We can’t think of anything we’d rather wear when traveling, working from home, doing morning pilates, or running Saturday errands more than organic cotton leggings.
That’s because in the debate between regular vs organic cotton, the latter is the clear winner.
Because most activewear—even eco sportswear—is usually manufactured from some form of chemical-laced plastic (AKA synthetic materials). We’d prefer to get sweaty in something safer.
So in support of cleaning up our activewear—and our cotton, the world’s “dirtiest’ crop—we’ve rounded up the best organic leggings for women (or men!) made by brands that also prioritize ethical labor and sustainable packaging.
In the next few months, we’ll be launching our new Brand Rating System, broadening our review to cover 22 criteria, such as climate impact and product longevity. Here’s our explainer if you’d like to learn more.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Our (Cotton) Picks For The Best Organic Leggings
Making entirely natural fiber leggings is tricky; they usually need some degree of elastane to stretch and return to shape.
But that hasn’t stopped Eileen Fisher from making 100% organic cotton leggings that also don’t lose their shape over time.
That said, you can bet your cotton-covered bottom dollar that tentree’s 95% cotton leggings are as fitting for some light exercise as they are for some cozy Netflix and chill.
Index: Women’s Organic Leggings
- Eileen Fisher Jump to brand
- MATE The Label Jump to brand
- tentree Jump to brand
- Pact Jump to brand
- Rawganique Jump to brand
Eileen Fisher
About Eileen Fisher
Price Range: $78–148
New York-based Eileen Fisher is one of our favorite slow fashion brands, but that doesn’t mean you’ll feel slow in their simple, elegant clothing.
This Certified B Corp has a huge line of ethical and sustainable apparel for all functions, activities, and body types, meant to move in tandem with real everyday life.
Run, stretch, exercise, or travel in their women’s leggings.
For something a little lighter, check out the Lightweight Cotton Jersey Sleep Leggings in that same pure fabric.
Eileen Fisher’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Eileen Fisher leggings are 100% GOTS-certified cotton.
They also offer some cotton blends, which feature TENCEL™ Lyocell and some spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices:
EF aims for supply chain transparency and tells you online where (and who!) grows their materials. The cotton comes from a third-generation farmer named Dosi Alvarez in New Mexico.
The leggings are then made in Vietnam.
EF upholds the highest standards of labor ethics through unannounced factory and farm audits and a strict Code of Conduct
Green business practices:
Between the Renew and Waste No More programs, EF has given second like to over one million garments by either reselling or transforming them into other products
Renewable energy-powered stores, green office buildings, and partnerships with Textile Exchange and bluesign® also help them to achieve their sustainability goals.
Inclusivity:
Representative of this sustainable plus-size clothing brand, Eileen Fisher’s leggings come in an inclusive range of XXS–3XL.
MATE The Label
About MATE the Label
Price Range: $78
Looking for a mate to stretch with?
Look no further than LA-based MATE the Label. They coined the term Dress Clean®, and they mean it with their natural, non-toxic, and affordable ethical clothing.
Whether you’re getting ready to sleep in sweatpants, or ready to sweat in some athletic leggings, they’re a good mate, indeed!
MATE the Label’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Choose between black leggings or bone white ones, both made from 92% GOTS cotton and 8% spandex.
All dyes used are non-toxic, low-impact, and free of 49 harmful chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The material is grown in Maharashtra, India, knitted in the US, and ethically made into clothing at a factory within 17km of MATE’s LA HQ.
What’s the benefit of leggings made in the USA?
It means higher labor standards than developing countries. Although not certified, they meet fair trade criteria to ensure they’re safe, fair, comfortable, and compliant with labor laws in California.
Green business practices:
MATE the Label promotes regenerative farming practices through a membership with the California Cotton & Climate Coalition.
The Climate Neutral Certified company also recycles previously loved MATE items through their circularity program called reMATE.
Inclusivity:
MATE is founded and run by women and offers XS–3XL for those seeking organic cotton leggings in plus sizes.
tentree
About tentree
Price Range: $30–$68
Canadian B-Corp tentree carries an impressive range of eco-friendly clothing that puts both your wellness and the planet’s first.
