3 Women-Led Activewear Brands With Purpose

Here are a few women-led companies that support physical health as well as social and environmental responsibility. 

In 2014, I co-founded Conscious Company Media, the first multimedia organization in the country that specifically focuses on purpose-driven business. As the publisher of Conscious Company Magazine and host of the World-Changing Women Podcast, I’ve literally interviewed and shared the stories of hundreds of the most prominent leaders in the conscious-business space. In 2017, I created the World-Changing Women’s Summit, an intimate gathering of mission-driven female*** entrepreneurs to talk all-things-conscious-business (we’re talking the good, bad, and the ugly), and had the privilege of choosing which incredible women graced our stage to tell their stories.  

All this to say: I know a thing or two about recognizing incredible female social entrepreneurs whose companies move the needle toward an economy, society, and planet that can better serve us all (not just the one-percenters) — and if you’re looking for some good news these days, let me tell you: there are a lot of inspiring entrepreneurs and leaders out there, and many of them are women and people of color.

In the age of COVID-19, it’s more important now than ever before to support social enterprises, purpose-driven entrepreneurs, and businesses that are founded and led by — as well as serve and support — under-represented and marginalized groups of people. Here are a few women-led workout-clothes companies that support physical health as well as social and environmental responsibility — and make for really great work-from-home apparel to boot.

***individuals who identify as women, trans, and gender non-conforming

1. Title Nine

Passionate about women’s sports and fitness, Missy Park named her company Title Nine after the landmark 1972 legislation that mandated gender equality in school sports and all aspects of publicly funded education. Founded in 1989, it was one of the first companies to offer a women’s sports bra. Title Nine also provides financial or in-kind donations for small, grassroots organizations who are giving girls the tools they need to “get off the sidelines and into the game.” 

2. Athleta

 Although the company is owned by Gap, Athleta is a certified B Corp and led by CEO Mary Beth Laughton. The brand has set ambitious mission-driven goals for 2020 and have already made substantial progress. Just two examples: 76 percent of Athleta materials are made with sustainable fibers, and 72 percent of their waste from shipping packaging has been diverted from landfill (the goal for both measures in 2020 is 80 percent).

3. Patagonia

Since it was founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia has been a pioneer in treating its employees well, caring for the environment, supporting grassroots activism, and making a profit while doing good. In 2008 Rose Marcario joined the privately owned outdoor-apparel company as COO and CFO, and in 2013 she became the president and CEO. Although Rose recently announced her resignation, under her leadership, Patagonia’s profits and revenues quadrupled — Yvon has said that Rose is the best leader his company has ever seen and has grown Patagonia’s advocacy efforts in ways he could never have imagined.