In recent years, engineers, designers, and innovators have stepped up to this modern challenge, refocusing their efforts on eco-friendly plastic alternatives that promote circular, low-waste systems. These innovations, known as bioplastics, offer hope for a more environmentally conscious and responsible future. Here, we delve into some of these emerging solutions and explore how they work.

Seaweed

Seaweed has gained a trendy, superfood status in recent years, but it’s also quietly becoming one of the front-running solutions to the world’s mounting plastic problem. If you live in the UK, you might have already ordered a takeaway in a Notpla box, a flexible biodegradable container made from a type of seaweed that rapidly grows up to three metres per day.

The London-based start-up developed the bioplastic product after studying how marine plants grow rapidly in the ocean without the need for extensive freshwater or agricultural land. These underwater plants can be used to create a variety of biodegradable packaging products, including a water-tight bubble to hold liquids, a coating for food containers, and even paper.

As seaweed captures carbon twenty times faster than trees, its production helps to reduce emissions in the environment. If it’s done responsibly, it can also be harvested without causing harm to marine ecosystems.

Today, over one million seaweed-based bioplastic takeaway food boxes have been created for Just Eat, with the potential to replace over 100 million more plastic-coated containers in Europe in the future. If it’s successful, NotPla’s seaweed products could eventually prevent one billion plastic bottles from reaching the ocean every year and eliminate the 300 million kg of carbon emissions that go with them.

Potato starch

Plastic is found lurking in all kinds of fitness and nutrition products, including the packaging for protein powders that many of us rely on after a heavy gym session. But at Form, we didn’t want to contribute to the plastic problem. So, we made our compostable packaging pouches from a special bioplastic made from potato starch.

This type of plastic is unique as it breaks down quickly in the right conditions, such as in the ground, in less than 180 days. This is much better for the environment compared to the regular plastic used for most sealed pouch products.

Using renewable materials like potato starch in our protein powder packaging has been instrumental in helping us reduce our carbon footprint by up to 70%. After you use our packaging, you can put it in your compost bin, and it will break down without any need to interfere.

Cumulatively, this helps keep tonnes of household plastic out of landfills and waterways. This eco-friendly approach has played a big role in us getting B Corporation certification, which means we’re doing our best to be good for the planet.

Sugarcane

Native to Asian countries, sugarcane is a tall tropical grass that’s harvested and processed to create the refined sugar found in foods like cakes and biscuits. In recent years, scientists have found that harvesting sugarcane can also yield a robust bioplastic, with the potential to replace the oil-based plastics that we’ve relied on for centuries.

Creating sugarcane plastic involves capturing ethanol from fermented sucrose and converting it into plastic polymers, in a similar heating method to oil plastics. Although sugarcane plastics are neither compostable nor biodegradable, they can be processed in existing recycling facilities, so there’s no reason for them to end up in a landfill if they’re responsibly managed.

Sugarcane is a unique solution as it captures carbon dioxide from the environment as it grows. According to some sources, every kilogram of sugar cane plastic produced removes 3.09 kg of CO2 from the air.

While other carbon-capturing materials, like wood, eventually release the sequestered carbon when burned, sugar plastics are recycled, meaning the carbon they’ve captured is not released back into the atmosphere. This makes them a more eco-friendly choice compared to traditional oil-based plastics, which release carbon emissions when they’re mined from source.

Sugarcane bioplastics are already catching on, particularly in the toy world. Lego recently introduced a botanical-themed playset made from sustainably sourced sugarcane, in a manufacturing process that the Danish toymaker claims was completely carbon-neutral.

Banana waste

Beyond being a delicious smoothie ingredient, bananas have the potential to be an unexpected solution to tackling our plastic problem. Innovators have been able to use the high starch and cellulose content in discarded banana peels to create valuable raw materials for bioplastics.

Like potato starch, bananas are made from an abundant waste product, so they’re considered one of the most eco-friendly alternatives on the market. Plus, they’re biodegradable, which means they can break down naturally in the environment, reducing the long-term environmental impact.

The production of banana bioplastics begins with the preparation of banana peels, which are cleaned, dried, and then processed into fine powder or small pieces. These prepared peels undergo a chemical treatment to extract cellulose, which is subsequently polymerized. The resulting bioplastic material is shaped through processes like moulding or extrusion and allowed to cool and solidify, yielding a versatile and eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastics.

Designers have already tried using banana waste to make eco-friendly plastic for products like forks and food containers. However, these banana-based plastics don’t always have the same strength, durability, or ability to break down as regular plastics. So, scientists are still figuring out how to make them more useful in the future.