In addition to being one of the best sustainable outdoor clothing brands for more technical gear, their men’s and women’s everyday apparel includes hoodies, sweatpants, and of course, organic women’s leggings.
Between sustainable materials and supportive high waists, tentree’s leggings are meant to benefit both your natural curves and the planet’s.
tentree’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
tentree offers two styles of soft, breathable fair trade leggings.
The Organic Cotton Leggings are a 95/5 blend with elastane, while their High Rise Organic Cotton Leggings are 91/9.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Both leggings are Fair Trade-certified sewn, with the high waist option also being Cradle2Cradle certified.
tentree features a transparent website with a full Factory Ledger, plus relevant manufacturing certifications—like WRAP, BSCI, and SA8000—in addition to their B Corp status.
Suppliers and factories are regularly inspected and held to an ethical Code of Conduct.
Green business practices:
Each product has an Eco Log to demonstrate how their eco friendly manufacturing approaches reduce waste, save water, and minimize CO2 emissions.
If customers want to impact the planet even better, carbon offsets are for purchase on their website.
Inclusivity:
These organic cotton workout leggings run XS–XL.
Community & charitable giving:
The label’s name comes from the fact that they plant literally ten trees for every garment purchased. By 2030, they will have planted one billion trees!
Pact
About Pact
Price Range: $38–58
Love wearing cotton leggings with pockets?
Don’t we all—and fortunately, Pact provides with their colorful Pureactive line—which also includes maternity leggings in five colors.
Other offerings include those with stirrups to stop any pesky cuff creeping and more.
If your morning yoga class runs too close to the start of your work day, don their professional-looking Brushed Pintuck Legging and skip the need to change.
That’s just a small sampling of this sustainable activewear brand’s workout wear, which also includes bike shorts, joggers, bra tops, and bodysuits.
Pact’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Pact yoga pants feature either 89 or 92% GOTS-certified organic cotton blended with elastane.
They’re dyed with non-toxic and sustainable dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Pact’s organic leggings come from raw materials sourced from India, which is also where their factories are located.
These factories are Fair Trade-certified, meaning safer working conditions, environmental protection, and zero tolerance for child labor or work abuse.
Their website tracks the number of workers’ lives positively impacted by their supply chain—at the time of writing this, it was 4,816 people.
Green business practices:
Pact is also a member of SimpliZero, to measure the carbon footprint of each item and track their offsetting progress toward becoming zero net carbon.
Orders are shipped carbon neural in packaging made of 98% recycled materials and a biodegradable bag.
They also ensure farming and factory methods that reduce water waste and energy use.
Inclusivity:
These organic leggings with pockets come in XS—XXL sizes.
Rawganique
About Rawganique
Price Range: $29–$69
Founded twenty-plus years ago by off-grid island homesteaders, Rawganique makes natural fiber products from seed to shelf for a toxin and plastic-free lifestyle.
Homewares and footwear aside, the label offers one of the most extensive ranges we’ve seen, from organic cotton capri leggings to those with pockets.
While not exactly organic fleece-lined leggings, the CINDY is entirely fleece—which is arguably better!
Rawganique’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Styles are primarily organic cotton, with styles ranging from 88% to 100% organic cotton (for their long-johns)
The brand also uses biodegradable elastic made from natural rubber.
Other natural fiber leggings by Rawganique feature linen and hemp fabric.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All Rawganique apparel is ethically produced in either the USA, Canada, India, Peru, Europe, in small, “sweat-shop-free” workshops.
Their cotton is grown in the USA or Europe.
Green business practices:
Featured in Rawganique items are no dioxin, formaldehyde, PFAS or PFOA, and no other harmful toxic chemicals.
Says Rawganique, “The answer is yes, our products are really pure. We know this because we grow, comb, spin, weave, knit, and sew them, so we know what goes in (and doesn’t go in) to our organic products.”
Inclusivity:
XS – XXL sizes are available.
