OUR FABRIC PHILOSOPHY
At AHVA, fabric isn’t an afterthought - it’s the foundation.
What touches your skin every day matters. That’s why we’ve been intentional about choosing materials that prioritise comfort, breathability, performance, and lower synthetic exposure wherever possible.
Our goal is simple: create activewear that feels incredible, performs beautifully, and supports your wellbeing.
OEKO-TEX CERTIFIED
We chose our fabric for how it feels - and checked it for what you can’t see.
Our activewear fabric is certified to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Product Class I - the standard’s strictest product class, designed for textiles used by babies and young children.
This means our certified fabric meets stringent requirements for harmful substances, assessed against a list of over 1,000 substances.
The standard restricts chemicals across these groups:
- PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS - often called “forever chemicals”.
- Bisphenols, including BPA, BPS, BPF, BPB and BPAF.
- Phthalates, including certain plastic-softening chemicals.
- Heavy metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic.
- Formaldehyde
- Pesticide residues, including glyphosate.
- Certain allergy-causing and cancer-causing dyes, including harmful aromatic amines that some azo dyes can release.
- Chlorinated phenols, including pentachlorophenol.
- Organotin compounds.
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
- Certain solvent residues, including DMF, DMAc and NMP.
- Alkylphenols related surfactants, including nonylphenol.
- Certain chlorinated paraffins.
- Certain UV stabilisers.
- Certain siloxanes.
- Nitrosamines and nitrosatable substances.
We use eco-friendly dyes, because how something is made matters just as much as how it feels. It’s a small but important step in reducing our impact, while still delivering the colours and quality you love.
Our bamboo-derived fibre is also FSC certified, ensuring it is responsibly sourced.
Comfort, confidence, and conscious choices - that’s the foundation of everything we make.
NATURALLY BETTER
Our pieces are made primarily from bamboo fabric, a plant-derived fibre known for its incredible softness and breathability.
Bamboo is loved for good reason. It’s naturally:
- Ultra-soft and smooth on skin
- Breathable and helps reduce odour build-up
- Lightweight yet durable
- Gentle for sensitive skin
The result is activewear that moves with your body, regulates temperature, and feels comfortable from workout to everyday life.
CLOSED-LOOP BAMBOO
The bamboo used in AHVA pieces is produced using a closed-loop process.
This means the water and solvents used during production are captured, filtered, and reused, rather than being released into the environment. The result is a much lower-impact manufacturing process compared to many traditional textile methods.
Why this matters:
- Less environmental waste
- Lower chemical impact
- More responsible fabric production
It’s a more thoughtful way of creating the fabrics you wear.
WHY WE ADD SPANDEX
Performance activewear needs stretch.
A small percentage of spandex is added to give AHVA pieces the flexibility, support, and recovery needed for movement. This allows the fabric to stretch with your body and return to shape wear after wear.
Without spandex, activewear would lose its fit, support, and durability much faster.
For us, it’s about balance - using the minimum amount needed to achieve performance, while keeping the fabric as natural and skin-friendly as possible.
ALWAYS IMPROVING
We’ve tested many fabrics in search of the right balance between natural fibres and high performance.
This blend currently delivers the best combination of comfort, durability, breathability, and movement.
But our mission doesn’t stop here.
We’re continually exploring new materials and innovations that move us closer to even more natural, high-performing fabrics for the future.
Because we believe what you wear should support your body, your movement, and your values.