Spirulina

Wellness fans will know spirulina as a superfood full of vitamins and minerals, often found in supplements and health shakes. Recently, scientists have experimented with turning the blue-green algae into a biodegradable plastic that breaks down in a compost bin at the same speed as a banana peel.

Earlier this year, a team led by the University of Washington created a compost-friendly bioplastic using powdered spirulina, a type of cyanobacteria that’s safe for humans and animals to consume. Using heat and pressure, they were able to shape the spirulina powder into various forms. Spirulina was chosen because it can be grown in large quantities, absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows (making it environmentally friendly), and it is even fire-resistant.

Although spirulina has been used in bioplastics before, the recent improvements make them tougher and more practical as a plastic alternative. However, they’re not quite ready for widespread use yet. While they’re strong, they’re also brittle and don’t hold up well when exposed to water, so there’s still some work to be done. Still, discoveries like these give hope for a greener future by reducing plastic waste’s impact on the environment.

The post 5 Planet-Saving Alternatives to Plastic We Could Be Using in the Future appeared first on Form.

Our regular disposing has been born in tandem with the rise of ‘fast furniture’ — cheap items made with a short lifespan in mind. Amid a cost of living crisis, this false economy is attractive. But in the long run, well-made, eternally stylish furniture that can outlast its poorly made counterparts by 30 years makes more economic sense. Why go through a dozen office chairs when one will do you a lifetime?

Buying second-hand is a great solution — furniture that was made a long time ago was intended to be passed down, and can usually be made to look brand new with minor repairs, refurbishing, or upcycling. The internet has reinvigorated this secondhand marketplace with Facebook and eBay filled with promising listings.

Besides the secondhand route, there are several furniture brands that are creating new or reclaimed furniture with sustainability and the environment firmly in mind. Here we highlight five of the best around.

5 Of The Best Sustainable Furniture Brands Around

Goldfinger

Not so much named after Bond’s nemesis, Goldfinger is in instead a nod to the modernist architect Ernö who designed Trellick Tower, the modernist monolith where its showroom is housed. The London-based furniture maker only uses recycled or sustainably sourced wood, while also operating as a social enterprise with all profits fed back into the business and used to fund its Goldfinger Academy offering education programmes for marginalised young people, and People’s Kitchen, a cafe that offers free meals to local residents.

Scaramanga

Its Bond villains aplenty in this list, although there’s no golden guns here, just a bounty of artfully curated reclaimed lifestyle products from Kadai fire bowls and teak storage chests through to vintage art and FSC certified wallpaper. There are no new furniture pieces with Scaramanga sourcing only old and vintage furniture, many of which have been handpicked for a number of Hollywood films, including Dumbo and The Hobbit.

Nkuku

Nkuku is an ethical, fair trade supporting brand that sells furniture made from artisans all over the world, inspired by the founders own globe trotting trips. Of course this brand focus brings up the question of its carbon footprint, one which Nkuku address by using sea freight as opposed to air freight, and consolidating their shipments so they’re only ever using full containers. All of the products also only use natural materials and eco crops, including hemp, jute and mango wood, while all of the glassware is made out of recycled glass.

Puji

Based in Northern Ireland with a name derived from Indonesian to bless or admire, Puji is a sustainable brand through its dedication to quality that will last a lifetime. It specialises in using both reclaimed timbers, and in particular teak, one of the most durable woods and able to withstand years of wear and tear, hence why it’s used a lot in boat making. The Indonesian link also goes beyond the name, with a  Puji workshop located in Java where there is a steady supply of teak to be reclaimed from the old wooden style buildings that are being replaced around the country.

Adventures in Furniture

Independent London furniture chain Adventures in Furniture is one of the leading spots to buy furniture across London with a number of green awards behind them, including a Guardian Sustainable Business award. One of its standout features is an environmental star rating across most of the products it sells, judging the item it is selling on the raw materials used, the workshop practices, and furniture miles and packaging, along with a detailed breakdown of how each judgement was made. It also offsets the emissions generated from transporting your furniture from where it was made to your door through the World Land Trust for a true 360 approach.

The post The Sustainable Furniture Brands Helping to Outfit Homes the Responsible Way appeared first on Form.

However, the distribution, packaging and returns of online goods are still a major contributor to carbon emissions, and the high street isn’t prepared to just roll over. A number of stores are showing some substantial sustainability cred, either through the construction of the spaces or the brands that they stock. Here we highlight eight of them, from B Corp paradises made out of reclaimed materials to all-vegan sanctuaries well worth the pilgrimage.

