Our goal in creating YouWear was simple: give our community the most sustainable activewear out there without sacrificing even an ounce of stretchy comfort. We designed YouWear to support you in everything that makes you feel, well, like you. Whether that’s getting on a spin bike, meditating, cooking, or having coffee with friends, we’ve got you. And what if your activewear didn’t just support you feeling good in your body but was part of something bigger — like saving our planet?

 

 

How it’s Made

YouWear is made using a closed-loop recycled polyester. But not just any recycled polyester. This recycled polyester is unique because it comes from 100% post-consumer garments, meaning that instead of clogging up landfills, old clothes become new ones.

It works like this: 

1. Used polyester garments get recovered.
2. These garments then get broken down to remove any impurities.
3. A new polyester yarn gets created from the old materials.
4. This yarn gets spun into fabric, which is way less harsh on the planet than its petroleum counterparts.
5. Garments that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill get a new life in your closet.

 

Kendra is wearing the InMotion HighRise Leggings in size L and the InMotion Double Scoop Bra size L in Meteorite.

 

The Sustainable Upside

Pretty cool, right? Not only does this process divert huge amounts of waste from landfills, but it also reduces CO2 emissions by 80% compared to your average activewear production. Most activewear is made from polyester, which usually comes from petroleum — the same stuff that makes plastic. Creating typical polyester fibre is a super carbon-intensive process that’s considered non-renewable. But by breaking these garments down, we’re able to produce a material that brings us that much closer to a fully closed-loop production process creating less and less need for new, virgin materials in the world.

 

 

What About Microfibre Shedding?

Creating sustainable apparel doesn’t start and end with manufacturing. A product’s impact on the planet actually depends a lot on how you care for it. Things like washing, its life-span in your closet, and where it goes once you’re done with it all factor into the sustainability equation. One of the key problems with washing your stuff too frequently is producing microfibre shedding. Microfibre shedding is when tiny fibres from your clothing shed, typically through washing cycles, and make their way into waterways. This can cause really big problems for marine life and the overall health of our oceans and rivers. The good news is that fabrics with tighter knits and smoother surfaces (like the fabric we use for YouWear) produce less shedding. 

That being said, any inclination to protect our planet is a good one. We wanted to share a few tips for extending the life of your new YouWear pieces and reducing their microfibre shed. These tips are great for all your apparel care and will seriously reduce your footprint over time! 

1. Wash your clothing less. Try using a fabric freshener between washes like this one from The Laundress to keep things smelling fresh!
2. Using a light-duty liquid detergent prevents fabric stripping and extends its life.
3. Wash in cold water always!
4. Use a GuppyFriend bag in the wash to reduce microfibre pollution in waterways.
5. Re-sell, recycle, or repurpose your clothes once you’re done with them to avoid filling up landfills. Microfibres from discarded clothing have a sneaky way of making their way into waterways.

 

The best thing about YouWear is that it feels, dare we say, even better than the activewear we have in our drawers? It’s super soft, super stretchy, and hugs you just the way you want to be hugged. We’re so excited for you to try YouWear and discover just how comfortable making sustainable choices can be.