Unless otherwise specified, all sizes in this post are listed in women's
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It's time to upgrade your workout wardrobe with some brands that are doing some really cool things.
Unless otherwise specified, all sizes in this post are listed in women's
Wolven is a WOC-founded business that creates sustainable activewear and swimwear. The clothes are made from fabric from recycled plastic water bottles and the patterns come from geometry found in nature. Plus, for every sale, Wolven removes one pound of waste from the ocean.
Get it from Wolven for $54 (available in sizes XS-XL).
Alala is a WOC-owned business offering luxury activewear that can be worn all day long. The pieces are inspired by women's wardrobes and are meant to make the wearer feel powerful.
Promising review: "I live in south Florida where I train outdoors, so I am always looking for something relatively sweat proof (because nothing is 100% sweat-proof in this heat!). This is a great option. It's lightweight, does not absorb sweat the way cotton does, and it is very flattering. I will be buying this in another color!" —MAGGIE
Get it from Alala for $65 (available in sizes XS-3X).
Splendid is a brand that focuses on soft basics, but their activewear also stands up. The styles combine basic pieces with great detailing.
Promising review: "I love this top. It's soft, comfy, and lightweight. It's also fashionable! I would buy it in every color." —Patricia P.
Get it from Splendid for $88 (available in sizes XS-L and in grey and black).
Lydia Endora is a Black woman-owned company offering clothing, accessories, activewear, and swimwear at reasonable prices. This set comes with the leggings and sports bra that are made with a moisture-wicking material.
Get it from Lydia Endora for $89.90 (originally $115; available in sizes XS-2XL).
Spanx is a woman-founded brand mostly known for its shapewear. But the activewear is also really great. They have a lot of seamless styles and basic pieces that really do their jobs. I've been living in these bike shorts recently and am obsessed. They seem pretty small when you first see them, but they stretch a lot, but they're never too tight. I've done many a workout in them, and they stay in place, which is always a great thing. I highly recommend them and may need to get a couple more just so I can wear them every day...
Get them from Spanx for $58 (available in sizes XS-3X and in black and camo).
Superfit Hero is a female-founded brand that focuses on body positivity. All of their clothing is size-inclusive and are offered in sizes up to 5XL. Everything is ethically made in Los Angeles, California.
Promising review: "I love the fit of this tank top so much. It fits in all the right places. My favorite part is how well it keeps the sweat off me through the back! I highly recommended it." —Mike W.
Get it from Superfit Hero for $45 (available in sizes S-5XL).
K-Deer is a female-owned brand offering size-inclusive activewear in bright and fun colors. They're also focused on giving back, and the signature stripe leggings are named after inspiring women. Five percent of proceeds from the leggings to go charity. So far, they've raised more than $150,000.
Promising review: "These are the best leggings I have ever owned! Whenever I wear them, I get so many compliments and everyone wants to know where I bought them at. They're so comfortable — feels like a second skin" — Felicia K.
Get them from K-Deer for $98 (available in sizes XS-4X and in 20 styles).
Rochelle Porter Design is a Black woman-owned business that has been creating bold print activewear in Atlanta, Georgia since 2015. Many of the prints are inspired by the designer's Caribbean roots. These leggings have a four-way stretch and are made with microfiber yarn.
Promising review: "I love these leggings! They stay put and everyone loves the pattern!" —Christa
Get it from Rochelle Porter Design on Etsy for $69 (available in sizes XS-XL). And get the coordinating bra for $44 (available in sizes XS-2X).
Day/Won is a female-founded brand by model Candice Huffine, who after starting to run marathons, realized that there was a lack of high-performance activewear in larger than size 10. The brand is size-inclusive and offers sizes 0-32 on every item they sell. The products are sustainably made in the US.
Get it from Day/Won for $52 (available in sizes XS-5X).
Universal Standard is a woman-owned business focused on size-inclusive clothing. They offer all their styles from a size 00 to 40. These leggings are made with sweat-wicking antimicrobial fabric and a hidden back pocket for an extra detail.
Get it from Universal Standard for $85 (available in sizes 00-40 and in green and black).
All in Motion is a performace-ready brand focused on quality, sustainability, and inclusivity. Most of the pieces in the collection incorporate sustainably sourced materials. This specific bra is made with recycled polyester and has medium support.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this bra! I am extremely picky and have a hard time finding bras that fit well. I usually have to spend an arm and a leg. I also prefer the comfort of sports bras, but don't like how flat-chested and non-lifted I look! This bra gives me both! It looks like a regular bra under clothing but fits with the comfort of a sports bra. The support is also awesome, which is hard for me to find!" —Amanda
Get it from Target for $24 (available in sizes S-XXL and in 1X-4X in three colors).
Pact is a brand that makes organic cotton clothing sustainably and ethically. They believe everyone should be able to have organic alternatives, so the products are at a more reasonable price point. These leggings are made with organic cotton and elastane for stretch and comfort.
Promising review: "I love the fit and comfort of these leggings. They have a high waist and good coverage while looking really stylish!" —Micki1
Get it from Pact for $36 (originally $45; available in sizes XS-XL and in three styles).
Lola Getts is a woman-owned athletic brand that has been designing workout clothing for curvy woman's bodies since 2012. All the items are made in the US. This bralette is designed with compression and moisture-wicking technology.
Get it from Lola Getts for $56 (available in sizes 10-24).
