Girlfriend Collective Review: Sustainable, Size-Inclusive Activewear
About Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective is a Seattle-based activewear brand on a mission to make cute, comfortable, high-quality workout clothes with the lowest possible environmental impact. Founded by husband and wife team Quang and Ellie Dinh in 2016, Girlfriend Collective has filled an important gap in the athleisure market: ethically-made, sustainable activewear that is size-inclusive and actually affordable.
From the very beginning, Girlfriend Collective has prioritized a few key values: using recycled materials, ethical manufacturing, transparency, and size inclusivity. Their activewear is made from recycled post-consumer water bottles, fishing nets, and other waste. In 2020, they diverted over 11 million water bottles from landfills. By using recycled polyester and nylon, they drastically reduce water usage, CO2 emissions, and energy consumption compared to virgin materials.
All girlfriend products are made in an SA8000 certified factory in Hanoi, Vietnam that guarantees fair wages, safe and healthy conditions, and zero forced or child labor for workers. Girlfriend is extremely transparent, publishing details about their recycled fabrics, factory conditions, and sustainable packaging for all to see.
Girlfriend is also known as a leader in size-inclusive activewear – all of their clothing is available in sizes XXS to 6XL. Models of all sizes, shapes and ethnicities are used in their marketing. With this wide range of sizes, Girlfriend aims to make all women feel confident, comfortable and welcome in their brand.
So how does their activewear stack up in terms of style, quality, fit and performance? I tested several of Girlfriend Collective‘s bestselling items to find out. Let‘s dive into the full Girlfriend Collective review, including their most popular products, sustainability practices, customer feedback, and more.
Girlfriend Collective Activewear Review
Compressive Leggings
Girlfriend Collective‘s Compressive High-Rise Leggings are one of their most popular items and a great place to start. These leggings are made from 79% recycled polyester and 21% spandex for a supportive, compressive fit that isn‘t too tight or restrictive. The fabric is soft, smooth, and completely opaque – I did a squat test in their lighter colors and they passed with flying colors, no underwear lines in sight!
The extra high-rise waistband holds you in and doesn‘t budge, even through intense workouts. It has a small hidden pocket in the back that fits a credit card, keys, or cash. I also love that these are available in two inseam lengths, 23.75" or 28.5", to fit a variety of heights.
In terms of performance, these are ideal for just about any type of exercise, from yoga to weight training to running. They‘re sweat-wicking and quick-drying. After months of regular wash and wear, I‘ve found they maintain their shape, softness and compression extremely well. For $78, these rival the quality and feel of leggings from brands like Lululemon or Athleta but with a much lower carbon footprint.
FLOAT Ultralight Leggings
If you live in a hot climate or just prefer a lighter, buttery-soft feel for everyday wear, you‘ll love Girlfriend‘s FLOAT Ultralight Leggings. Compared to the Compressive, these have a naked sensation and feel almost weightless on your body. They‘re made of 90% recycled nylon and 10% spandex for a silky smooth feel.
Because of the thinner material and softer compression, I recommend wearing a seamless neutral underwear with these to avoid visible panty lines, especially in the lighter colors. However, they‘re completely squat-proof and hide any sweat extremely well (i.e. no embarrassing crotch sweat). Again, the high waistband is extremely comfortable and never digs in or rolls down.
I reach for these most often for hot yoga, pilates, weight training, or just lounging and running errands on a warm day. They have the same back pocket as the Compressive Leggings. If I had one complaint, it‘s that pet hair tends to stick to these more than the Compressive, so you may need to lint roll them regularly if you have pets. These are also $78, which I think is a fair price given the unique lightweight yet still supportive feel.
Paloma Bra
Moving on to sports bras, Girlfriend‘s bestselling Paloma Bra has thousands of rave reviews for good reason. It‘s a classic racerback sports bra with medium-impact support, best for A-C cups. The Paloma Bra is made with Girlfriend‘s signature compression fabric that is 79% recycled plastic bottles (RPET) and 21% spandex.
This bra keeps you locked and loaded but still feels comfortable enough to wear all day. The wide shoulder straps and under-bust band don‘t dig in but still give plenty of support. I wear this most often for yoga, pilates, weight training, spin, or dance cardio workouts. Those with a larger chest may want a bit more support for high-impact activities like running or HIIT.
