Since 2020, activewear turned into our everyday uniform. Since 2020, activewear has turned into our everyday uniform. Leggings are not just for the gym anymore; they’re for school drop-off, grocery runs, working from home, coffee dates, and couch time. For a lot of us, that adds up to hours and hours a day in polyester or nylon, or 24 hours a day in synthetic when you consider synthetic undergarments, pajamas and bedding.

We’ve all adopted leggings as a lifestyle at this point. I’m right there with you—Lululemon, Vuori, all the greatest hits. The rise stays put, the lines are clean, the fabric is buttery. What I’m after now is the same sculpted look, minus the extra synthetics and chemical finishes that linger on skin from morning till night.

This guide is your Lululemon-loyal, style-first take on Non-Toxic Activewear: how to keep the aesthetic you love while choosing fabrics and certifications that are kinder on your skin.

If you are just getting started with safer swaps, here is my broader guide to non toxic living so you can zoom out and prioritize.

Your Guide to Non-Toxic Activewear

Here is what you can expect in this guide: a quick primer on what “non-toxic” really means in workout clothes, followed by a brand-by-brand lineup, simple shopping tips to avoid greenwashing, and care notes to make pieces last.

What Does Non-Toxic Mean in Activewear?

Since ‘non-toxic activewear’ isn’t regulated, you can use this as a guide, not a guarantee. These quick checks help you spot safer fabrics, avoid common chemicals, and still get the performance you want.

Skip stain and water-repellent coatings when you can

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are sometimes applied to activewear to add water, oil, and stain resistance. Independent lab screening reported by Environmental Health News found detectable total fluorine, a common PFAS indicator, in about 25 percent of 32 women’s leggings and yoga pants tested from popular brands.

Practical takeaway: if you live in leggings and bras for hours and hours a day, that 25 percent likelihood is enough to choose PFAS-free pieces when you can. Not every pair contains PFAS, but it is common enough that checking materials and looking for PFAS-free or strong certifications such as OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and GOTS (for cotton) is worth the small extra step.

Watch for BPA and similar endocrine disrupting additives

Did you know the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) issued legal notices and filed lawsuits after testing found elevated BPA levels in some sports bras and athletic tops? BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. When possible, choose pieces that specify BPA-free inks, trims, and heat-transfer prints/logos.

Lean on credible third-party standards

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100: As of January 2024, the program screens finished textiles for a broad list of harmful substances and applies a total fluorine limit of 100 mg/kg to address PFAS. Look for “STANDARD 100” on product pages.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): Verifies organic fiber content and restricts hazardous chemicals throughout processing and dyeing. A strong signal for cotton-heavy sets.

Prefer simpler fiber stories for most days

Organic cotton, hemp blends, and lyocell are great go-tos. TENCEL™ lyocell is made in a closed-loop process where more than 99.8 percent of the solvent is recovered and reused, which keeps chemistry tight while delivering a soft, breathable hand. Save more technical blends for high performance workouts that truly need compression or fast dry.

Mind microfibers from synthetic fabrics

If you wear polyester or nylon, wash in a microfiber-catching bag and line dry. A peer-reviewed study found a Guppyfriend bag reduced microfiber release to wastewater by around 54 percent.

“eco-friendly” ≠ “non-toxic”

A quick search for “non-toxic activewear” often surfaces brands that tout recycled polyester or carbon offsets. Those are sustainability claims, which can be great, but they do not automatically address chemical safety on skin. Look for material choices and certifications that specifically limit PFAS, BPA, azo dyes, heavy metals, and other hazardous inputs. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and GOTS speak to chemical content and processing. “Eco-friendly” alone does not.

What Are The Best Non-Toxic Activewear Brands?

These picks keep the clean lines, high-rise waists, and soft or sculpted finishes that Lululemon lovers expect. Always check individual product pages since fabric formulas and certifications evolve.

PACT

Soft, simple leggings and bras with clean ingredients. PACT focuses on organic cotton basics, partners with Fair Trade Certified factories, and is frequently praised for everyday clothing free from harmful chemicals. National Geographic specifically notes PACT sells organic-cotton everyday clothing free from harmful chemicals, including PFAS, and highlights Fair Trade USA and GOTS partnerships. Pieces are primarily organic cotton with a small amount of elastane for stretch.