Calia by Carrie Underwood was created by, you guessed it, country superstar, Carrie Underwood. She's known for her killer legs and intense workouts, and her brand holds up to that. The styles are functional but still have details that make them interesting. These shorts have a curved petal hemline to keep them super flattering.
Promising review: "These shorts are comfortable and cute! I got so many compliments on them when I wore them! But more importantly, I love them! I am usually a size small but probably could’ve gotten an extra small in these." —Rtmrunner
Get them from Calia by Carrie Underwood on Dick's Sporting Goods for $40 (available in sizes XS-XL and in three styles).
Nube is a woman-owned company that makes sustainable activewear. The clothes are made from recycled materials in the US. They partner with artists and designers to create the abstract print on their clothes. Five percent of the profits go to the artist. The design in this crop top was created by Chris Ballasiotes.
Get it from Nube for $45 (available in sizes XS-XL).
Free People may be more well known for its boho-inspired clothes, but their activewear is also great. Plus, one percent of all Free People activewear purchases go to benefiting Girls Inc.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this bodysuit. It fits well and makes you feel like a sexy ballerina! The material is durable, comfortable, and stretchy. I feel like you can dress it up with some cute jeans and a nice jacket or even dress it down with some sweats. It's seriously great for any occasion. I am in love! I will definitely be wearing it to yoga sessions, too! I'm ready to buy another." —thisisjoan
Get it from Free People for $40 (available in sizes XS/S and M/L and in eight colors).
Lane Bryant may be known more for its clothing, but they also have an activewear line Livi. These leggings have a 4-inch elastic waistband for extra support and comfort.
Get it from Lane Bryant for $49.95 (available in sizes 14-28).
Aerie is known for its bras and underwear, but their activewear is amazing. The styles are cute and functional, and the brand celebrates body positivity and the empowerment of women. They don't retouch any of the images on the site. This bra is made with a ribbed fabric for comfort and support.
Get it from Aerie for $26.21 (available in sizes XXS-XXL and in five styles). You can also get the coordinating leggings to complete the look above.
CultureFit is a Black woman-owned business creating activewear inspired by West African culture. The leggings are made with moisture-wicking fabric. The leggings are also made 2 inches longer than most, which is great for anyone with especially long legs.
Promising review: "I’m loving my Ankara print leggings! They fit comfortably and allow me to move through Vinyasa flow with ease." —Keisha C
Get them from CultureFit for $54.99 (available in sizes XS-L).
Senita Athletics is a woman-owned business that has been creating affordable and functional activewear since 2015. The products are designed with small details, such as pockets on the sides of most of their leggings and shorts and back pocket on the sports bra that fits a phone. The bra also has removable cups and is wire-free.
Promising review: "I bought this sports bra after hearing so many people rave about it, and I'm so glad that I did! I now have this bra in two colors, and they are so comfy with and without the pads. I wear them for running because of their ability to handle impact, but the pocket is also a great feature! I am a 32 C and a small fit perfectly, without the bottom strap being tight around my rib cage." —Amanda
Get it from Senita Athletics for $26 (available in sizes XS-L and in 10 styles).
Good American is a woman-founded brand that is more well-known for its jeans, but the activewear follows the same ideas of body positivity and inclusivity. The pieces are made with breathable fabrics and high-tech design. These bike shorts are also made with UV protection so you can wear them outside with no problems.
Get them from Good American for $69 (available in sizes 0-7, which fit sizes XS-4XL).
Girlfriend Collective is a woman-owned brand focused on bringing sustainability and inclusivity into activewear. Their pieces are made from recycled water bottles and fishnets. All of their styles are offered in sizes XXS-6X.
Promising review: "I love how these leggings feel! They don’t ride up or down when you move! I love being able to wear them for anything — walking, yoga, lounging. I wore them hiking this past weekend, and they were perfect! O have them in two colors and have been telling everyone about them." —Victoria E.
Get them from Girlfriend Collective for $68 (available in sizes XXS-6XL, three styles, and nine colors).
Pru Apparel is a Black woman-owned business creating printed activewear since 2014. They use culturally-inspired prints to celebrate their heritage. This bodysuit has illustrations of Marula trees from South African all over it.
Get it from Pru Apparel for $75 (available in sizes S-XL).
Shefit is a woman-founded business that has been making customizeable sports bras since 2010. You can customize not only the fit of the bra but also the support. In this specific bra, the straps can be adjusted and also worn as an X-back or H-back. Plus, sizes 1Luxe and up have 1.25 inches of extra padding in the straps. The bra also has has a 2-inch bust band that works to stabilize the breast tissue and make it more comfortable no matter how hard your workout is.
Promising review: "I am a fitness instructor who has struggled to find a supportive sports bra. This bra is perfect. I love that I can adjust it. It’s easy to care for. I will be buying more." —Christine S.
Get it from Shefit for $65+ (available in sizes XS-6Luxe and in five styles).
Damihow is a Black woman-owned brand that offers different collections of activewear pieces, from sculpt, to synergy, to essentials. These shorts are made with polyester and spandex and have a zipper up the front.
Promising review: "I got these shorts, and lemme tell you as I soon as I put them on, I was like "yasss!" The quality is amazing, and they literally sculpt your body. I love them." —Ataysha F.
Get them from Damihow for $26 (available in sizes XS-L)
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.