There are a lot of alternatives when it comes to working out: some might prefer going for a run or attending outdoor yoga classes, while others might opt for hiking or climbing with friends on the weekends. The point is that, no matter which activity you choose to exercise, you need clothes that put up with that physical effort.
Working out, especially if it is in the open air, is not just good for your physical health, but also your mental health. We tend to spend a lot of time sitting down, in front of a computer, holding a bad posture. And all of this while we are confined in our offices or at home. It is a box, inside a box, inside another box.
On that account, exercising in the open air is nothing but the best remedy one could ask for. The wind blowing in your face, the light breeze embracing your body, the warm touch of the sunlight on your skin, and that cold pure air entering your lungs… What a feeling.
Why Sustainable Workout Clothes?
Our daily routines can often become a trap, where we lose ourselves, and we enter a loop of sedentarism and monotony. Therefore, we need to get back out there and live life. Is it hard to do so? Maybe, mainly because we can’t just quit our obligations and responsibilities. However, we need to make the time for ourselves, for our health both mentally and physically. We need to restart our frequency and only nature can do that for us.
Only the great outdoors can take us back to connect with our inner selves once again. And the best way to do so is getting lost in the adventure and merging as one with nature.
Sustainable Athletic Wear: What Makes it Different?
Being in connection and equilibrium with nature is all we are looking for when designing our ethical workout clothes. Those real moments of recalibration and rediscovery are the soul and foundation of Seadon, and our sustainable gear reflects that.
For that purpose, we work with highly efficient, eco-friendly materials, like recycled polyester, Tencel, merino wool and regenerated nylon as well. We are an eco-friendly activewear brand that wants you to feel good, but also empower you to do good. We want our clothing to make a difference in the preservation and restoration of our planet, and we want you to join us in this adventure. We take so much from Earth that it is about time we give some of it back.
Seadon was born from our joy of traveling the world and experiencing nature in its purest form by hiking, climbing, paddling, swimming or cycling. But it was during those adventures we came to realize that we were not the only visitors at all these magnificent destinations: environmental pollution and waste were taken over them. That is why we decided to act, to revert the situation and to make a difference for our only planet, no matter how.
Our sustainable and ethically made outdoor clothing are delivered in biodegradable packaging with responsibly-produced tags too. They are all certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which guarantees us that they come from responsibly-managed commercial forests that are protecting the environment rather than exploiting it.
We care for our products from beginning to end and that is why we have carefully chosen a biodegradable, water-soluble and non-toxic packaging that won’t damage the planet after its use. In fact, once you have received your order, you can dispose of our packaging by dissolving it in boiling water, composting it or discarding it with your regular trash.
A simple alternative that won’t have any negative consequences to marine life or the environment in general.
We are also certified by the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) independent program, which ensures our community we are committed to an ethical, fair-trade and responsible manufacturing process, and we openly acknowledge our environmental impact.
Eco-Friendly Activewear to Explore the Earth
Feeling uncomfortable while working out might be one of the most unpleasant feelings there is. And we absolutely understand that.
We want you to stay dry and feel comfortable while working out, without the need to compromise your performance or your health. For example, conventional PFC’s technology contains toxic, polluting chemicals that can harm the environment, the workers behind the product and also the wearer. Plus, they take ages to biodegrade.
For all those reasons, we have chosen another path: that is a PFC-free, durable water-repellent finish to protect you from the rain.
For instance, our ultralight Men’s Gale Jacket Featherlight is perfect if you are going for a hike in the mountains and you get caught by a sudden storm. It is ultra packable and the fabric weighs only 40gsm. A go-to option that can fit in your back pocket for all those trail runners and cyclists out there.
On the other hand, our Men’s Shoreline Boardshorts 17" are more appropriate for the summer season. They are a wardrobe essential for those men who prefer exercising at the beach and then taking a plunge into the ocean as a final reward. They provide UPF 50+ sun protection, breathability and they dry quickly.