Lush Liverpool

Fellow B Corp Lush has been wafting the scent of its bath bombs down the high street since 1995, and now has a whopping 951 stores globally. However it’s the cosmetics brand’s Liverpool store were interested in here, which also happens to be its biggest.

With enough space to fit over 9 million of those famous bath bombs, the fit on the inside of the space saw a keen focus on using sustainable materials like reclaimed FSC certified timbers and cradle-to-cradle silver tiles to keep that all-important carbon footprint down, while much of the brand’s products are either made in solid form to reduce the need for packaging, or — where packaging is required — out of innovative sources like recycled coffee cups.

Karavan Eco

Founded in the early 1990s in south London, Karavan Eco is anything but a bandwagon jumper. Its store sits in idyllic East Dulwich and is a veritable haven for those that like to buy from brands with purpose. Inside you’ll find all manner of useful bits from recycled metal fire pits and make-your-own insect hotels for the rewilders among you, down to bamboo socks and copper water bottles. Neatly curated and admirably mission focused, it’s a testament to what makes independent shops in the UK so special.

Ikea Greenwich

Labyrinthine Scandi homeware chain Ikea went all out on the sustainable build of its new Greenwich store in east London. 75 percent of the roof has been covered in solar panels for example, while skylights aplenty reduce the need for artificial light inside. A system is also in place for harvesting rainwater, reducing the store’s water consumption by up to 50 percent, while an innovative geothermal system heats the shop floors up in winter, just as boreholes work to cool customers off in summer.

And it’s not just the in-store experience that has been made sustainable. Straying from its usual out-of-town presence, Ikea has positioned the Greenwich store just a 20 minute walk from the tube station, while the garden’s around the store and on the rooftop have been designed to support local wildlife.

House of Green Beauty

Billed as a “one-stop green beauty destination”, House of Green Beauty is housed in a brightly-painted timber-fronted shop near the iconic Alexandra Palace. Small but mighty, what the store lacks in square footage, it more than makes up for in natural, organic and vegan skincare products and personal touch. All of the products inside come from NINI organics, you see, whose founder Alex can be regularly found in-store primed and ready to offer expert advice when needed.

Stella McCartney Flagship London

Stella McCartney is an unparalleled sustainable fashion innovator and as great an ambassador for high fashion eco-friendly style as they come. No surprise then that the designer’s flagship Old Bond Street store is similarly innovative, with a unique air-filtration technology which sucks up 95 percent of traffic fumes from one of the capital’s most polluted areas, and special mannequins that are 100 percent biodegradable.

Sancho’s

Sat in the coastal town of Exeter, Sancho’s is part sustainable boutique, part ethical fashion pamphlet, with script all over the shop window detailing the number of ways in which the industry — and us as consumers — can clean up its act.

Over 100 ethical brands are showcased inside, including Girlfriend Collective, Bird Eyewear, and People Tree, while the shop takes a lot of care in selected brands that are properly certified, whether it be a cotton sweatshirt approved by the Global Organic Textile Standard or a vegan beauty range given the thumbs up from Peta.

BOTTLETOP

Launched in 2002 off the back of a much-buzzed-about campaign from luxury handbag maker Mulberry, BOTTLETOP use years of bag making know-how (one of the co-founders Roger Saul, is the founder of Mulberry) and a genius idea (mainly recycled bottled tops are a brilliant way to decorate a handbag), to create beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces with an important message behind them.

International fashion shows, art exhibitions, and costumes for the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics followed, but arguably one of its most creative masterstrokes was its Regent Street store, the world’s first 3D printed store using waste plastic. A must-see pilgrimage for sustainable fashionistas, its art installation feel sets a blueprint for what the future of shopping could well look like.

Paro Store

Amsterdam-based online retail platform Paro Store is a fascinating digital destination. Its aesthetic and appeal is unmistakably hip and happening — ceramic ear cuff, anyone? — while the standout feature of the site is the novel option of browsing products by ‘design code’ (artisan, local, circular, transparent) putting the sustainable element first and foremost in the shopper’s mind — a neat way to encourage ethical choices over rampant consumerism.

The post The Sustainable Stores Building a More Eco-Friendly High Street appeared first on Form.

Haven’t managed to get your hands on it yet? Well now you can read it online with this digital issue.

