, it should be a priority to support brands that care. When putting on these clothes for exercise, we ultimately strive for something that will make us feel good about ourselves, so what better than to look good and support companies that care!
Strike Out,
Writer: Christina Zaprianova
Athens