Bondi Active has dropped a fully sustainable activewear clothing range made from recycled water bottles and fishing wire.
Founded in 2015 by a group of forward-thinking Bondi locals, Bondi Activewear is leading the way in creating high quality and technical pieces in ethical and sustainable ways.
As a brand inspired by coastal lifestyle and lovers of the Ocean, they believe activewear can look good without costing the earth (literally!) With fabrics made from recycled water bottles and fishing wire, their garments reflect not only quality but also integrity and sustainability.
They’ve proven that all the technical elements you’d expect in a high-end activewear product – 4-way stretch, compression fit fabric, quick dry material, moisture wicking etc – are all entirely possible without sacrificing the planet, or the customers budget.
Their new technology uses plastic bottles and fishing wire to create athleisure wear.
Creative Director Jon McGuigan explains; “Our textile factories break down the nylon nets and plastic bottles through a melting and filtering process.
This nylon is then spun into a thread of equal quality to virgin thread. So the garments are made from recycled materials and can themselves by recycled infinity, creating a circular eco-friendly chain of manufacture.”
Athleisure is booming in Australia. With Allied Market Research quoting it’s worth sits at just over US$155 billion, projections suggest this thriving industry will soar to $257 billion by 2026.
Being among the most active Aussies, for Sydneysiders activewear is non-negotiable. One concern however, when it comes to sports apparel is the environmental cost.
Chemical dyes, solvents and other petrochemicals that often go into making activewear are potentially hazardous for the environment causing degradation and a build-up of waste material.
A recent study published In Frontiers in Sports and Active Living asserts, “Sport and fitness have long been linked with healthy lifestyles, yet most sporting events and consumption practices are highly detrimental to the environment.”
Bondi Activewear’s Jon McGuigan explains: “We only use AZO free dyes in all of our products and comply to OEKO TEX- STANDARD 100 certification.
This certification prohibits the use of potentially carcinogenic AZO dyes, formaldehyde and nickel. By leaving these chemicals out of our production process we can do our bit to reduce these toxins from entering our natural environment.”
Whilst it’s frustrating to acknowledge that there is still much improvement needed when it comes to sustainable practices in this space, it’s good to know that some home grown Aussie brands are already making a difference.
Recently launching their Spring 2021 capsule, Alloy, Bondi Active is one of those brands.
“Living near the beach, we are very conscious about wastage and try our best to ensure we are not using material and packaging that is not necessary” says Briony Oayda, Managing Director.
“Bondi is the type of place where everyone has keep-cups and reusable bags so being able to use recycled products in our range was very exciting for us, especially when we discovered that the fabrics were just as good, if not better.”
Releasing this range is a key milestone in our journey of becoming a truly sustainable brand and we are excited to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries to minimize our environmental impact in everything we do.