Inside you’ll find original illustrations, beautiful photography, handy recipe pages and brilliant long-reads, including:

• An interview with vegan educator and best-selling author Ed Winters.
• Ed Cooper visits Steel Warriors — a London-based charity melting down street knives and turning them into outdoor gyms⁠.
• inForm editor Richard Jones shows us around all the superfoods you need to know⁠.
• Liz Connor contemplates the rise of toxic positivity and the harm in suppressing negative emotions⁠.

⁠Enter your email below to download issue 2 now

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The post Download Issue Two of inForm Magazine here appeared first on Form.

Comfort is important when buying a new pair, as are pockets if you’re gyming sans gym bag — you’ll want these deep enough that your iPhone won’t slip out on the leg press.

And don’t forget looks either, with a study on 2,000 gym-going regulars finding seven in ten were more motivated to work out simply by donning their gymwear.

So, here are seven splendid gym and running shorts to take a look at, each with good looks and novel features that stand them out from the rest of the gym shorts pack.

9 Of The Best Gym And Running Shorts

Chpt3 Studio Padded Women’s Shorts

Headed by former pro cyclist and four-time stage winner on the Tour De France, David Millar, Chpt3 has quickly become one of the leading brands in the cycling kit world, offering high-quality specs to rival the bibs on the backs of the road-cycling pros.

These padded shorts are aimed less at the road cyclist though, and more the spin bunny, with a high waistband to keep your shorts in place and a female-specific pad that ensures comfort in the places you need it.

£89.00, chpt3.com

Lululemon Surge Short 6″ Lined Men’s Shorts

No longer just the number one place to pick up your yogawear, Lululemon has in recent years become a sportswear behemoth covering all sorts of athletes and needs. While these shorts are aimed at runners, they’ll make a fine short around the gym too, with a 3D-shaped pouch for breathable support as you move, flat-locked seams to reduce chafing and a built-in pocket to hold your phone. Plus the fit around the glutes and thighs has been made specifically roomy for all you leg day regulars out there.

£58.00, lululemon.co.uk

Nike Pro Dri-FIT Flex Rep Men’s Shorts

If ever a brand has transcended sportswear to become, well, lifewear, it’s Nike. So, while these Nike Pro Dri-FIT shorts are designed with working out in mind thanks to stretchy reinforcement in high-wear areas and hem vents on the sides to help you move without restrictions, they’re also just a really good-looking pair of shorts. So, pop a white tee on top, some clean sneaks below, and bam, you’ve got yourself a neat outfit there for the hottest of summer days.

£41.97, nike.com

Hamilton & Hare Lyocell Drawstring Men’s Shorts

London-based loungewear experts Hamilton & Hare are a real dab hand at elevating the basics through impeccable classic fits and clothing so comfortable it needs to be worn to be believed.

These shorts are based on the brand’s popular joggers, and come in a lyocell blend, a more eco-friendly alternative to cotton made out of wood pulp, while the beautiful attention to detail truly shines through in the handsome jacquard rib and the nickel-free drawstring metal caps.

£95.00, hamiltonandhare.com

Allbirds Natural Run Women’s Shorts

Allbirds built its house on sustainable, ultra-cushy, knitted trainers, but in recent years it has started to branch out and use that know-how across the whole of the sportswear spectrum. These shorts — made Carbon Neutral don’t you know — come in a luxe merino wool blend that is naturally thermoregulating. It’s natures way of keeping you cool in the gym so you can keep your mind on that next set.

£68.00, allbirds.co.uk

Puma Infuse Fashion Woven Women’s Shorts

Another day, another sportswear powerhouse making sustainable tracks. This time its the turn of Puma, who’ve put together some real eco-friendly features into these shorts with a recycled, water-repellent material and a seal of approval from sustainability certificators bluesign®.

£50.00, puma.com

Tracksmith Off Road Women’s Shorts

The retro running, throwback vibes of Tracksmith harks back to the US running boom of the ’70s — think thigh high shorts, fitted tanks and diagonal stripes. These shorts from the brand are made less for road runners, more for those trail dwellers who prefer their marathons ultra style.

And so you get a short that’s as pragmatic and hard-wearing as it gets, with a quick-drying UV-protective shell, a compressive short underneath and an adjustable elastic belt that’s exposed at the back for tucking in an extra shirt lest the first one succumbs to the terrain.

