Every pair of leggings I own says something like ‘moisture-wicking’ or ‘four-way stretch’ on the tag. None of them say what they’re actually made of. That’s not an accident. Until recently, almost nobody was asking.
Over the last year, though, I’ve noticed something changing. The conversation around activewear feels different than it did even a few years ago. Instead of asking which leggings have the best compression or which matching workout set is trending on TikTok, people are asking entirely different questions. What are these clothes actually made of? Why is almost every piece of activewear made from plastic? Are there healthier alternatives? More importantly, do we really need to keep buying brand-new synthetic workout clothes every season?
This isn’t a passing trend. It’s people connecting two things they’d been treating as separate. What’s good for their body and what’s good for the planet. And realizing the same fabric decision answers both questions.
Comsumers Are Rethinking What’s In Their Workout Clothes
The statistics are hard to ignore. In 2023, the Center for Environmental Health tested leggings, sports bras, and athletic shirts from nearly two dozen major brands — including Nike, Athleta, Adidas, and Patagonia — and found BPA levels up to 40 times California’s legal safety limit. BPA is an endocrine disruptor. It mimics estrogen and interferes with the hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and reproduction. And it was showing up in the fabric people wear for hours at a time, sweating, in the areas of skin most likely to absorb it.
To me, these numbers tell a much bigger story than a few trending keywords. What stood out most wasn’t simply the increase in searches—it was the reason behind them. People aren’t suddenly obsessed with cotton workout sets. They’re beginning to question why nearly every pair of leggings on the market is made from synthetic materials in the first place. That’s a much bigger shift than one trend replacing another because it suggests consumers are rethinking something the industry has treated as normal for decades.
The Shift Goes Beyond Activewear
This was never really about leggings. It’s part of the same shift that’s had people buying secondhand, repairing what they own, and asking where their clothes are actually made.
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed more people becoming interested in where their clothes are made, how long they’ll last, and whether they’re worth buying in the first place. More shoppers are embracing secondhand fashion, investing in higher-quality basics, repairing what they already own, and choosing natural fibers whenever possible. Activewear is simply the latest category to come under that same scrutiny.
Why Polyester is Receiving More Attention
The reality is that most activewear today is made from polyester, nylon, elastane, and other synthetic fibers. These materials have become the industry standard because they’re lightweight, stretchy, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to market as “performance fabrics.”
According to the European Environment Agency, between 60 and 70 percent of textiles produced today are made from synthetic fibers, and polyester alone accounts for well over half of all global fiber production, making it the world’s most widely used textile fiber. That’s the reason this conversation matters beyond one category of clothing. Polyester isn’t a niche fabric. It’s the material the entire industry runs on.
That’s why this conversation isn’t simply about avoiding one fabric. It’s about recognizing that much of the fashion industry has become dependent on petroleum-based materials that are inexpensive to produce but come with significant environmental consequences.
The European Environment Agency also notes that less than one percent of textiles worldwide are recycled into new textiles, based on estimates from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. That means the overwhelming majority of clothing eventually ends up in landfills, incinerators, or is downcycled into lower-value products rather than becoming new garments.
When you combine those statistics with the rapid pace of trend cycles, it’s easy to see why more of us are beginning to question whether our current approach to clothing is sustainable.
The Wellness Industry Has a Contradiction
One of the reasons I think this conversation has gained so much momentum is because it exposes a contradiction that has existed for years. We’re encouraged to eat organic foods, avoid unnecessary chemicals in skincare, drink filtered water, and make healthier choices in almost every area of our lives. At the same time, many of us have closets full of leggings, sports bras, and athletic tops made almost entirely from petroleum-based plastics.
The activewear industry has spent decades selling these fabrics as the healthiest option available, without being transparent about what they’re actually made of. That disconnect is exactly what people are starting to question.
Microplastics and Chemical Concerns Are Driving the Conversation
Environmental concerns are another major reason shoppers are paying closer attention to synthetic clothing. The European Environment Agency identifies synthetic textiles as a recognized source of microplastic pollution, estimating that between 200,000 and 500,000 tonnes of microplastics from textiles enter the world’s marine environment every year through wearing and washing synthetic garments.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’ve written about microplastics several times because they’re becoming impossible to ignore. Scientists are still working to better understand their long-term impacts on human health, but we already know synthetic clothing contributes to microplastic pollution throughout its lifespan.
At the same time, concerns about chemicals used in clothing have added another layer to the discussion. The Center for Environmental Health previously reported testing that found certain leggings, sports bras, shorts, and athletic shirts could expose wearers to BPA levels exceeding California’s safe exposure limit. BPA is known as an endocrine-disrupting chemical because it can interfere with hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, development, and reproduction.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have also explored how toxic chemicals carried by microplastics could potentially become available for absorption through the skin. While research in this area is still evolving, studies like these are encouraging people to take a closer look at what they’re wearing every day, especially clothing that’s designed to sit tightly against the skin during exercise.
Does This Mean You Should Throw Away Your Activewear?
No. That’s not the takeaway. If your closet is already full of synthetic workout clothes, replacing everything overnight would create even more waste. The most sustainable thing you can do is keep wearing what you already own until it reaches the end of its life. This conversation isn’t about guilt. It’s about making more informed choices the next time you actually need something new.
Secondhand and Natural Fibers Are Becoming Part of the Solution
One of my favorite parts of this trend is that it isn’t only about buying different products. It’s also about buying fewer new ones.
The growing interest in vintage activewear tells me that more people are realizing they don’t always need the newest matching set every season. Shopping secondhand extends the life of clothing that’s already been produced, reduces demand for new manufacturing, and keeps perfectly wearable items out of landfills. Even if a secondhand piece is made from polyester, giving it a longer life is almost always a better environmental choice than purchasing another brand-new synthetic garment. That’s why I always encourage people to shop their own closet first, then secondhand, and only buy new when they truly need to.
At the same time, shoppers are becoming more interested in natural fibers like cotton, hemp, and merino wool whenever those materials make sense for their needs. These fabrics aren’t perfect, and they aren’t the right choice for every activity, but they represent a growing desire for clothing that’s made from renewable materials rather than fossil fuels.
Ultimately, I don’t think people are looking for perfection. They’re looking for better options, greater transparency, and brands that are honest about what goes into the products they sell.
Final Thoughts
This was never really about leggings. It’s shoppers asking the same question about their gym clothes that they’ve started asking about everything else: what is this actually made of, and do I need to buy it new? Synthetic fabric isn’t going away, and it shouldn’t — there are still workouts where you need what polyester does. But brands are going to have to start answering for it instead of hiding behind the word ‘performance.’
