Picture by Reprise Activewear
This submit accommodates some affiliate hyperlinks, which suggests in case you make a purchase order, EcoCult receives a small proportion of the sale worth. We solely advocate manufacturers that we really imagine in. Assist our editorial work by supporting them!
For many people, yoga isn’t nearly firming muscle or burning fats. It’s connecting along with your thoughts and physique. And since I’ve eczema, half the battle for me is discovering snug exercise garments that aren’t itchy. In spite of everything, it’s practically unattainable to focus in your breath when your legs are in full irritation mode.
Eczema, a typical pores and skin situation in america, impacts an estimated 31.6 million people within the one nation alone. In reality, the National Eczema Association states that one in 10 folks will develop eczema sooner or later of their life, with some very uncomfortable signs—together with itching, burning, lesions, and flaking.
Many individuals with pores and skin circumstances have seen anecdotally that artificial materials may cause a response. That might be due to the material itself, or due to the dyes. As Alden discusses in her upcoming e book To Dye For, azobenzene disperse dyes—used on polyester materials—might be significantly poisonous to these persistent pores and skin points, autoimmune illnesses, and allergy symptoms. A number of are recognized sensitizers and allergens, however additional analysis and testing has revealed that it’s potential all azobenzene disperse dyes are sensitizers, which suggests nearly all polyester merchandise may cause itching and irritation.
So, contemplating that almost all activewear isn’t eczema-friendly, what is protected to put on, and comes with out the itch?
Enter: pure fibers and dyes. Materials like GOTS-certified cotton, Tencel lyocell, and bamboo might be dyed utilizing non-toxic, pure, and/or plant-based dyes that might be extra snug for these with delicate pores and skin.
Dope dye, a novel dyeing course of that entails incorporating shade into polyester fibers earlier than they’re spun into yarn, can be gaining popularity within the activewear trade. It’s presupposed to require much less water and chemical compounds throughout manufacturing, and allow for better dye retention in materials than customary strategies—so much less threat of the dye bleeding. The massive downside is that dope-dyed polyester is one stable shade, and might’t be printed with enjoyable patterns. Though dope dye has been adopted by manufacturers from a sustainability standpoint, we’re curious whether or not dope-dyed polyester might be an answer for these with delicate pores and skin who need to put on artificial activewear.
We determined to check out a few of our theories round pores and skin sensitivities and yoga pants to find out if there actually are stretchy yoga pants on the market that don’t make me itch.
I examined a number of totally different manufacturers with various levels of pure vs. artificial materials, in addition to one which makes use of dope dye in its manufacturing course of in hopes of discovering yoga pants that I can advocate that aren’t itchy and uncomfortable for folks like me. All the yoga pants I examined have been both black, navy, or deep brown, as these darker hues usually pack probably the most chemical dyes. Right here’s my private expertise with every model.
What we love: Utilizing materials derived from crops, together with bamboo, tencel, and GOTS-certified natural cotton, Asquith strives to supply non-toxic activewear and loungewear that doesn’t break the financial institution. Its merchandise are free from harsh azobenzene dyes and authorized by Oeko-Tex, are produced in fair-trade factories in Turkey and India, and are made to final with the intention to cut back post-consumer waste. This model gives a choice of leggings in various types, colours and suits, so that you’re sure to seek out one thing that works along with your wardrobe.
Our overview: These leggings felt like sporting a cloud. I couldn’t inform for the whole lot of my yoga follow that I used to be sporting yoga leggings fairly than free pants, and although they’re made with out the artificial stretchy materials like spandex, they allowed for full motion and circulation. I by no means felt any itching or skilled any flare-ups your complete day I wore these, and even after washing, they remained silky mushy and clean.
What we love: Reprise gives yoga pants in materials which are 100% polyester-free to maintain plastic off the physique. The model as a substitute makes use of naturally-sourced fibers together with sustainably-produced eucalyptus Tencel, which is dyed utilizing solely GOTS- and Oeko-Tex-certified dyes in attractive pure hues.
Be careful for: Although the model may be very clear about it, its leggings are nonetheless about seven p.c spandex (elastane) for stretch and sturdiness.