£95.00, tracksmith.com

Saysky Pace 5″ Mens Shorts

One of our founder Damian’s favourite running shorts brands (along with the next choice on our list), Saysky is a Danish running apparel brand with a bold but clean aesthetic that you’ll actually want to wear beyond the gym or on a run, into the pub garden afterwards. These incredibly lightweight shorts from the brand are a bestseller, with a narrow fit to reduce wavering when running and two handy inner pockets designed to stock those all-important energy gels.

£55.00, saysky.co.uk

Satisfy Space‑O™ 2.5″ Distance Mens Shorts

Parisian label Satisfy has been billed as an anti-performance running brand, preferring to focus on community and culture, than shaving seconds off their wearers Strava times. What you get then is a unique fashion-running hybrid — technical silk fashioned into sweat-wicking snakeskin, or cotton tees made to look moth eaten for novel ventilation purposes.

These techwear-like perforated mesh shorts from the brand naturally stretch to your body’s movements and come with a silk lining that’s inspired by medical compression bandages.

£152.00, satisfyrunning.com

The post Prepare Yourself for the Warm Weather With These Superb Gym And Running Shorts appeared first on Form.

Since then many more have become B Corps including The Body Shop, Sipsmith, evian, Oddbox, COOK, Teapigs, and graze, and you can find all of these stellar brands — and many more — in new pop-up space Good News, the first-ever B Corp store in the UK.

Sitting just around the corner from Tottenham Court Station and The British Museum, Good News times with the annual B Corp awareness month, and features 300 ambient, fresh, chilled and frozen products from 100 B Corp brands, as well as a free-of-charge vending machine from Healthy Nibbles that uses social media as its currency, fresh coffee from Origin, and a good-cause lotto with social impact and community-driven prizes.

The focus of the store is less on retailing the product in the traditional sense, but rather telling the stories of the B Corp brands helping drive change, while also educating consumers on how they can ‘buy better’. We’re delighted to be featured in the store among other brands that, like us, have positive impact and continuous improvement at their core.

If you’re in London, head down to 10A Rathbone Place, W1T 1HP to check it out for yourself. Good News is open until 31st March, Monday to Saturday between 10am and 6pm.

The post Good News: The Corner Shop That Only Stocks B Corps appeared first on Form.

The Best Gym Bags Around

Adidas By Stella McCartney Gym Sack

German giant Adidas has been a real leader in the eco-friendly sportswear space and that’s in no large part thanks to its collaborations with conservation charity Parley for the Oceans and regular link ups with high fashion sustainable pioneer Stella McCartney.

This striking sack is a result of the latter and is made out of a series of recycled materials crafted into a lightweight design that can be easily squashed down into something even more portable.

adidas.co.uk, £90.00

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag

Another brand proudly waving the sustainability (and B Corp) flag, Patagonia makes a fine duffel gym bag that comes in four different sizes depending on how many sweat-wicking gym tees and sustainable trainers you want to cram inside.

Nifty features include daisy chains on the outside for climbers to carry around all their ropes and cables, a tough, durable padded base, and a recycled fabric shell approved by sustainable certificators bluesign®.

patagonia.com, £95.00

Transcience Neoprene Yoga Bag

Yogis unite; we’ve found the gym bag for you. Crafted by functional bag maker Transience, this slick, ultra-modern holdall comes in a super waterproof neoprene shell and handily features extra long straps to easily stow away your yoga mat or foam roller, so you can namaste without the hassle of lugging two bags to class every time.

net-a-porter.com, £135.00

La Pochette Sweat Bag

Hygiene at the gym has become more pronounced at the gym since anti-bac squirt stations became a regular feature. But all that hand washing is kind of lost if you’re then going to just shove your sweaty, smelly kit back into your work bag.

That’s where La Pochette comes in. The sustainable-leaning independent specialises in anti-bacterial, water-resistant and machine-washable kit bags made out of recycled plastic bottles — taking the sweat out of lugging your smelly kit back home with you.

lapochette.co, £35.00

Nike Utility Power Training Duffel Bag

When it comes to gym bags you can never have too many pockets. Keep your keys, smartphone, and insulated stainless steel protein shaker, organised and secure with this utilitarian duffel bag from Nike, clad in a handsome army green and crafted in a lightweight but durable shell with built-in ventilation to let your gym gear breathe.

nike.com, £49.95

Rains Gym Bag

Scandi brand Rains is a dab hand at smart, stylish rainwear, a well of know-how that makes its gym bag one of the toughest around. Made minimalist and monochrome, the boxy silhouette allows you to fit a whole lot of gym kit inside, while the signature, waterproof PU shell is a Rains signature, with a smooth, glossy finish that belies the bag’s incredible durability.

rains.com, £65.00

Kavu Little Feller Bag

Sustainable outerwear brand Kavu has built a real fervent cult following around a unique, fun design aesthetic and the easy-wearing versatility of its bags and clothing. This backpack duffel hybrid from the brand is certainly a lovely-looking holdall, with a soothing colour-blocked design.

