Cotton is natural. But that doesn’t make it ideal. Especially for your gymwear.
If you've ever typed "cotton workout clothes" into Google, you're not alone. According to keyword data, it’s a rising search trend — with over 2,000 searches a month in the U.S. alone. People are waking up to the toxic mess of synthetic activewear and looking for something cleaner.
We get it. Polyester, spandex, nylon — they’re sweaty, smelly, and full of microplastics. So cotton sounds like a healthier alternative. And in some ways, it is. But if you're serious about performance, longevity, or skin health — there's a better answer.
At ZUBEK, we say no to plastic — but we also say no to cotton gymwear. And here's why.
Cotton Is Clean, But It's Not Built for Sweat
Yes, cotton is natural. Yes, it's breathable. Yes, it's soft on skin.
But in the gym? Cotton fails where it matters most:
● Soaks up sweat and holds onto it — you end up soaked and chilled
● Dries slowly, making it a bacteria-breeding ground
● Loses shape easily, especially after a few washes
● Can feel heavy and clingy mid-workout
What you need is a fabric that breathes like cotton — but performs like a technical powerhouse.
That’s where Merino Wool and Seacell come in.
What We Use Instead — And Why It’s Better
We design all our gymwear using 100% natural, skin-safe, non-toxic fabrics that are actually built to move.
MERINO WOOL
Our Men’s and Women’s Merino Wool Gymwear is made from ultra-fine, temperature-adaptive fibers that:
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Wick moisture away from the body
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Resist odor naturally (no chemical coatings needed)
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Regulate body temperature in hot or cold settings
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Never cling, sag or soak the way cotton does
Explore Men’s Merino Gymwear →
Shop Women’s Merino Sets →
SEACELL (Seaweed Fiber)
SeaCell™ is what we call the ultimate biohack fabric — made from Icelandic seaweed and sustainably harvested wood pulp.
It’s lighter than cotton, softer than silk, and:
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Breathes deeply
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Nourishes the skin with trace minerals
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Is 100% compostable and non-toxic
Read why we only use 100% SeaCell →
When Cotton Works — and When It Doesn’t
We do use organic cotton in some of our pieces — like linings, stitching, and elastic blends (paired with kauchuk for stretch). But we never use cotton as the main body fabric for gymwear.
Why? Because:
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Sweat + cotton = soggy mess
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Odor builds fast
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Performance fades after a few wears
Clean living is about more than labels. It’s about performance and purity. That’s what ZUBEK stands for.
The Takeaway
Cotton workout clothes are a step up from plastic. But they’re not the final answer.
At ZUBEK, we build clothes that are:
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100% plastic-free
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Built for performance
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Skin-safe, body-smart, and beautiful
Because you shouldn’t have to choose between clean and powerful.
See what gymwear looks like without plastic →
RELATED READING
The Truth About Polyester →
Why We Chose Merino Wool for Men →
Why SeaCell™ Is the Ultimate Biohack →
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