Finding alternatives to Lululemon is cheaper and beneficial for the environment

Last year, I spoke a lot about Shein and their mass production of garments, which has led to fast fashion and the lack of safe working conditions. While the pricing is cheap and affordable for people, mass consumption of Shein products is a prime example of fast fashion. It’s a new year, which means a new brand to speak on and recommend alternatives. If you are a friend of mine, then you know how I feel about Lululemon. I would consider it expensive athletic wear.

My first large issue with Lululemon leggings is the pricing. For me, $118 for a pair of leggings is not something I am willing to spend. I understand that sometimes items that are good quality will cost you a bit more; however, looking at the quality of the leggings, the price doesn’t hold up. The main blend of fabric used in polyester, nylon and lycra are synthetic materials derived from crude oil that shed microfibers. It’s one thing to find Lululemon at a thrift shop and pick it. It’s another thing for me to spend over $100 on clothing that does more harm than good.

While the company has stated an effort to be more sustainable, there hasn’t been a significant enough change to prove it. A website that I use to find brands and see if they are ethical and sustainable is “Good On You.” They research the performances of the brand, reviewing the location and type of material used—exactly what Lululemon lacks. Subsequently, it’s not just the price that’s the issue; their working conditions are also poor. The main issue is denying their workers a living wage.

While I could go on about why I’m personally not too fond of Lululemon as a brand, I do want to take the chance to provide some other athletic brands that are better in my opinion. Girlfriend Collective is the first brand with about the same pricing as Lululemon leggings. The main thing I love about this brand is how transparent they are regarding what goes into its clothes. A pair of their leggings are 79% recycled plastic bottles and 21% spandex. The most expensive pair of leggings is $98, so if you still want to spend a lot on leggings for that “luxury feel,” the leggings are also priced higher. They’re also more size inclusive than Lululemon. As an added bonus, Girlfriend Collective uses Social Accountability International (SA8000), a code to ensure that their workers are paid fairly and the conditions are safe.

The second brand that I recommend is called “Boody.” They have been finding ways to minimize textile waste and reduce water usage. The manufacturing of their clothes has been certified by “Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production,” which watched the health and safety of the workers involved. Another brand that caught my attention is POPFLEX. While it doesn’t have an SAI rating, as I mentioned with the other two stores on “Good On You,” it is a small brand that I discovered through YouTube. The CEO and lead designer behind POPFLEX, Cassey Ho, aims to make athletic wear that looks cute and comfy. Since we have been looking at leggings and pricing, they have a decent selection of sizes for a small brand, and the highest price for leggings is $70. As for being eco-friendly, the company is very transparent. They aim to push towards being 100% eco-friendly and use materials that are toward that, such as cotton and hemp.

In the future, I am excited to see where this brand goes and if it starts to grow within the athletic industry. Just like Shein, there are plentiful better and more sustainable options than Lululemon; all it takes is the willingness to find them.