MATE the Label

Choose pieces from MATE’s active assortment labeled MOVE. The brand states its best-selling active styles are made with 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex. That is the “92 organic cotton” story you want for a soft, matte, second-skin feel with just enough stretch. MATE also publishes a restricted substance list, stating it limits carcinogens, mutagens, and endocrine disruptors, and uses non-toxic dyes across site messaging. MOVE leggings are made of 92% organic cotton, 8% spandex in, as well as organic cotton and TENCEL™ lyocell elsewhere.

Tripulse

“Natural performance” with a supportive hand feel. Tripulse builds with TENCEL™ lyocell and uses ROICA® V550 for stretch, citing OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and Cradle-to-Cradle Material Health Gold for the elastane alternative. Supportive, squat-proof, and skin-conscious.

Namarie

Microplastic-free performance with modern, minimal lines. Namarie’s proprietary Sylvendel® yarn blends hemp with a bio-based elastane from corn. The brand states no nylon or polyester, OEKO-TEX 100 non-toxic reactive dyes, and BPA- and PFAS-free claims. Expect a substantial, sculpting knit that is still breathable.

äktiiv

Plant-based performance with a sleek, gym-ready look. äktiiv says its Proterra and Element yarns are independently certified free of BPA, PFAS, and other harmful substances, meet OEKO-TEX safety levels, and are azo-dye-free with no formaldehyde. If you want technical polish with tighter chemistry guardrails, start here.

Indigo Luna

Yoga-to-coffee sets in calm, nature-inspired palettes. Indigo Luna emphasizes organic and natural fabrics, small-batch production, and gentle dye stories. Great for studio and everyday athleisure that looks polished.

Groceries Apparel

LA-made sets and basics in organic cotton with plant-based, non-toxic Vege-Dye™ color. The Pax Legging is 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex, so it hits that soft, matte feel while avoiding heavy synthetic blends.

Toad & Co

If your workouts blur into dog walks, school runs, and travel, Toad & Co’s TENCEL™ lyocell blends are a comfy middle ground. The brand describes lyocell as processed with non-toxic solvents in a closed loop with ~99% recovery and notes OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification on its yarns. Not compression leggings, but great for light-movement days and layering.

Organic Basics

Calm, Scandinavian basics. You will find TENCEL™ lyocell across its Soft Touch range. If you prioritize a minimal, studio-to-sofa palette, this is a nice place to browse for tees, bras, and soft layers.

Mirror the Look, Upgrade the Materials

Buttery, matte, second-skin studio legging: Try MATE for the 92% organic-cotton stretch, PACT for cotton-rich softness, or Tripulse for a silky lyocell hand with supportive stretch.
Sleek, modern gym vibe: äktiiv gives a clean, technical look with tighter chemical guardrails.
Chill yoga-to-coffee sets: Indigo Luna for calm palettes and gentle dyes, Groceries Apparel for plant-dyed color.
Microplastic-free priority: Namarie focuses on hemp-based yarn and no nylon or polyester.

How to Shop Without Getting Greenwashed

Read the fiber label. Organic cotton or lyocell next to skin, a little stretch when needed. If a product is 80–90 percent recycled polyester, that is still a synthetic fabric and may shed microfibers.
Scan for certifications. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a helpful baseline. For cotton, GOTS is another strong signal.
Look for specific “no” lists. Phrases like “no PFAS, BPA, formaldehyde, or azo dyes” are more meaningful than “eco-friendly.” äktiiv and Namarie publish specific claims.
Know the headlines. Independent testing has found BPA in some sports bras and athletic tops and PFAS indicators in a portion of mainstream leggings. Policy is tightening fast. California’s Safer Clothes and Textiles Act prohibits selling new textile articles with regulated PFAS starting January 1, 2025. New York’s PFAS in Apparel law restricts apparel with intentionally added PFAS, with effective dates beginning December 31, 2023 and further restrictions rolling through January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2028. Brands are phasing PFAS out, but inventories can lag, so checking current materials and certifications still matters.

Care Tips That Support Skin and Garment Life

Wash less, air more. Let leggings air out between wears.
Cold water, non-toxic detergent. Skip added fragrance to minimize skin exposure.
Microfiber catchers. If you keep synthetic pieces in rotation, use a laundry bag or filter to reduce shedding.
Sun and time. Line-dry when you can; heat can degrade elastane faster over the long term.

Ready to Upgrade?

If you love the Lululemon and Vuori silhouette, you don’t have to trade it to take better care of your skin. Let this guide nudge you toward fabrics and finishes that feel just as good- minus the harsh add-ons. Same look, kinder of the skin.

Small swaps add up, especially in the pieces you wear all day. Here’s to feeling good in your skin and in your clothes!

Non-Toxic Activewear: What to Buy and Why