Outdoor Voices (“OV”) built its identity around joyful movement, pastel color palettes, and a friendly lifestyle vibe — but how sustainable are its fabrics really?
As someone who works directly with recycled-fiber mills and activewear OEM factories, here’s a clear breakdown of OV’s material choices and what they mean for sustainability-focused shoppers and brands.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer
- 1. What Outdoor Voices Means by “Sustainable”
- 2. Materials Outdoor Voices Commonly Uses
- 3. How OV Compares With Other Sustainable Brands
- 4. Who Should Choose Outdoor Voices
- FAQs
- Create Your Own Eco Collection With FuKi Yoga
Quick Answer
Outdoor Voices is partially known for sustainable fabrics, especially its use of recycled polyester, recycled wool, and some organic cotton.
However, not all product lines are eco-focused — many rely on performance synthetics like nylon-spandex blends.
From my OEM experience, OV is a “light sustainability” brand rather than a fully eco-driven one. They take meaningful steps, but not at the same scale as brands like Girlfriend Collective or prAna.
1. What Outdoor Voices Means by “Sustainable”
Outdoor Voices highlights sustainability in three ways:
1. Recycled materials in select collections
The brand uses:
- recycled polyester
- recycled wool
- recycled cotton in some sweats
2. Reduced-waste packaging
Their packaging includes:
- recyclable mailers
- garment bags with reduced plastic
3. Durable “buy less, wear longer” messaging
Instead of a fast-fashion cycle, OV promotes long-term wearability.
4. Limited but growing sustainability communication
Compared with fully transparent brands, OV provides less detailed sourcing data — something sustainability shoppers increasingly look for.
2. Materials Outdoor Voices Commonly Uses
| Material | Eco Benefit | Used In | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled Polyester (rPET) | repurposes plastic bottles | leggings, tops | most common eco fabric |
| Organic Cotton | pesticide-free | tees, sweats | soft, breathable |
| Recycled Wool | less resource-intensive | outerwear | seasonal styles |
| Nylon-Spandex Blends | high performance | leggings, shorts | not sustainable |
From a manufacturing standpoint, OV keeps a balance: eco materials for casual pieces, synthetics for performance lines.
3. How OV Compares With Other Sustainable Brands
| Brand | Sustainability Level | Materials Used | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Voices | medium | rPET + nylon blends | lifestyle movement |
| Girlfriend Collective | high | 100% recycled PET | eco-conscious activewear |
| Patagonia | very high | circular repair model | outdoors & durability |
| Vuori | medium | partly recycled fibers | comfort lifestyle |
OV fits best for customers prioritizing comfort and aesthetics rather than deep sustainability certifications.
4. Who Should Choose Outdoor Voices
👍 Choose OV if you:
- prefer soft, lifestyle-first activewear
- want some recycled materials without paying premium prices
- value light, breathable fabrics for daily activity
- enjoy minimalist, cheerful color palettes
👎 Skip OV if you:
- want fully sustainable materials (consider Girlfriend Collective)
- need high-intensity compression gear
- prefer brands with complete supply-chain transparency
FAQs
Q1: Is Outdoor Voices a fully sustainable brand?
No — they use some sustainable fabrics, but not across all collections.
Q2: Does OV use recycled materials?
Yes, especially recycled polyester and occasionally recycled wool.
Q3: Are OV fabrics good for yoga?
They’re great for light to moderate activity but less ideal for high-compression workouts.
Q4: Which brand is more sustainable?
Girlfriend Collective and prAna rank higher in material transparency and eco standards.
Create Your Own Eco Collection With FuKi Yoga
If you like Outdoor Voices’ soft-lifestyle approach but want deeper sustainability control, you can build your own eco-focused line with the right manufacturing partner.
👉 FuKi Yoga supports fully customizable sustainable production.
What we offer
- RPET, organic cotton, bamboo, and TENCEL™ fabrics
- low-MOQ OEM/ODM services
- ethical, audited factories
- development for yoga, athleisure, and lifestyle apparel
Build your next sustainable collection here:
FuKi Yoga OEM Service →
