Authors note: This post contains affiliate links! That means that if you shop through my links, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting my site! – Kk
Purusha People came into my life when I needed them the most. It was a few days before the New Year, and the one “slow fashion” change I hadn’t fully made was with my activewear. I had replaced my Nike running tights with “made in LA” brands to reduce my carbon footprint, but was that enough?
Turns out, it wasn’t. The LA brands I had found were still made of plastic materials. That means every time I washed them, microplastics were making their way into the ocean! Ack!
Polyesters comeback
Polyester fabrics went out of style soon after the 70s, but have made a huge comeback in recent years thanks to our societies’ obsession over activewear (*cough* leggings). Brands caught on quick and started pumping out more and more leggings. Some, like Fabletics, focus on cheaper prices but pay almost no attention to how they are affecting the planet/humans wellbeing.
Polyester fabric is dependent on fossil fuels, is known for giving worse body odor (hello trapped bacteria), and has known cancer causing carcinogens in it. On top of all that… there hasn’t been much research on how wearing plastic while we’re sweating effects our own health.
But what about recycled plastics?
Other brands took a more ethical approach by making activewear out of recycled plastics. This is commonly done with recycled plastic bottles.
On the surface, that sounds awesome! Right?? Less plastic bottles in landfills? Unfortunately it’s not as awesome as we may think it is because those recycled plastics are now being put through a washing machine periodically. Every time we wash our plastic based workout gear (recycled or not), microplastics wash away and end up in our oceans!
Those microplastics obviously negatively affect animals and the environment, but they also negatively affect us humans too. Did you know it’s now estimated that humans unknowingly eat an average of 5 grams of plastic a week? That’s like eating one credit card a week!?
Purusha People’s Plant Based Activewear
Luckily, there’s an alternative to plastic activewear! Plant based activewear!!
Purusha People makes 100% plant based activewear using Forest Fiber. Forest Fiber is a wood pulp made up of eucalyptus, acacia, birch, beech, pine, poplar, and maple trees. Purusha People sources its Forest Fiber from tree farms in Eastern Europe who harvest it sustainably.
Forest Fiber is a durable, silky, wrinkle free fabric that effectively moves moisture (sweat) away from your body and into the air around you. The Purusha People brand believes Forest Fiber is the future of activewear, and they would love us all to join in on their revolution!
Click here to shop Purusha People! If you are unhappy with your workout clothes, you can return them for a full refund!
Purusha People’s background story
Purusha People is a brand that has a story similar to my own. The creator, Hayley, had started the brand after learning to dye yoga gear with plants. The brand grew, and Hayley found a seamstress to work with so the garments were 100% made by them. At some point, Hayley went out and bought a shiny new fabric to try something different. The shiny yoga gear was a huge hit, so the brand dove head first into all things shiny.
Unfortunately, creating solely for others will take away your creative mojo after awhile. This is something I learned myself when I started posting what was trending, instead of what spoke to me. Hayley ultimately reached a point where Purusha People was barely surviving. She tried to resuscitate it by changing the name and then the theme, but it wasn’t working.
Eventually Hayley returned to her love of nature and plants. She rebooted Purusha People with 100% plant based active wear that is hand made and hand dyed.
Purusha People’s Revolution
Purusha People and myself hope that you will try out plant based activewear!
I’m a proud Purusha People Ambassador, so if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, send them my way!
Click here to shop, and use code “kkantoinette” for 10% off!
xo Kk
Looking for more posts about fashion?
Why not take the first step towards the slow fashion lifestyle?
Check out my “Transition from fast to slow fashion” series below!
- Kk Bray is an outfit repeater: Why I’m switching to slow fashion
- Overview: 5 baby steps to transition to slow fashion
- One: 5 Fast Fashion brands you need to break up with.
- Two: Breaking up with Fast Fashion Influencers
- Three: Beauty Brands to ditch and keep.
