How to Start a Sustainable Activewear Brand (In Bali)
Starting an activewear, Pilates, Court or athleisurewear brand can feel like a big leap — especially if you’re new to technical fabrics, custom fits, or the production process. This guide walks you through each step, based on how hundreds of brands work with us each year, as well as the best fabrics to use for each activity.
You’ll learn how development works, what to expect at each stage, and how to go from idea to production-ready collection.
What It Takes to Launch a Activewear Label
Most founders come to us with a few key goals:
- Launch a tight, well-fitting, high-performance collection.
- Request advice on the most suitable sustainable fabrics that hold shape and move well for the activity they are selling into
- Add branded details without over-complicating the process.
Whether you’re building custom styles or working from our ready-to-order collections, we help you move efficiently from concept to samples to bulk production.
Step 1 – Develop Your Designs
Most founders come to us with a few key goals:
- Send over front/back images, tech packs or clear line drawings, adding notes on any changes they want implemented.
- Idealy their custom-branded logo in vector format: AI, EPS, SVG for heat presses.
You can:
- Submit your own designs for development
- Choose from our ready-to-order activewear collections
- Or mix both for a faster rollout.
Once your designs are ready, you’ll hand them over using our upload form. From there, we assess each style and prepare your costing sheet.
Costing depends on:
- Style complexity and seam count
- Fabric type and performance features
- Any additional accessories, such as custom-branded Jaquard (elastic), additional heat presses or custom packaging.
If you haven’t already, start by submitting your designs for pricing →
Step 2 – Choose Fabrics and Colours
Our activewear fabrics are sourced from the US & Korea, specifically for performance, shape retention, stretch, and recovery. All are recycled & sustainably made.
Key fabrics include:
- Eco Olympus – supportive, high-compression, recycled nylon
- Comfort Luxe – brushed, soft-touch, ultra-comfortable
- Nulux – heavier version of Comfort Luxe with more compression, better shape retention, and higher pilling resistance. Ideal for high-impact workouts and heavy wear.
Each fabric is selected for specific performance needs, from high-impact workouts to athleisurewear, Pilates, or even padel. Brands often choose a mix depending on the function and feel they’re aiming for.
You’ll choose:
- Base fabric (compression, ribbed, brushed, etc.)
- Colourways (solid, mélange, or marled tones)
- Print compatibility (for placement prints)
See Our Fabrics Here →
Step 3 –Add Prints
We use heat transfer sublimation for activewear prints, applied to specific polyester-based performance fabrics.
You can supply:
- Seamless repeatable patterns
- Placement artwork (logos, shapes, motifs)
Sublimation allows for:
- Vivid, all-over colour
- Sharp detail with zero fade
- Full breathability and performance integrity
Best results require:
- Vector format (AI, EPS, SVG, or CDR) or high-res file (JPG, PNG) 300 dpi minimum
- Pantone or CMYK references
Explore Printing →
Step 4 – Review Samples and Finalise Details
Once you receive your samples, you’ll:
- Test fit and movement
- Make any final adjustments.
- Approve construction and finishes.
You can also finalise:
- Heat-press logos
- External branding elements
Step 5 – Place Your Production Order
Once samples are approved, you’re ready to move into bulk production.
You’ll confirm:
- Style codes (from your sample or ready-to-order design)
- Fabric and colour selection
- Size breakdown per style
Custom accessories (such as silicone logos or branded waistbands) must be ordered early. Most are produced overseas and take approx 2–3 weeks to arrive in Bali.
Non-custom elements (labels, logos, tags) must also be locked in before we schedule production.
See how production works →
Request pricing →
Timelines, MOQs & What to Expect
Typical production flow:
- Sampling: 2–3 weeks
- Production: 3–5 weeks
- MOQ: 300 pcs total
You can mix custom and ready styles within one order.
Get Started — or Keep Exploring
Ready to get started? Move ahead now. Still exploring? Keep discovering your options.
Next steps:
FAQs
Do I need to sample if I’m using ready-to-order designs?
No, not necessarily. Many brands skip sampling when using our pre-developed collections — especially if time-to-market is a priority.
How do I get pricing for my designs?
Submit your tech packs or clrea line drawing via our design upload form, and we’ll send a detailed quote.
Start here
Can I mix custom and ready styles in one order?
Yes. As long as you meet the total MOQ, you can combine both custom and ready styles in a single production run.
What fabrics are best for my collection?
It depends on your focus — Eco Olympus for compression, Comfort Luxe for softness, or Nulux for high-impact performance.
Explore fabric options →
What print options are available?
We offer sublimation printing on selected polyester-based fabrics. You can supply seamless patterns or placement prints.
Learn about printing →
What accessories and branding can I add?
You can add silicone logos, custom waistbands, woven labels, and more. Most branded elements are imported and need 2–3 weeks lead time.
See accessories →
Ready to Start Your Activewear Brand?
We work with hundreds of brands every year — from first-time founders to fast-scaling labels. If you’re ready to get moving, here’s where to begin:
