Girlfriend Collective Review: Compressive High Rise Leggings [ECO-FRIENDLY]

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Updated: 4/18/2022 | Girlfriend Collective Review

Current Girlfriend Collective Deals:

Updated: 8/12/2020 | Girlfriend Collective Review

About Girlfriend Collective

Girlfriend Collective (GC) is a women’s activewear company based out of Seattle, Washington. GC was created by co-founders and husband and wife duo, Ellie and Quang Dinh.

You might recognize this brand from when they were advertising a FREE LEGGINGS campaign back when they launched in 2016. The campaign was successful at launching the brand into recognition. All you had to pay was shipping and the leggings were at your doorstep.

Through this review, I learned that their business practices were also worth mentioning. They pride themselves on transparent business practices and creating purposeful pieces.

All their products are eco-friendly and either made of certified used water bottles or fishnets retrieved from the ocean. Girlfriend Collective is proud to be a slow fashion company.

This means that their small batch manufacturing process is good for the environment AND good for you. They’re a sustainable and environmentally friendly brand that we should all be talking about.

And it doesn’t stop there. Girlfriend Collective recently introduced their ReGirlfriend program which makes their production close looped. Buy a shipping label ($7) and send in your used Girlfriend products. You’ll receive a $15 credit in exchange for your return. They take the used Girlfriend products and make new products from your old products.

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Girlfriend Collective Review: Compressive High Rise Leggings

I reviewed their original Girlfriend Collective Compressive High Rise leggings. Each pair of leggings is made out of approximately 25 certified used water bottles.

Believe it or not, there are some brands that use NEW water bottles to create their activewear and that is terrible.

Their fabric manufacturing process is done in Taiwan at a fair trade facility and is certified safe by Oeko-Tex. The leggings are then assembled in their SA8000 certified factory in Hanoi, Vietnam, which uses no forced or child labor, mandates fair working hours and safe conditions, allows unionization, and pays living wages (125% of the local minimum wage).

Would I say they’re eco-friendly? That might be a stretch. They are definitely more eco-friendly than many other current brands on the activewear market, however, synthetic fabrics still leak microplastics into the ocean through their manufacturing process and every time we wash our activewear.

If you’re concerned about microplastics leaking into the ocean, consider investing in GuppyFriend or a microfiber filter ($45).

GuppyFriend is a laundry washing bag that prevents approximately 90% of microplastics from leaking from our activewear and into our oceans, which fish and sea organisms then ingest. You can find GuppyFriend bags at Patagonia and REI.

Girlfriend just announced their newest wash bag! Their proprietary wash bag works just like the Guppy Bag above. It prevents 90% of microfibers from entering our oceans. The bag is only $18. We recommend throwing 2-3 pieces in there for washing.

Shop the GF Wash Bag

The microfiber filter (see below) attaches to your washing machine and collects the plastic fibers before they can enter our water stream. This method is more effective than the wash bag and is easy to install.

Shop the GF Microfiber Filter

Have I excited you about Girlfriend Collective yet? Let’s move onto the fit review!

#1 How Do Girlfriend Leggings Sizing Run?

GC runs true to size (TTS). I wear a size SMALL in their high rise compressive leggings. For size reference, I wear a size 6 in lululemon. The high waist created a very snug feel, making it great for high impact sports and slimming the waistline area.

Their sizing runs from XXS to 6XL, making them size-inclusive. If you’re in between sizes, we recommend sizing up. The high waist design combined with the compressive fabric made the leggings feel snug. I could also fit a size medium comfortably and sized down to a small for a more compressive fit.

#2 What Are Girlfriend Collective Leggings Made For?

GC makes compressive (high and classic rise) and LITE leggings. They also make biker shorts, sports bras, tank tops, tees, long sleeve shirts and just recently introduced jackets and shorts.

Their compressive line comes in Essential and Limited Edition colors. Their LITE line currently only offers Essential colors. The Limited Edition colors are often very vibrant and themed.

#3 What is the Inseam of GC Leggings?

GC leggings come in three inseams; a regular inseam measuring 28.5″, petite inseam measuring 23.5″, and cropped inseam measuring 19.5″

GC also makes biker and run shorts.

#4 How High is the Rise on GC Leggings?

The compression leggings come in both a medium and high rise fit. I reviewed the high-rise version.

#5 How Tall is the Waistband on GC Leggings?

• The tall waistband measures 5″ and is very compressive and slimming. The top of the waistband sits above my navel.
• There are two front seams and a seam at the top of the waistband to hug everything in. I did not experience any slippage during wear in my yoga classes and while wearing them casually.
• The back bottom seam of the waistband is V-shaped, similar to lululemon Align pant, and has the same booty lifting quality.
• There is a pocket built into the inside back of the waistband.

