Our Story

Who Said Good-for-You
Had to Be Boring?

We're not here to be boring. Florence began with a simple hunch: trendy athleticwear could also be non-toxic, breathable, and feel like a second skin. Turns out it can. So we made it.

Two models wearing the Florence Active butter gingham set

Shop the set

Non-Toxic by Design

What touches your skin all day deserves real consideration. Every piece is made from breathable, certified materials, free from the harsh chemicals found throughout much of conventional activewear. We believe clean, safe materials should be the standard, not the exception.

Made for Movement

We design and test every piece in motion, so it performs when it matters. That means high-rise waistbands that stay in place, seams you won't feel, and silhouettes cut for real bodies and real life. Considered details throughout, with nothing to adjust as you move.

Fewer Pieces, Made Better

We produce in small, fairly paid batches rather than chasing every trend. The result is a focused collection designed to be worn, washed, and loved for years. It's a slower, more deliberate way to build a brand, and the only one we believe in.

The Florence Standard

Why We Will Never Make Activewear Out of Polyester.

Almost all activewear is polyester, which is just a soft name for plastic. Here's why that matters more than the industry wants you to think. Our fitted pieces are 96% organic cotton with 4% elastane for stretch, and that ratio is the whole point.

Six Reasons We Skip Polyester

1
Polyester Is Plastic, and Plastic Sheds.
Polyester, nylon, and most stretch fabrics are made from petroleum. Every wash and every workout sheds tiny microplastic fibers, and researchers keep finding those microplastics where they really shouldn't be, including in human blood, lungs, and placentas.
2
Heat and Sweat Make Everything Worse.
When you move, you warm up, you sweat, and your pores open. That's exactly when damp synthetic fabric presses against more absorbent skin. The hot, sweaty workout is the worst time to be wrapped in plastic, not the best.
3
The Chemistry Is Hard to Love.
Turning crude oil into a soft legging takes a long list of additives: antimony catalysts, dyes, softeners, and wrinkle and odor finishes. Several of these are studied as endocrine disruptors, meaning they may interfere with the hormones that quietly run your whole body.
4
Hormones and Fertility Are Part of the Conversation.
This is the uncomfortable one. A number of studies have looked at synthetic fabrics and reproductive health, including older research that linked polyester undergarments to changes in fertility markers in animals. The science is still developing, but when it's plastic against your most sensitive skin, we'd rather not be the experiment.
5
It Traps Heat, Odor, and Bacteria.
Plastic doesn't breathe. It holds warmth and moisture against you, which bacteria love and your skin doesn't, including that gym smell that never fully washes out.
6
You Can't Really Un-Wear It.
Polyester can take hundreds of years to break down, so it lingers in landfills and oceans long after it leaves your drawer. What's bad for the planet is rarely a friend to your body either.

“Your skin is your largest organ, not a barrier you should be testing with plastic and dye every time you sweat.”

What Organic Cotton Does Instead

Organic fibers can do what plastic simply can't.

Lets your skin actually breathe, so you stay cooler and drier.
Sheds cotton, not microplastic, because the fiber was never plastic to begin with.
Grown without synthetic pesticides and certified to standards like GOTS and OEKO-TEX.
Soft and gentle, even on sensitive skin.
Naturally breathable and quick to air out between wears.
Biodegradable, so it returns to the earth instead of haunting it.

A quick note: we make clothes, not medical claims. Research on synthetic fabrics and health is still developing, and this reflects why we choose the materials we do. For anything health related, talk to a medical professional.

Organic cotton vs polyester · What GOTS means · Non-toxic activewear

Made with care

Certified Materials, Thoughtfully Made

Florence Active is made with breathable, certified materials that meet recognized global standards for safety and quality. What touches your skin should be clean, so we keep it that way.