Asquith London’s Non-Toxic, Sustainable Workout Gear Is Everything I Ever Wanted

This post was sponsored by Asquith London, a brand I already loved! All thoughts my own.

That title, my friends, is no exaggeration. Having recently won the Asquith Adores Blogger Award for ethical/sustainable blogger (can you believe?!), and having been a wearer and lover of this brand for a while now, it seemed only fitting to finally shed some light on the wonderful world of workout gear from Asquith London.

Because I trained in contemporary dance, nearly all of my workout gear has been leotards and cycling shorts for most of my life. While these may be perfect for an arabesque or some Graham floor work, they’re not exactly suited to the gym. Over the past year I started expanding my exercise schedule to include a whole variety of new classes beyond dance, which also meant I really needed some gym gear that was actually appropriate to what I was doing. I had some secondhand running shoes from a friend who wasn’t using them, plus a couple of secondhand pairs of leggings, but it wasn’t enough when I started upping my game.

It was at this point when Asquith London first came into my life. Established in 2002, they’re an athleisure brand with ethics and sustainability at their core, who prioritise creating activewear that can be worn every day, from the studio to the street. As a company they’re passionate about promoting a holistic approach (my favourite kind), and moving to a more gentle and ethical way of living. And here are the reasons why my love affair with them is likely to last a lifetime.

organic cotton and bamboo pilates leggings available here, bras available here, shoes secondhand

Ethical & Inclusive

All Asquith London’s collections are made in a family-run factory in southern Turkey. The factory was established 22 years ago by a Turkish businesswoman, and has since gone on to work with an impressive client list. Over the years it has expanded, but is still privately owned, and the 50-strong team work a 9-5 day, receive paid holiday and are treated well. You can see photos of Alice, Asquith’s founder, alongside the workers here, which is always a sign that a brand isn’t greenwashing and is committed to transparency and ethical production.

The factory also has GOTS organic certification; a thorough certification which both guarantees that workers are treated well and there’s no slavery in the supply chain, alongside requirements that the actual textiles, dyes and packaging are all eco-friendly, low impact, organic and post-consumer recycled or FSC certified. The factory building even has a roof terrace where they grow their own herbs for cooking lunches in their canteen! Additionally, Asquith London don’t use animal products and don’t use products tested on animals.

Beyond the ethical treatment of workers, Asquith London also think about the treatment of their customers too. The availability of plus size options in sustainable fashion (and the fashion world in general) has been hotly debated, but it’s abundantly clear that the demand is there, if the supply would meet it. Asquith specifically addresses the need for more plus size options; their XXL sizing can fit up to a UK size 20, and their designs are also perfect for maternity and post-partum bodies too. Their clothes come with looser, supportive options and in fabrics that have excellent stretch capabilities, making them ideal for normal humans with bodies that change and fluctuate over time. Plus their organic and non-toxic credentials are the perfect way to avoid chemical laden fabrics during pregnancy too.

camouflage yoga clothes available here, shoes secondhand

top my own (secondhand of course), trousers sold out but other organic cotton and bamboo pilates pants available here

Non-Toxic, Breathable, Super Soft

This creation without pesticides and synthetic chemicals is also extremely important to me. Pesticides are democratic in the damage they cause: they poison up to 25 million farmers per year and cause a range of issues including cancer, harming reproductive and immune systems, hurting fetal development, damaging the nervous system, neurological problems, and respiratory issues. They don’t simply disappear once your clothes reach you, Greenpeace has found toxic chemicals including phthalates, Azo dyes, PFCS, and heavy metals such as lead and chromium, in the products of multiple mainstream brands. These chemicals can be absorbed through our skin (also known as dermal absorption), and our absorption rate can increase by 50% when sweating. This basically means that, whatever toxic chemicals we absorb from regular clothes from mainstream brands, we absorb twice as much from our gym clothes. So it makes sense to opt for sustainable and gentle fabrics instead, fabrics that won’t harm our planet, won’t harm workers, and won’t carry toxins to be absorbed by us either.