Sportswear has become a wardrobe staple across the globe, from gym sessions to weekend lounging. But when your favourite leggings start to wear out or your running shoes lose their bounce, it’s easy to follow that first thought and toss them out. Instead, we should consider some sustainable alternatives that can help save us money, reduce waste, and make our gear last longer.
In its second week, the Know Your Sportswear campaign is here to share everything you need to know about how recycling, repairing, and rewearing your sportswear:
1. Recycling and Upcycling Sportswear:
The fashion industry generates enormous waste each year, and sportswear—often made from synthetic materials like polyester and nylon—can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. In the U.S. alone, millions of tons of textiles are sent to landfills annually, with synthetic fibres persisting in the environment long after disposal. Fortunately, responsible disposal options are becoming more accessible worldwide.
Major brands now offer recycling programs for old gear. For instance, Nike’s Recycle + Donate program and Girlfriend Collective’s Regirlfriend program encourage customers to send back used items to be repurposed or recycled.
Upcycling is another great option if recycling programs aren’t accessible. Old t-shirts can be repurposed as reusable bags, scrunchies can be made from worn headbands, and leggings can be transformed into cleaning rags. Platforms like Pinterest have tons of simple tutorials to help you get creative with your old gear. Upcycling is a fun, hands-on way to reduce waste and give items a second life.
2. Repairing Your Sportswear:
Before tossing out leggings with a minor tear or shorts with a stretched waistband, consider giving them a quick repair: small fixes, like sewing up a hole or replacing elastic, can keep your gear usable for months or even years. Repairing clothes is affordable and eco-friendly, keeping waste out of landfills.
If you’re up for learning a few basic sewing skills, YouTube is full of tutorials on patching holes and replacing zippers in activewear. Local tailors or repair shops are great options for tougher repairs and can often help at a reasonable price.
Some brands make it easy to repair items, like Patagonia with its Worn Wear program, which offers repairs and sells quality secondhand items to extend their products’ lifespan.
3. Embracing Secondhand and Swapping:
Buying second hand sportswear is another excellent sustainable choice that’s also easy on the wallet. Thrift stores and online marketplaces like Depop, eBay, and Marketplace are loaded with gently used sportswear from top brands at a fraction of the original price.
Clothing swaps are also growing in popularity globally. These events let people exchange used items, giving wardrobes a fresh look without increasing demand for new clothing. If you can’t find a swap event nearby, consider organising one with friends or a local community group.
Shopping secondhand and swapping keeps clothes in circulation, which as you know by now if you are following the Slow Fashion Movement, is key to reducing the environmental impact of fashion.
4. Reducing Microplastics from Synthetic Fabrics:
Most activewear is made from synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, which shed microplastics with each wash. These microplastics often end up in rivers, oceans, and even our food chain, creating a serious environmental issue.
To reduce microplastic pollution, try washing sportswear less frequently or use a laundry bag that catches microplastics before they enter waterways. Washing with cold water and air-drying can also help reduce microplastic shedding while extending the life of your gear.
Several brands now create sportswear using recycled or biodegradable materials to reduce environmental impact. Opting for these brands can make a difference in keeping microplastics out of the environment.
5. Supporting Brands That Prioritise Sustainability:
The shift toward circular fashion (where products are designed to be reused, repaired, or recycled) is gaining momentum. Many brands are creating durable, repairable, and recyclable sportswear, considering the entire product life cycle.
Girlfriend Collective makes sportswear from recycled plastic bottles, while Nimble Activewear produces fabrics from post-consumer waste, such as recycled plastic. Supporting brands that prioritise eco-friendly materials and ethical practices is a great way to help build a more sustainable and slow fashion industry.
Small Changes for a Big Impact
Extending the life of your sportswear doesn’t require a major effort. Small actions, like recycling, repairing, or buying secondhand, can keep your gear in use longer and reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion. Each step you take – mending a tear, organising a swap, or supporting sustainable brands – all adds up.
Small changes will create a big impact!