Instead of using virgin materials, we have opted for both recycled and regenerated fabrics. For example, we have partnered to recover discarded nylon fishing nets 一also known as ghosts nets一 from the ocean, from aquaculture operators and from the fish industry. After a purification process, the recovered nets are regenerated back into pure, original nylon once again. And then reworked into high-quality, technical yarn.
Our sustainable activewear is developed using our innovative knitting technique that provides lightness, dynamic stretchability, a silky-soft feel and durability, without compromising the aesthetic. Who said you can’t look good, while doing good? Among our trail gear, we would like to highlight the versatile Women's Helios Cropped Pants because of their lightweight and adjustable features.
They are an ideal pair of pants for working out as they come with breathable and moisture-wicking properties, and in addition they dry four times faster than cotton. If you are worried about sun protection, they got you covered on that end too. The men’s version for trekking long ridgeline hikes or sending multi-pitch lines are the adjustable Helios Trail Shorts 9" . They are made with our Sunsail™ fabric, which is a highly technical and stretchable textile made from discarded fishing nets. These shorts can actually do it all.
Recycled Fabrics and Sustainable Materials
You need the proper gear when sweating it out and that is why we choose our fabrics very carefully. Tencel is one of the best materials for exercising because of its antimicrobial and moisture absorption properties. It will keep you fresh and dry, while absorbing up to 50% of the sweat at the same time.
It is especially kind on sensitive skins and it can help those of you with allergies too, thanks to its breathability and silky-smooth feel.
Tencel has an ultra-fine fiber structure with thermo-regulating technology, which makes it softer than silk and cooler than linen. In other words, this innovative fabric is built to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. Sustainable athletic wear made of this fiber is an all year long investment.
Some of our activewear pieces are made from recycled polyester fabric certified by Bluesign®. Also known as RPET fabric, it is made from post-consumer plastic bottles and marine plastics.
We know what you are thinking and yes, the best scenario would be that there wasn’t any plastic waste in the world at all. But unfortunately there is and using this type of fabric is a temporary and sustainable solution. Recycled polyester fabric works as a more eco-friendly alternative to virgin polyester, which uses non-renewable resources as raw production material.
The first step in the manufacturing process of recycled polyester is shredding the plastic waste into tiny flakes. Once there is nothing but plastic chips, they are melted and turned into recycled polyester pallets. These are finally melted again and transformed into the finest recycled yarn, that is both soft and durable. It is a sustainable alternative because the whole process reduces greenhouse gases emissions, water use and landfill.
The result? An ultralight, stretchable, silky-soft touch fabric that you can enjoy with our Men’s Trailblazer and Daymaker tees. The Daymaker provides odor crushing Stay Fresh technology from Polygiene®, so you don’t have to compromise either your comfort or performance. With Reinforced DuraStitch seams and under arm gussets for maximum mobility, you will be able to jump on board of any kind of adventure.
The Trailblazer tee has your back, no matter if you are going hiking, running, riding or climbing. You can push to the limit without having to worry about anything, but experiencing the great outdoors. Also equipped with moisture-wicking and drying properties, it dries four times faster than a cotton t-shirt and it uses a revolutionary microalgae technology.
We want our activewear goods to be both technical and sustainable. And that is why we have decided to partner with certified ZQ Merino Wool from New Zealand. It is a world leading wool supplier that guarantees ethically and ecologically regenerative farming techniques. ZQ Merino Wool checks all the boxes: championing animal welfare, environmental sustainability, fiber quality, social responsibility and traceability to source.
What is the difference between ZQ natural fibres and other wools in the market? Well, it is both chemical and wrinkle free. Merino wool is naturally water-repellent because of its hydrophobic properties. Therefore, there is no need to use harsh chemical coatings to keep the wearer dry.
As well, it is also naturally elastic, a quality that makes the fabric wrinkle resistant and wearing ease. ZQ Merino Wool is a 17.5 micron, ultra-fine, ultra-soft handfeel, non-mulesed blend: an ideal fabric for working out.