But its practicality is where it excels with a spacious capacity, a removable over-the-shoulder strap, and outer cinch straps for easily storing ropes, cables, yoga mats, foam rollers, and anything else you’d care to carry along with you to the climbing wall or gym.

alwaysincolour.com, £60.00

The post Transport Your Kit in Style With These 7 Stellar Gym Bags appeared first on Form.

Looking good can quite often have you feeling good, and while we’d always promote sensible and sustainable consumption — a well-made gym tee should last years, not the few months it takes for another to catch your eye — it pays to keep up with the latest sweat-wicking and comfort-inducing technology.

The reasons are two-fold. Firstly, the more comfortable you are in your gym t-shirt the more you can focus your mind on lifting those hefty weights. And secondly, sweat-wicking isn’t just there to keep you cool. It also takes the moisture away from your skin, resulting in less body odour-causing bacteria forming and the likelihood of skin rashes and bacne rearing their ugly head (we’d also recommend a looser fit to prevent skin irritation).

So with that in mind, we’ve rounded up ten of our favourite men’s and women’s gym t-shirts to have you feeling your best every time you squat, heave and row.

The Best Gym T-Shirts Around

Nike Pro Dri-FIT Burnout Top

Remember it’s SexyBack we want to be achieving at the gym, not sweaty back. That’s where the genius in this tee from Nike lies, with a thinner, more breathable fabric around the shoulders and back to wick that sweat away from what is admittedly, a high-heat area.

nike.com, £37.95

Adidas x Stella McCartney Women’s True Purpose T-Shirt

Part of a long-running partnership between German sportswear titan Adidas and sustainable fashion extraordinaire Stella McCartney, this punchy pink gym t-shirt comes with laser-cut perforations to keep airflow circulating and the sort of sweat-wicking, moisture wicking fabric that Adidas built its house on.

adidas.co.uk, £70.00

Gymshark Arrival T-Shirt

No longer a scrappy upstart, British brand Gymshark is now a firm player among the sportswear elite. Its rapid rise has been built on gym kit that accentuates, so expect tees that emphasise the guns and upper body (that’ll be the flatlock seam lines) along with a supreme lightweight functionality.

uk.gymshark.com, £20.00

Men’s UA RUSH™ Seamless Short Sleeve T-Shirt

A pioneer in the compression tee field, US sportswear giant Under Armour has long held cutting-edge tech as its main draw. UA Rush, one of its latest pieces of sportswear engineering, claims to absorb your body heat as you sweat via mineral-infused fabric, converting it into infrared energy to help your muscles recover as they’re working. It’s a bold claim, but one made by a company that knows how to deliver.

underarmour.co.uk, £50.00

New Balance Tenacity Short Sleeve Top

When it comes to comfort and functionality around the gym floor, you can’t go wrong with a raglan sleeve gym t-shirt like this one from New Balance. That’s because the extra space created by the sleeve shape helps your freedom of movement in ways a normal crew neck just can’t — perfect for kettlebell swingin’.

newbalance.co.uk, £25.00

Girlfriend Collective Gia Crop Tee

Seattle-based activewear brand Girlfriend Collective has proved a certified HIIT within wellness circles, largely down to its ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices and applause-worthy approach to diversifying the industry. This crop top is made using a lesser-known sustainable material called cupro, a regenerated cellulose fabric that is 100 percent biodegradable and oh-so-breezy. TL;DR: we approve.

girlfriend.com, $22.00

Bamboo Long Sleeve Bamboo Top

Not only is bamboo a eco-friendly material with only rainwater really needed to help it grow and a super-fast yield, it’s also breathable, kind to your skin, and UV protecting. This futuristic-looking long-sleeve gym t-shirt from UK brand Bamboo Clothing puts all of bamboo’s bounty of benefits to good use, for sustainable fashion hero that’ll support all your workouts.

bambooclothing.co.uk, £13.20

Lacoste Men’s SPORT Breathable Colourblock T-shirt

The inventor of the tennis polo, Lacoste has been leading athletic wear innovation for nearly a century now. While not the first name you’d think of when looking at gym t-shirts, the breathable ultra-dry anti-odour piqué on this colour-blocked tee is perfect for keeping you cool around the bench, while it’s hard to beat the croc for certified style points.