The longline silhouette makes this bra really versatile – it looks great on its own paired with Girlfriend‘s high-waisted leggings or bike shorts. It‘s one of those sport bra tops you can feel totally confident wearing out of the house without another layer on top. At $38, this bra is an incredible value that will hold up for years of wear.
Dylan Tank Bra
If you need a bit more coverage and support, the Dylan Tank Bra is an ideal choice. It‘s a high-neck crop top meets sports bra with built-in support and full coverage in the front and back. Like the Paloma, it‘s made with their recycled compression fabric that is smooth, sweat-wicking and quick-drying.
The Dylan Tank Bra has a compressive fit that holds you in but still feels breathable and flexible enough to move with you through any workout. It‘s my go-to for running, intense spin classes, or boot camp style workouts where I want more support and coverage. Because of the high neckline, it‘s great if you‘re fuller in the chest and want to avoid spilling out the top.
I‘ve found this tank bra runs a bit snug, so I recommend sizing up if you‘re in between sizes. For an ethical, eco-friendly sports bra with higher impact support at an affordable price point ($38), you really can‘t beat the Dylan Tank Bra.
Bike Shorts
For the summer months, Girlfriend‘s High-Rise Bike Shorts are a must-have. They have the same super soft yet sturdy compression fabric as the leggings with a bit more ventilation. The 8.5" inseam is the perfect length for preventing thigh chafing on runs or bike rides. I also love throwing these on over my swimsuit in the summer to walk to the pool or beach.
These have the same trusty high-rise waistband as the leggings with the small hidden back pocket. The real game changer? Girlfriend now offers these with side pockets that are big enough to fit your phone, wallet, keys, or even a protein bar for long bike rides or walks. For $48 for the pocket-less version or $58 for the side pocket option, these bike shorts are a great investment you‘ll reach for again and again, summer after summer.
Girlfriend Collective Sustainability & Ethics
Now that you know more about how Girlfriend Collective‘s activewear performs, let‘s dive deeper into what really sets this brand apart: their commitment to sustainability and ethical production at every level.
Recycled Materials
Girlfriend makes all of their textiles from recycled materials that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans. Their signature compression leggings and bras are made from 79% recycled polyester, or RPET. It takes 25 recycled post-consumer water bottles to make one pair of their compressive leggings.
Their lighter weight FLOAT fabric is made from 90% recycled fishing nets and other waste using ECONYL fiber. Recycled nylon has a huge positive environmental impact, with ECONYL estimating CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 90% compared to nylon made from oil.
Girlfriend has recycled over 11 million water bottles to date, with a goal to recycle 26 million by 2025. According to their site, this has diverted 3,500 tons of CO2 and saved over 19 billion gallons of water compared to using virgin synthetics.
Even Girlfriend‘s packaging is completely recycled and recyclable. Items are shipped in 100% recycled and recyclable paper envelopes or boxes with no unnecessary plastic. The tags and stickers on the garments are also 100% recycled paper. Girlfriend has thought through every detail to minimize new waste.
Ethical Manufacturing
An unfortunate reality of the fashion industry is that most of our clothes are made by underpaid workers in dangerous, exploitative conditions. Girlfriend Collective takes a strong stand against these unethical practices by producing in an SA8000 certified factory.
SA8000 is the leading social certification standard for factories, verifying fair wages, safe working conditions, and protection of workers‘ rights. Girlfriend publishes their SA8000 certificate on their website along with a detailed outline of what the certification guarantees for their workers in Vietnam:
- Living wages and full health insurance
- Safe, healthy, and comfortable working conditions
- Absolutely no forced or child labor
- Maternity and paternity leave, vacation days, and overtime pay
- Protection of unions and collective bargaining rights
- No discrimination in hiring or treatment of workers
- Regular third-party audits to ensure ongoing compliance
This level of transparency around manufacturing is extremely rare in the fashion industry. Along with other ethical activewear brands like Pact and Groceries Apparel, Girlfriend is raising the bar for what people should expect from the brands they support.
On top of their SA8000 certification, Girlfriend is committed to other ethical practices like never doing "shady markdowns" or early morning doorbuster sales. They aim to reduce waste at every step, never destroying unsold inventory or sending excess stock to landfills. Any unsold or gently used items are donated to organizations that support homeless and underserved communities.
Girlfriend Collective Customer Reviews
So what are real customers saying about Girlfriend Collective? The reviews and ratings on their website are overall very positive, with most products averaging around 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Many reviewers rave about the buttery soft, supportive compression that sucks you in without feeling too constricting: "The leggings are smooth and silky while still having great stretch and support…They hold me in and smooth me out."