In fact, you can take a look at our Traveler Merino Tee for both men’s and women’s . The Traveler is made of a Tencel and Merino Wool blend, and it offers lightweight, wash-free freshness. It is indeed great for short and long trips, but it is also a must-have for working out whether it is in summer or winter. You can choose between the long sleeve or short sleeve options.
For more choices, you can explore ourwomen’s and men’s collections. We are constantly working to make our brand as inclusive as possible. You will find that our sustainable fitness clothing comes in a size range that goes from XS to XXL.
Join our Sustainable Worldwide Community
When you purchase our ethical and eco-friendly workout clothes, you become part of a worldwide community that wants to keep things sustainable. We want to feel good and do good all together. With that goal we have partnered with some of the world’s largest non-profits.
For example, we have joined forces with the Bluesign® team so that our textiles comply with eco-friendly and safe standards along the entire supply chain. Working with Bluesign® allows us to reduce our carbon footprint and to support them in the creation of sustainable textiles, while becoming part of a progressive-thinking collective of brands that want to change the world.
Do you believe in karma? We do. And that is why we have also chosen to donate a percentage of our product sales to 1% for the Planet. It is our way of giving back as a sustainable clothing brand.
On the other hand, and thanks to Climate Neutral, we are able to track down and measure our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as receive certification for our offsetting and reducing carbon footprint efforts. We collaborate with different approved initiatives that carry out reforestation and renewable energy projects. To date, we have off set more than 1000 tonnes of footprint, which is equivalent of roughly removing 230 passenger vehicles from the road for a year!
From head to toes, we have all the necessary gear you need to workout in the great outdoors. No matter if it is freezing cold or incredibly hot out there. Our Hugger Merino Wool Beanie™ , for example, is gentle on your head and the planet. Thanks to the thermoregulating properties, it will keep you dry during your whole exercising session, cool in summer and warm in winter.
All of that, while protecting you from the harsh weather conditions. Intelligent fabrics, for intelligent people. Explore our accessories collection here .
We work very hard to make our clothes last, so we break down the wear-and-toss mindset promoted by fast fashion. We keep that in mind when making every single one of our design choices. In fact, all of our activewear goods come in timeless color palettes that won’t go out of style no matter how many seasons go by.
They are meant to be true companions of adventures throughout your entire life, whether you have climbed your first mountain or you have fallen off your bike for the seventh time.
4 Benefits of Exercising Outdoors
Nature is our gym and membership is free. You have found the right, sustainable athletic wear to head out there, but let’s dive into the benefits of why you should exercise outdoors in the first place. As we mentioned at the beginning, working out in the wild, also known as green exercise, is positive for both your mental and physical health.
1. The air is cleaner and fresher
First of all, it is necessary 一almost mandatory一 that you reset your body and freshen your lungs at least once a week. Fresh air has more oxygen, and it is definitely more pure and cleaner than the air circulating in closed spaces. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is better to perform physical activities outdoors rather than indoors because the air is actually less polluted.
2. It relieves stress
On the other hand, green landscapes can raise our serotonin levels and they can also stimulate all our senses. Serotonin is in fact known to be a natural mood stabilizer. Working out by itself helps increase feelings of well-being, while lowering symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety at the same time.
Performing different activities outdoors, from climbing and trekking to cycling and swimming, can trigger primal regions of our brain and psyche too.
3. It promotes happiness
Sun exposure can also increase our vitamin D levels, which is beneficial for our hormones as well. Exercise by itself is positive for our mind and bodies, yet working out outdoors can be even more beneficial. Our endorphins levels increase, promoting feelings of euphoria and happiness. As you can see, direct contact with sunlight can instantly elevate and improve your mood, and provide you with more energy for the mind and body too.
4. It helps with insomnia
Moreover, sweating it out in nature can help those suffering from insomnia. Fresh, clean air and regular exercise can alleviate symptoms of insomnia, can help you fall asleep faster and they can improve the quality of your sleep as well.
We hope we have encouraged you enough to put on your running shoes and head out there! If you would like to learn more about our ethical approach to fashion, then take a look at our latest article What is Sustainable Fashion?