Our overview: I wore these for a whole time out and about, after which for an easy-going yoga class. They weren’t solely comfortably minimize, however they didn’t rub or dig on the seams, and didn’t trigger any reactions. I couldn’t imagine how mushy the material is even after washing and air-drying. Even with the small proportion of spandex, I didn’t expertise any reactions. Reprise’s leggings are positively a go for me.
What we love: This model was based on the concept the patron greenback is best spent on one thing dearer and long-lasting than on quick trend. It makes use of pure fibers, together with natural cotton, lycra, and bamboo, to craft low-impact textiles made to final. Every bit is impressed by pure science and crafted by small, family-owned operations in Bali. Though its choice isn’t monumental, the model’s leggings make excellent health club staples.
Our overview: I might inform immediately that these leggings are constituted of actual cotton, and never from elastane or spandex like these made by most main athletic manufacturers. They’re mushy, stretchy, and surprisingly snug. My solely gripe was that the material began to really feel somewhat abrasive throughout a sizzling yoga session, which I chalked as much as a combination of sweat and warmth. After the primary wash, they have been as soon as once more mushy and able to go.
What we love: Pact tracks the environmental affect of each product they produce by Simpli Zero. It makes use of 100% natural GOTS-certified cotton for its leggings, which makes them mushy, breathable, and comfortable sufficient for lounging. The model may be very clear, together with particular particulars about every product and its certifications inside its listings. Right here, you could find a choice of cute patterns, staple colours, and cuts for various physique sorts.
Our overview: These yoga pants have been surprisingly stretchy, contemplating the excessive proportion of cotton within the material. The match and minimize have been snug, and I by no means discovered myself climbing them again up, which is a large plus. After a number of yoga courses and some good runs in these, I felt completely no itching, irritation, or burning–even on the seams. I appreciated that they have been breathable sufficient to forestall heat spots on my pores and skin and didn’t tablet or roll over after sporting and washing loads of occasions.
What we love: This model’s leggings are constituted of sustainably sourced bamboo, which makes them extra mushy and absorbent than cotton leggings. Boody gives a choice of staples in yoga pants and leggings in pure and darkish hues. B-Corp licensed and vegan, the model exams its textiles for azobenzene disperse dyes, heavy metals, and formaldehyde to adjust to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards.
Watch our for: Boody’s leggings embody nylon and spandex in its bamboo mix, which might be irritating for individuals who are delicate to elastane.
Our overview: With excessive hopes, I examined a pair of cropped leggings from the model’s lineup for a day. I discovered that whereas I solely skilled minimal itching all through the day throughout each day actions like jogging and working errands, I had developed fairly the rash by the point I took them off. Sadly, these yoga pants appeared to include materials that didn’t agree with my delicate pores and skin.
What we love: This model is incorporating dope dye into a few of its polyester merchandise, which is a extra sustainable possibility for coloring textiles, saving significantly on water consumption through the use of dry pellets to paint the fabric earlier than the thread is spun. At $54, it’s one of many extra reasonably priced manufacturers we tried.
Be careful for: A lot of Gymshark’s choices nonetheless aren’t produced utilizing dope dye methods. The details about dyes might be very imprecise on the web site, which makes it troublesome to discern dope dyed merchandise from these which are made utilizing customary dye methods. We didn’t discover any info on the model web site that states whether or not the thread used within the seams of clothes is dope dyed. Moreover, its merchandise are nonetheless shipped in plastic packaging, which is (supposedly) recyclable, however not recycled.
Our overview: It’s arduous to inform if the discomfort of those yoga pants have been a results of the material, the match, the dyes, or simply the artificial stitching on the seams, however inside a number of hours of attempting them out, I started to itch on the seams of the yoga pants.. I went for a brisk stroll, did some family chores, and made it all the way down to the espresso store earlier than realizing that I had an simple itch that ultimately became a raised rash on my thighs. I solely lasted a half day in them. As hopeful as I used to be that dope dye was an answer for skin-sensitive folks like me, these aren’t it.
