Fast fashion is everywhere — and it’s especially rampant in activewear. That trendy pair of leggings? Likely made of cheap synthetic materials like polyester, built to fall apart after a few wears and head straight to the landfill.
But the real cost of fast fashion isn’t just quality — it’s the environment, your health, and a system designed to keep you buying more and expecting less.
What Is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is the rapid production of inexpensive clothing designed to chase trends and maximize profit. It’s driven by speed, volume, and synthetic fabrics that are cheap to manufacture but expensive for the planet to absorb
Plastic Disguised as Performance
Over 60% of all clothing — and the vast majority of activewear — is made from synthetic plastic fibers like polyester, nylon, and elastane. These fabrics are cheap to produce, but they come with a hidden price:
- They shed microplastics into oceans with every wash
- They don’t biodegrade
- They’re often treated with toxic chemicals like BPA and PFAS
Case Study: What’s in a “High-Performance” Legging?
Let’s break it down:
A typical fast fashion legging labeled “buttery soft” is likely made from polyester blended with elastane — both derived from petroleum. The fabric is treated with chemical softeners and dyed using heavy metals. It feels good for a few weeks, but after 10–20 wears, it loses stretch, pills, and holds odor — and eventually ends up in a landfill, where it will sit for centuries.
Meanwhile, those same materials have likely leached chemicals into your skin and shed plastic fibers into the water supply every time you wash them.
What EveryRep Does Differently
At EveryRep, we don’t cut corners. We believe your activewear should be built to perform, last, and decompose — without compromising your health or the planet. That’s why we use plant-based and CICLO® biodegradable fabrics like TENCEL™ Modal and BioLuxe™ nylon. These materials are:
- Free from BPA, PFAS, and phthalates
- Breathable, soft, and naturally moisture-wicking
- Made to break down over time, not pile up in landfills
3 Ways to Avoid Fast Fashion Activewear
- Invest in Fewer, Better Pieces
A capsule wardrobe with 5–7 high-quality EveryRep pieces outperforms a drawer full of toxic throwaways. - Check the Fabric Tag
If it’s 100% polyester or nylon with no mention of eco-certification, skip it. - Avoid Trend-Only Brands
Brands with weekly product drops and ultra-low prices are almost always cutting corners.
Fast fashion activewear may look good on the shelf — but it’s costing us far more than we see. Choose breathable, biodegradable, and body-safe performance wear that respects your goals and your values.
