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One of Australia's fastest growing activewear and supplement brands Muscle Nation has lifted its commitment to the environment by launching a new sustainable activewear range.
Inspired by and created in conjunction with former champion bodybuilder Hattie Boydle (pictured below), the 'HBXMN' line has been crafted with a minimum of 75 per cent recycled polyester, made of consumer waste and recyclable materials like plastic bottles.
The move into environmentally friendly activewear is the latest innovation from Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs Nathaniel Anthony (pictured right) and Chris Anastasi (pictured left).
"When we launched Muscle Nation it wasn't just about being a fashion, activewear or supplements brand," says co-founder and CEO Nathaniel Anthony.
"We wanted to build a brand that could connect a community of like-minded people who are passionate about the same goals, and who uplift and support one another."
To make the HBXMN range, plastic bottles are collected, sorted by colour, melted down and formed into chips.
These chips are then sent into spinning mills where they are melted down further and turned into yarn to create the fabric.
The range was developed after the founders were approached by Boydle, the 2016 World Beauty Fitness and Fashion (WBFF) champion, and includes bralettes, bike shorts and mesh crop tops.
Champion bodybuilder Hattie Boydle in the new HBXMN line
"When Hattie approached us about developing an environmentally friendly range, we immediately began researching what was possible within the realms of making sure our quality of product and design was not compromised," says Anthony.
"Each piece of this collection is crafted from elements of recycled fabrics and has had a whole lifespan as something else before this.
"We have really put these materials through the ringer and carried our many wear and tear tests to ensure each item stands the test of time, from washing with rough towels, rolling things on them, and many, many squats."
Brand ambassador Boydle says she is proud to have been a part of the development of the new range.
"I am thrilled to see my vision for an environmentally friendly activewear range come to life and am so proud to have been involved in the development and design process of this collection," says Boydle.
"As someone who is passionate about health and fitness, and who has spent years trying and testing ranges from all over the world, I'm excited to be partnering with my Muscle Nation 'family' to offer women a wardrobe that will not only encourage them to focus on leading an active, healthy lifestyle but to do so in a way that is helping our environment."
Founded in 2016, Anthony and Anastasi have since built Muscle Nation into a major hit online with a community of more than 2 million followers on social media.
In four years, the Brisbane-based company has gone from a startup to a multi-million dollar e-commerce retailer with sales jumping 200 per cent last year - achieving more than $27 million in revenue for FY20.
In particular, Muscle Nation's Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales reached nearly $10 million in sales, and year-on-year growth is forecast to more than double in FY21.
In addition to the group's successful activewear collections, Anthony and Anastasi also sell supplements and run a social media marketing company called Muscle Nation Advertising where they promote fitness brands and influencers.
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