#6 Fabric

• Fabric Content: 79% recycled micro polyester (approximately 25 water bottles) and 21% spandex blend
• Fabric Feel: The GC fabric feels thick and brushed on the inside and smooth on the outside. I would compare the outside feel to Inner fire. The inside feel is unique. If I had to compare it a fabric feel, it would be a less brushed version of the Nike Hyperwarm combat pro fabric.
• Fabric Performance:
  • Quick Drying
  • Dry Wicking,
  • 4-Way Stretch
  • VERY Compressive (size up for a more comfortable fit)
  • Fabric DOES NOT pill! Read more about pilling here.
  • Fabric provides warmth. I wear my classic leggings more often in the Fall and Winter seasons.
• Opacity: The leggings are 100% opaque (not see-through)!
• Fabric Features:
  • No visible logos
  • Inner back waistband pocket

Update: GC leggings now come with an option with side pockets! Rejoice!!!

Shop GC with Side Pockets

#7 When Should I Wear GC Leggings?

GC leggings can be worn anywhere and anytime. The v-shaped seams on the side and back of the pant make the pant look very sporty. I still wear the pants casually with a denim shirt or oversized sweater.

They are great for all activities, exercises and even while wearing casually or while running errands because they’re very compressive.

#8 How Much Do GC Leggings Cost?

The original compression leggings cost $68 for both high and classic rise silhouettes. The LITE leggings are $78.

They’re cheaper than lululemon and the quality is much better IMHO.

#9 Do GC Leggings Have a Gusset?

The gusset is triangle-shaped, double-layered, and reinforced with flat-fell seams. Bend over to your heart’s content!

#10 What Seams Do GC Leggings Have?

The leggings are constructed with flat fell seams throughout the pant for a chafe free fit.

#11 Do GC Leggings Have UPF Protection?

Not disclosed.

#12 Where are GC Leggings Made?

Made in Hanoi, Vietnam. The compression fabric is made in Taiwan.

The LITE fabric is made in Italy using discarded fishnets.

#13 How to Care for GC Leggings

We recommend washing your Girlfriend leggings inside out and on gentle cycle with similar colors. Afterward, hang dry your activewear on a foldable drying rack such as this one.

The screen-printed pant details on the inner waistband pant will eventually rub off and fade away with every wash.

Due to the fabric feeling brushed, I experienced lint collecting on the surface of the fabric. It’s easily removable by hand washing or brushing another piece of fabric against it to remove the lint. I typically wet a towel and brush the debris away.

And lastly, use GuppyFriend every time you wash your activewear to prevent plastics from leaking into the ocean. You can find GuppyFriend bags at Patagonia and REI.

Should I Buy Girlfriend Collective?

YES! I highly recommend Girlfriend Collective. The leggings are high-quality, probably the most eco-friendly of all activewear brands, and perfect for all activities.

What I love most are their values, business practices, and size inclusivity. Their transparency is respected and I wish that every organization can follow suit in creating slow and meaningful fashion that will help to sustain the world we live in.

Girlfriend Collective also released a LITE collection that is less compressive and feels as light as lululemon Align fabric. LITE is extremely eco-friendly as it is made of recycled fishnets which are dangerous to our marine friends. GC works with Aquafil to create fibers for their LITE collection.

Girlfriend Collective released their FLOAT collection in August 2020. We are OBSESSED with this lightweight and compressive new fabric. You can read our FLOAT leggings review and experience the difference for yourself.

Read our LITE vs. Compression leggings review for more details.

Related: Girlfriend Collective: Lite VS Compressive Leggings – What’s the Difference?

Where to Buy Girlfriend Collective

You can buy Girlfriend Collective on their online retail store. Leggings will range from $68-$78 a pair. Trust me, they are worth it!

Girlfriend Collective Discounts

• Get a pair of Girlfriend Collective Compression leggings for only $50 USD. Purchase a leggings voucher through my shop and I will send you a coupon code to redeem your compression leggings. Buy GF Compression leggings.
• Get $10 off on your first Girlfriend Collective order of $95 or more with this link.
• Any other available discounts will show up in a banner at the top of the Girlfriend Collective website.

Shop Girlfriend Collective

You can also buy Girlfriend Collective from these other retailers:

• Alternative Apparel
• Backcountry – Get $10 off your first order when you use this link.
• Bandier – Get $25 off your order of $100+ with this link.
• Earth Hero – Get 10% off with code SCHIMIGGY
• Outerknown
• Nordstrom
• Reformation

What do you think? Are you ready to give Girlfriend Collective a try? Check them out and let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading. 🙂

If you liked this post, you might like these other articles:

• Inner Fire Review: Blossom Leggings [ECO-FRIENDLY]
• 10+ Activewear Legging Brands that Don’t Pill
• Eagle Rock WERKSHOP Review: Butterfly Crop Leggings [COMPRESSIVE]
• lululemon Review: Align Leggings [COMPARISON]

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I received a complimentary pair of their leggings to review, however, all my thoughts and opinions are 100% honest.

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