The Best Ethically Made Leotards For Your Little Ones
My two girls adore gymnastic and dance classes. It’s been a year full of walkovers, handstand-attempts, pliés and passés. They’ve love it. I love it. Everyone’s happy.
All these classes have given me plenty of opportunities to hunt down and test out heaps of different leotard brands. Out of the ten companies that I’ve tried, here are my top three favorite, ethically-made brands:
Remie Girl
Started by a mom and daughter duo, Remie Girl leotards are oh-so-striking with their classic lines and vintage patterns. When it comes to style points, Remie Girl wins hands down. I love how almost all of their skirts and dresses are whimsically adorned with pockets! Plus, each leotard is handmade in the USA by one of 12 stay-at-home seamstress mamas.
What I ordered | Tank Ruffle Leotard in Blush and Blue Danube print. The Pocket Skirt in Blush Gingham and Blue Danube print
What I Love About It | If your kid refuses to wear anything but a leo in public (blush, I’ve been there with my little A.) then you should really invest in Remie Girl. Just toss Remie’s matching skirts over the top and you immediately transform any leotard-inspired-fashion-melt-down into a lovely, ruffly outfit. These leotards are lined with comfy (and eco-friendly) modal fabric, which means they are a heck-o-comfortable. Long gone are the days of squirming from elastic-cutting lines or itchy fabrics. Remie Girl’s pinafore-inspired leos are have the perfect amount of ruffles and (my favorite part) a gorgeous V back.
Good To Knows | After about 20 or so wash cycles, the blush leotard did show a touch of pilling—although I think if I would’ve hang dryed the leotard this wouldn’t have been an issue.
Price | Under $40
Ethics | Remie Girl’s seamstresses are all stay-at-home moms that live in the USA and are paid fair wages. Each outfit is hand designed in Arizona and sewn in California.
Sustainability | Remie Girl partners with Kidizen with an aim to decrease disposable fashion in kidswear. Whenever you sell or buy preloved Remie Girl leotards using the Kidizen marketplace, you earn access to discounts, giveaways and gift cards.
LeotardBoutique.com
Created by a dancer for dancers, these leotards have been showcased in everything from the DIY halloween gear in Martha Stewart Living Magazine to the gymnastics episode of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. I adore Leotard Boutique’s “Moms Who Rock” blog posts, and how they cover a wide-range of moms with some rather relatable parenting tips/tricks. Leotard Boutique believes in rocking the essentials—they only sell five leotard styles, but in twenty-three trendy colors. The company is also unique for making leotards for even the youngest of movers—leos for those oh-so-sweet-six-month-olds.
What I ordered | The Flutter/Ruffle Short Sleeve Leotard in red, blue, turquoise, lilac, ivory and gold. Yep, I know, I really went wild with the color selections!
What I Love About It | These nylon leos are probably the most durable of all the leotards I’ve ever washed. They keep their color and fit. The elastic nature of the nylon makes them ideal if your little one runs a bit smaller like mine. Instead of sizing by age (which really varies widely in the world of little ones) you actually measure your child’s girth and waist and order from there. I was also able to buy matching leotards for my two girls which was fun!
Good To Knows | These don’t have a super soft lining and the nylon can feel a bit scratchy when compared to the traditional cotton/lycra blends. In my experience, it really depends on your kid’s preferences. Little A. loves how nylon feels, but S. is much more of a soft-fabric loving girl.
Price | Under $23
Ethics | Everything about these leotards (the fabric, the elastic, the thread) are all made in the USA.
Sustainability | Leotard Boutique sources their USA-made supplies as close as possible to their manufacturing headquarters to cut down their carbon footprint.
Alice + Ames
Alice + Ames was started by Stacie Lang back in 2015. Stacie (a former culinary student, turned photographer, now entrepreneur, and mum of three) wanted to make leotards and dresses that could both encourage and withstand her daughters' adventuring all while looking classic and actually feeling comfortable. Turns out, the selection was rather sub par, so, Stacie drove to LA’s garment district (with a five-week-old baby on her hip) and started her own clothing/dance line. Touted by the likes of Joanna Gaines and Kimberly Cook, Alice + Ames outfits are handmade in California. Stacie also recently launched a line for women as well, it’s called suunday and it’s beyond gorgeous.
What I ordered | The Leo in Ink Dot print, Parisian Stripe print, and Mustard
What I Love About It | These leotard dresses have the skirt already sewn in which is rather lovely and minimalist. It also means there’s one less item to try and hunt down before dance class starts. I love the whimsical patterns Alice + Ames always seem to have. It’s also one of the few long-sleeve leotards I could find that aren’t boring/traditional. Perfect for fall and winter!
Good To Knows | Since each leo is handmade, I’ve found the fit between the leotards are just a tiny bit different. The leotard I bought in Parisian Stripe print runs just a bit tighter than the Ink Dot leo.
Price | Under $45
Ethics | Alice + Ames is a U.S. based company. Lang designs each leotard at her home in Arizona and then they are ethically sewn in California.
Sustainability | Alice + Ames packaging is made from 100% recycled paper and printed with waterbased inks. You can go ahead and toss the bag in your compost pile because it’s wonderfully biodegradable.
Have you tried any of these leotard brands before? Are there other brands that I’ve missed? DM my sister and I on Insta #CalmandChic. We love to hear about other great eco-chic and ethical brands out there.
Cheers,
Hazel