lacoste.com, £65.00

Sweaty Betty Athlete Seamless Gym T-Shirt

A dab hand with a super-soft fabric, Sweaty Betty makes the sort of super-cushy clothing you want to wear to the gym and then lounge around in for the rest of the day. This gym t-shirt is made seamless to aid movement — hello Russian twists — and cut slim with mesh fabric in high sweat areas to keep you looking fresh throughout the day.

sweatybetty.com, £45.00

Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Tee

While admittedly Tracksmith is first and foremost concerned with the act of running, who’s to say you can’t utilise all that moisture-wicking know-how when you’re in the gym. Plus, the US running brand makes some of the nicest-looking kit around with a real ’70s preppy throwback style that’ll have you stomping into the weight’s room like Gold’s Gym Arnie if he was a plucky track star coming out of Harvard.

tracksmith.com, £68.00

The post The Best Sweat-Wicking, Bench Press-Crushing Gym T-Shirts Around appeared first on Form.

As we prep for a big year ahead our latest American venture ticks another goal off the bucket list, as we see the launch of our first pop-up retail experience across the Atlantic in collaboration with Preview, a physical space in Miami, Florida.

Launched December 2021, Preview is located in the city’s Design District, home to stores from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Prada, as well as the Institute of Contemporary Art (Miami). Preview stands as an experiential exhibition space for activewear, fitness, and nutrition brands, with Form commanding its own space on the floor where you can explore our range of products, alongside those from running shoe brand APL, activewear maker Spiritual Gangster, and eyewear label Chimi.

“We are excited to partner with Preview Active and have a physical space in Miami Design District to connect in real life with US-based customers. For Form, it is an honour to be representing the UK wellness industry alongside well-established American brands such as APL and Spiritual Gangster.”

Natalia Bojanic, Form, co-founder and brand director

“Launching into the US right at the start of the Covid pandemic was interesting to say the least and necessarily delayed all our plans for physical activation and partnerships. Nevertheless, we’ve seen exciting growth via our own direct online channels and are now looking forward to building out our physical presence in the US with this space in the heart of the Miami Design District being the first of many.”

Damian Soong, Form, co-founder and CEO

The post Form Launches First Stateside Pop-Up Retail Space With Preview Miami appeared first on Form.

So get your loved one all primed and prepped for January and the New Year’s resolution rush with these fitness gifts for the gym obsessive in your life.

15 Xmas Fitness Gifts

Yogi Bare Lunar Paws Yoga Mat

Regular yogis will tell you the importance of investing in a good yoga mat — it really is a false economy — and as mats go, the Yogi Bare mat, and its brilliant grip, has to be up there. Made from a natural, sustainably sourced rubber that’s readily recyclable and biodegradable, unlike the more commonly-found PVC yoga mats, a percentage of each sale even gets donated to marine conservation charity, Sea Shepherd.

yogi-bare.co.uk, £74.95

Kenko Walnut Dumbbell Set

If you know a design nerd who likes to lift in style, then boy have we got the gift for you. Made by high-end design studio Kenko, these minimalist dumbbells have been handcrafted from wood and brass to create a sleek take on the clunky gym equipment staple. Plus, once you’re done pumping those biceps up, they make for a beautiful ornament to keep around the house.

bombinate.com, £723.00

Adidas Power Perfect 3 Shoes

When it comes to lifting heavy, having the right footwear on your feet will allow you to push through the floor with more force for a PB just waiting to happen. Invest in these trainers from German sportswear giant Adidas then, with a specially engineered die-cut wedge midsole, added heel support, and an instep strap for complete stability. Trust us, your squat will thank you for it.

adidas.com, £110.00

Polar Ignite Fitness Watch

Apple and Fitbit attract most of the attention when it comes to the fitness tracker game, but in terms of spec, Polar is hard to beat. The Ignite has everything you would expect, from GPS and sports modes for a whole host of activities to Polar’s Precision Prime optical heart rate sensor technology.

