Non-Toxic Yoga Pants That Don’t Make Me Itch

Image by Reprise Activewear

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For many of us, yoga isn’t just about toning muscle or burning fat. It’s connecting with your mind and body. And because I have eczema, half the battle for me is finding comfortable workout clothes that aren’t itchy. After all, it’s nearly impossible to focus on your breath when your legs are in full inflammation mode.

Eczema, a common skin condition in the United States, affects an estimated 31.6 million people in the one country alone. In fact, the National Eczema Association states that one in 10 people will develop eczema at some point in their life, with some very uncomfortable symptoms—including itching, burning, lesions, and flaking. 

Many people with skin conditions have noticed anecdotally that synthetic fabrics can cause a reaction. That could be because of the fabric itself, or because of the dyes. As Alden discusses in her upcoming book To Dye For, azobenzene disperse dyes—used on polyester fabrics—can be particularly toxic to those chronic skin issues, autoimmune diseases, and allergies. Several are known sensitizers and allergens, but further research and testing has revealed that it’s possible all azobenzene disperse dyes are sensitizers, which means almost all polyester products can cause itching and inflammation. 

So, considering that most activewear isn’t eczema-friendly, what is safe to wear, and comes without the itch?

Enter: natural fibers and dyes. Fabrics like GOTS-certified cotton, Tencel lyocell, and bamboo can be dyed using non-toxic, natural, and/or plant-based dyes that could be more comfortable for those with sensitive skin. 

Dope dye, a unique dyeing process that involves incorporating color into polyester fibers before they’re spun into yarn, is also becoming more popular in the activewear industry. It’s purported to require less water and chemicals during production, and allow for better dye retention in fabrics than standard methods—so less risk of the dye bleeding. The big drawback is that dope-dyed polyester is one solid color, and can’t be printed with fun patterns. Although dope dye has been adopted by brands from a sustainability standpoint, we’re curious whether dope-dyed polyester could be a solution for those with sensitive skin who want to wear synthetic activewear. 

We decided to test out some of our theories around skin sensitivities and yoga pants to determine if there really are stretchy yoga pants out there that don’t make me itch. 

I tested a few different brands with varying degrees of natural vs. synthetic fabrics, as well as one that uses dope dye in its manufacturing process in hopes of finding yoga pants that I can recommend that aren’t itchy and uncomfortable for people like me. All of the yoga pants I tested were either black, navy, or deep brown, as these darker hues generally pack the most chemical dyes. Here’s my personal experience with each brand.

Reprise Activewear

What we love: Reprise offers yoga pants in fabrics that are 100% polyester-free to keep plastic off the body. The brand instead uses naturally-sourced fibers including sustainably-produced eucalyptus Tencel, which is dyed using only GOTS- and Oeko-Tex-certified dyes in gorgeous natural hues. 

Watch out for: Though the brand is very transparent about it, its leggings are still about seven percent spandex (elastane) for stretch and durability. 

Our review: I wore these for an entire day out and about, and then for an easy-going yoga class. They were not only comfortably cut, but they didn’t rub or dig at the seams, and didn’t cause any reactions. I couldn’t believe how soft the fabric is even after washing and air-drying. Even with the small percentage of spandex, I didn’t experience any reactions. Reprise’s leggings are definitely a go for me.

Eleven44

What we love: This brand was founded on the idea that the consumer dollar is better spent on something more expensive and long-lasting than on fast fashion. It uses natural fibers, including organic cotton, lycra, and bamboo, to craft low-impact textiles made to last. Each piece is inspired by natural science and crafted by small, family-owned operations in Bali. Although its selection isn’t enormous, the brand’s leggings make perfect gym staples.

Our review: I could tell right away that these leggings are made from real cotton, and not from elastane or spandex like those made by most major athletic brands. They’re soft, stretchy, and surprisingly comfortable. My only gripe was that the fabric started to feel a little abrasive during a hot yoga session, which I chalked up to a mixture of sweat and heat. After the first wash, they were once again soft and ready to go.

Boody

What we love: This brand’s leggings are made from sustainably sourced bamboo, which makes them more soft and absorbent than cotton leggings. Boody offers a selection of staples in yoga pants and leggings in natural and dark hues. B-Corp certified and vegan, the brand tests its textiles for azobenzene disperse dyes, heavy metals, and formaldehyde to comply with ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards.

Watch our for: Boody’s leggings include nylon and spandex in its bamboo blend, which can be irritating for those who are sensitive to elastane. 

Our review: With high hopes, I tested a pair of cropped leggings from the brand’s lineup for a day. I found that while I only experienced minimal itching throughout the day during daily activities like jogging and running errands, I had developed quite the rash by the time I took them off. Unfortunately, these yoga pants seemed to contain material that didn’t agree with my sensitive skin.

Gymshark

What we love: This brand is incorporating  dope dye into some of its polyester products, which is a more sustainable option for coloring textiles, saving considerably on water consumption by using dry pellets to color the material before the thread is spun. At $54, it’s one of the more affordable brands we tried. 

Watch out for: Many of Gymshark’s offerings still aren’t produced using dope dye techniques. The information about dyes can be very vague on the website, which makes it difficult to discern dope dyed products from those that are made using standard dye techniques. We didn’t find any information on the brand website that states whether the thread used in the seams of clothing is dope dyed. Additionally, its products are still shipped in plastic packaging, which is (supposedly) recyclable, but not recycled.

Our review: It’s hard to tell if the discomfort of these yoga pants were a result of the fabric, the fit, the dyes, or just the synthetic stitching at the seams, but within a few hours of trying them out, I began to itch at the seams of the yoga pants.. I went for a brisk walk, did some household chores, and made it down to the coffee shop before realizing that I had an undeniable itch that eventually turned into a raised rash on my thighs. I only lasted a half day in them. As hopeful as I was that dope dye was a solution for skin-sensitive people like me, these aren’t it. 

Ripple Yoga Wear

What we love: Ripple Yoga Wear offers yoga pants in fabrics such as GOTS-certified organic cotton and modal, a plant-based fabric which is soft, made using minimal water, and is naturally biodegradable. The brand uses organic dyes to color its pieces, including its solid colors and stonewashed options. It offers multiple styles, from roomy harem pants to comfy capris and yoga shorts in an array of earth-toned hues.

Watch out for: Some pieces in the brand’s collection contain 5% elastane for added stretch, which can be irritating to those who have a sensitivity to it.

Our review:  UPDATE: A reader has informed us that the fit was not as expected, and the brand refused to allow her to return the pants, despite not listing the the pants as final sale. Given this poor experience, which is echoed in other reviews, we say be careful about shopping from this brand.

I tested the brand’s slouchy capri and slouchy unisex yoga pants, both of which exceeded my expectations for comfort and wearability. Both styles offered lots of room to stretch and bend without pinching. The modal fabrics were incredibly soft, and despite containing some elastane, they didn’t make me itch. The yoga pants are now my go-to pair for when I’m short on time to style an outfit — they’re great for wearing the rest of the day outside the studio.