Others praise the inclusive sizing and flattering fit: "I ordered a 2XL after seeing the models on their website. When my leggings arrived I was so surprised…not only with how they looked on me, but how they made me feel. For the first time in my life I felt confident and comfortable in a pair of leggings."
Customers are also drawn to the brand‘s values and transparency. One reviewer writes, "I never considered the environmental or ethical impact of my clothing purchases before, but Girlfriend makes it easy to feel good about what you‘re buying. I love supporting a brand that cares."
The few negative reviews seem to mostly relate to sizing inconsistencies or shipping delays. Girlfriend recommends carefully checking their size chart as their compression styles are meant to fit snug. Some customers find they need to size up, while others say their usual size fits perfectly. Exchanges for a different size are free which makes it relatively easy to find the right fit.
In terms of shipping, some customers note longer than average waits to receive their orders (up to 3-4 weeks). However, most still say the quality is well worth the wait. Girlfriend has addressed the issue, citing COVID-related supply chain and delivery delays and stating they are working to expand their distribution capabilities.
Girlfriend Collective vs. Other Sustainable Brands
If you‘re on the hunt for sustainable activewear, you may be wondering how Girlfriend Collective stacks up against other eco-conscious brands like Outdoor Voices, Pact, or Patagonia.
Like Girlfriend, Outdoor Voices uses recycled materials like RPET in many of their activewear pieces. However, the percentage of recycled materials seems to be lower, with most items being a blend of 50-70% recycled polyester vs. Girlfriend‘s 79%+. OV also does not provide as much transparency around their manufacturing ethics and factory conditions.
Pact is another great option for affordable, eco-friendly activewear. They use organic cotton rather than recycled synthetics which is very sustainable but may not be as sweat-wicking or quick-drying for intense workouts. Pact‘s size range only goes up to XXL which is more limited than Girlfriend‘s 6XL.
Patagonia is an industry leader in sustainability, using recycled materials, organic cotton, and ethical production across their product lines. However, Patagonia‘s activewear tends to be a bit more expensive than Girlfriend and is more geared towards outdoor activities vs. studio workouts or athleisure.
Overall, I‘ve found Girlfriend Collective to be one of the most sustainable, transparent, and inclusive activewear brands at their moderate price point. They‘ve set a high bar for both performance and responsible production.
How to Get the Best Deal at Girlfriend Collective
Join The Collective
Girlfriend offers a free loyalty program called The Collective where you can earn points on every purchase that translate into rewards like exclusive discounts, early access to new items, or a free pair of leggings. You get 100 points for every $1 spent, and higher loyalty tiers give you perks like free shipping or a birthday discount.
Give $10, Get $10
With their Give $10, Get $10 program, you can give a friend $10 off their first Girlfriend purchase of $95 or more. Once they make a purchase, you‘ll receive $10 off your next purchase of $95+. It‘s an easy way for you and a friend to save a bit of cash on your sustainable activewear.
Do Good, Get Free Leggings
Have old Girlfriend pieces that have seen better days? You can recycle them through their ReGirlfriend program and get rewarded. Mail back your well-loved Girlfriend items and they‘ll recycle them into new pieces. As a thank you, they‘ll give you a $15 Girlfriend credit to put towards your next pair of leggings. A win for your wallet and the planet.
The Verdict
After putting Girlfriend Collective‘s clothing through its paces in my workouts, I can confidently say their activewear lives up to the hype. The recycled compression fabric is truly unlike anything else I‘ve tried – it‘s supportive and smoothing yet so soft and comfortable you‘ll never want to take it off.
I also love how Girlfriend has thought of every little detail in their production process to reduce environmental impact, from fabric to factories to packaging and beyond. As someone who wants to support brands that are doing the right thing for people and the planet, Girlfriend makes it easy to feel good about my activewear.
While Girlfriend‘s prices aren‘t cheap, I believe they‘re worth the investment for high-quality, long-lasting pieces you‘ll reach for again and again. Between the referral program, loyalty rewards and recycling initiative, there are plenty of ways to get more bang for your buck.
If you‘re looking for size-inclusive, sustainable activewear that performs as great as it looks, I highly recommend giving Girlfriend Collective a try. From the squat-proof leggings to the soft yet supportive bras, these are pieces I‘ll be living in for years to come.