But there are extra levels here, from more insightful sleep data to the super-handy FitSpark, a mode that offers personalised advice and suggested exercises based on your fitness level, training history, and new sleep insights. Oh, and it’s a slick-looking fella too.

polar.com, £217.50

CHPT3 Most Days Cycling Jersey

Founded by former Team GB cyclist and multiple Tour de France stage winner David Millar, CHPT3 make the sort of racing kit even the pros dream of wearing. This handsome forest green cycling jersey from the brand has been constructed out of a completely recycled polyester which comes approved by sustainable fabric certificators, Bluesign, and has added antimicrobial and odour control, so you won’t stink up the pub during that post-ride pint.

chpt3.com, £89.00

HoMedics Massage Gun

Anyone whose been to the gym for even just a few weeks will tell you that the way in which you recover is almost as important as the workout yourself. This massage gun from HoMedics is an invaluable tool then, with a high-frequency pulsing action to penetrate deep into the muscle tissue and ease any post-workout soreness.

homedics.co.uk, £79.99

Reiss x Castore Hybrid Shell Jacket

Leading the British sportswear pack in recent years, Castore is still a baby when compared to the twin monoliths of Nike and Adidas (the brand was only founded in 2015). But in its short history, the brand was already shown some championship-winning form, providing kit for the likes of Andy Murray, Newcastle United, and the McLaren F1 team.

Its latest collab sees the brand enter the high street fray with the ever-luxe and wearable Reiss, for some thoroughly contemporary sportswear — think muted colour tones, high-tech fabrics, and sharp cuts. This lightweight, quilted shell jacket is the edit’s MVP.

reiss.com, £165.00

Hilly Twinskin Socklet

A sock is a sock at the end of the day, ain’t it? Well, not when you’re wearing these genius creations from British running brand Ronhill. They’re actually two socks for the price of one, with a fine inner sock that wicks moisture away from the foot and transfers it to the drying outer sock. This double-layer construction also prevents friction so you can’t finally wave goodbye to those 20-mile blisters. If you know someone who has their eyes on a marathon next year, you’ll want to nab them these.

ronhill.com, £14.00

Mela Comfort Weighted Blanket

Mela Comfort make weighted blankets designed to apply pressure on the user to mimic a therapeutic technique called deep pressure stimulation which helps relax the nervous system. The results for athletes can be revelatory, ensuring optimum recovery and a better training session than your last.

melacomfort.co.uk, £140.00

Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones

A thumping soundtrack is a perfect accompaniment to any and every workout, helping to both delay fatigue and increase work capacity according to studies. Make sure all other distractions are limited with these wireless earphones complete with secure-fit ear hooks customisable for extended comfort, a reinforced design for sweat resistance, and up to nine hours of listening time.

johnlewis.com, £219.00

Sweaty Betty Nestle Up Tapered Trousers

The 2021 WFH life has only solidified our athleisure wardrobes going into 2022, and we can’t see anyone dumping the sweats for a pinstripe suit anytime soon. These swish joggers from Sweaty Betty are primed for next year then, with an easy-to-wear tapered fit and a subtle, textured cotton twill that will have the whole gym green with envy.

sweatybetty.com, £85.00

Under Armour Sports Mask

This sports mask from American sportswear brand Under Armour has been made specifically for athletes, with a water-resistant outer shell and an inside fabric complete with Iso-Chill technology which disperses heat around your skin, so it actually feels cool when you put it on before you sweat up a storm at your next gym sesh. Not that you need to be working out to wear one; it fights pandemics wherever it goes.

underarmour.co.uk, £26.00

Nike Recovery Foam Roller

We’re big fans of a foam roller here at Form HQ. It might look like a lethargic caterpillar, but using one regularly can help improve your blood circulation, iron out those painful post-workout pangs and increase your range of motion. This roller comes well cushioned, with a textured foam exterior and an adjustable carry strap so you can take it on-the-go.

thesportsedit.com, £28.50

Vitamix A2500i Blender

Long gone are the days when a post-workout protein shake was simply something to shunt down your gullet as quickly as possible. Protein shakes are made to be enjoyed now, and for the protein shake connoisseur, there’s the Vitamix A2500i – quite possibly the finest smoothie making tool around.

We’re talking three program settings for smoothies, hot soup, and desserts, a pulse feature to fine-tune the texture of your shake, and even wireless connectivity so you can update your blender settings according to the latest tech. That’s a protein smoothie you’ll enjoy for years to come.

vitamix.com, £549.00

Form Insulated Stainless Steel Shaker

If you’re still wanted to shake up your protein the old-fashioned way (and on-the-go), there’s always our stainless steel shaker. Mighty and durable, it is both vacuum-insulated and double-walled, so you can keep the contents pleasurably chilled for up to 24 hours. And all while it’s ergonomic design and leak-proof lid lets you glug away in between sets without the risk of spilling your Performance Choc Peanut all over the gym floor.

formnutrition.com, £29.00

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