The Girlfriend Collective: a Sustainable, Ethical Activewear Brand
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Have you ever thought about the impact your activewear has on the environment? Ellie Quang and her husband and business partner have. The two founded the Girlfriend Collective, a sustainable activewear brand based in Seattle. Ellie wanted to create activewear that was chic and functional and Quang had found a way to make polyester out of recycled water bottles, so they created a brand that supported an active lifestyle while also celebrating the earth. Instead of fashion and activewear having a negative impact on the environment, Girlfriend is reframing that idea and providing innovative ways fashion can help the environment rather than hurt it. Their passion and determination for more sustainable fashion provides hope for an overall more sustainable industry.
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Transparency is a core value of Girlfriend–they share everything with their customers. Their website goes in depth about each step of their products’ lifecycle. They currently use a facility in Taiwan to produce their textiles that specializes in high quality eco-friendly materials. The cut and sew process then takes place at their partner facility in Hanoi, Vietnam which they hand picked for their sustainable and ethical reputation. The Girlfriend Collective ensures that every worker receives a fair wage and safe and healthy working conditions. Girlfriend also provides their factory workers with free healthcare and other benefits.
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The Girlfriend Collective makes sure that not only their factories are safe, but they also ensure that the fabrics and materials they use to produce their clothing are safe for the people that wear them and make them. They use a variety of environmentally friendly materials that set them apart from the competition. Girlfriend’s best selling leggings are amongst some of the garments made from recycled PET. They prevent post consumer plastic from polluting the environment and turn that plastic into comfortable and cute activewear. They also use ECONYL® which is regenerated nylon made from old fishing nets, old carpets, and other nylon waste. For many of Girlfriend’s shirts and tanks, they use cupro fabric, which is a waste byproduct of cotton production. Cupro is a silky soft material that helps divert waste from landfills. Girlfriend’s range of fabrics shows how dedicated they are to constant innovation so that they can better help the earth.
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Girlfriend is also working towards a more circular supply chain with their ReGirlfriend program. Only about one percent of all textile waste is recycled, which is why the ReGirlfriend program allows customers to send in their old, worn out Girlfriend clothing to be recycled and turned into new clothing. Activewear, especially, goes through a lot of wear and tear–from squats in the gym to hiking in the mountains, there’s lots of opportunities for activewear to get ruined. But Girlfriend has created a solution so that you don’t have to contribute to the growing textile waste in landfills.
COURTESY OF GIRLFRIEND
Girlfriend has the best breathable, moveable, and squat-proof activewear. Their leggings are loved by all and come in so many beautiful colors. They also have the most comfortable dresses perfect for going on a run or for dressing up and going to brunch with friends. Girlfriend’s inclusive sizing makes it easy for everyone to find cute, sustainable, and functional activewear that actually performs well. They even have a swim collection that’s perfect for surfing or suntanning. If you’re looking for some new workout gear or loungewear, the Girlfriend Collective is a must try.