What We Stand Behind
Our Fabric Standards
HÉROS activewear is built on four non-negotiable fabric standards — recycled materials, third-party certified manufacturing and zero harmful chemicals. Not marketing language. Verifiable commitments.
BlueSign Certified
All HÉROS fabric mills hold BlueSign certification — the most rigorous third-party manufacturing standard in the textile industry. BlueSign audits the full supply chain: chemical inputs, water and energy use, air and water emissions and worker safety.
Third-party verifiedRecycled Performance Fabrics
Active fabrics contain up to 87% recycled polyester. Engineered with four-way stretch and built for high recovery and durability.
Up to 87% recycled contentPFAS-Free
PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are synthetic chemicals used in some fabric treatments. They persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. All HÉROS fabrics are PFAS-free at both the material and manufacturing level, verified by BlueSign's complete PFAS ban as of January 2026.
Zero forever chemicalsBPA-Free
BPA (Bisphenol A) is an industrial chemical used in some synthetic fibers and dye processes. It has been linked to endocrine disruption and is classified as a substance of concern by regulatory bodies in the EU and California. HÉROS fabrics are entirely BPA-free.
Zero endocrine disruptorsFABRIC Science
Recycled Fabrics
Our bestselling HÉROS active fabric is made with 87% recycled polyester.
Recycled Polyester — Active Fabrics
87%
Up to 87% recycled content
What is recycled polyester? Recycled polyester (rPET) is produced by converting post-consumer materials — most commonly PET plastic bottles — or pre-consumer industrial polyester waste into new performance yarn. The process uses significantly less energy and water than producing virgin polyester from petroleum, and diverts plastic waste from landfill and ocean disposal.
What is recycled nylon? Recycled nylon in performance fabrics is most commonly derived from post-consumer fishing nets, carpet fibers, and industrial nylon waste — materials that would otherwise degrade in waterways for hundreds of years. The resulting yarn retains the compression, stretch recovery, and durability of virgin nylon, with a materially lower impact on raw material extraction.
Does recycled fabric perform differently? No. The performance properties of recycled polyester — four-way stretch, compression, recovery, moisture management and colorfastness — are engineered for durability and highly technical specifications. The sustainability benefit is in the supply chain, not the finished garment.
For exact fabric composition by style — including which pieces use Recycled Eco Tech, Soft Sculpt or Flexsoft — see the HÉROS Fabric Guide.
Third-Party Certification
What BlueSign Actually Means
BlueSign is an independent Swiss certification body that audits the entire textile manufacturing supply chain — from chemical inputs through to the finished fabric. It is the most comprehensive third-party manufacturing standard available in the textile industry.
Why It Matters
Most certifications test
the finished product.
BlueSign audits the process
from the beginning.
Unlike certifications such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which test the garment after manufacture, BlueSign manages chemical inputs upstream — before they enter the factory. This upstream approach is why it is considered the gold standard in textile environmental accountability.
What BlueSign Audits
The Five Pillars
Chemical management. BlueSign maintains a database of over 11,000 approved and restricted chemicals. Only pre-approved inputs may be used in the manufacturing process. Hazardous dyes, finishing agents, and process chemicals are screened and either approved, restricted, or prohibited before they reach the factory floor.
Resource efficiency. Certified mills are assessed and continuously monitored on water consumption, energy use, and material waste. BlueSign System Partners have collectively reduced water consumption by 22% and carbon emissions by 35% since 2019.
Worker safety. Mills must eliminate hazardous chemical exposure for workers, implement ventilation standards, and provide safe working conditions throughout the manufacturing process. BlueSign certifications include requirements for written employment contracts, no forced labor, and limits on working hours.
Water and air emissions. Certified facilities must meet strict standards for wastewater treatment and air pollution control, ensuring that byproducts of the dyeing and finishing processes do not contaminate local waterways or air quality.
Consumer safety. The finished fabric must be safe for skin contact and free from all chemicals of concern — a final layer of verification that sits on top of the upstream controls already in place.
Updated January 2026
BlueSign and PFAS
In January 2026, BlueSign implemented a complete ban on PFAS across all certified materials and manufacturing processes — making BlueSign certification the strongest independent PFAS verification currently available from any major textile body. This means that HÉROS fabrics sourced from BlueSign-certified mills are verified PFAS-free not just by our claim, but by an independent third party at the manufacturing level.
No Compromises
PFAS-Free & BPA-Free
HÉROS fabrics are free from both PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and BPA (Bisphenol A). Here is what those terms mean and why they matter to the person wearing the garment.
Forever Chemicals
What Are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a class of synthetic chemicals used in the textile industry primarily as water-repellent treatments (DWR coatings) and fabric finishes. The term "forever chemicals" refers to the fact that PFAS do not break down naturally in the environment or in the human body — they accumulate over time in soil, water, and biological tissue.
PFAS have been linked to a range of health concerns including immune system effects, thyroid disruption, and endocrine interference. Regulatory bodies in the EU and the state of California have moved to restrict or ban PFAS in consumer textiles. HÉROS fabrics contain zero PFAS at both the material and manufacturing level, independently verified by BlueSign certification.
Industrial Chemical
What Is BPA?
Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical historically used in some synthetic fiber production and textile dye processes. BPA is classified as an endocrine disruptor — meaning it can interfere with hormonal systems — and has been subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny in the EU and the United States.
All HÉROS fabrics are BPA-free.
Production Philosophy
Small Batch. Less Waste.
HÉROS releases collections in limited, small-batch quantities. Overproduction is one of the largest drivers of waste in the fashion industry. Small-batch production means we only make what is needed.
Overproduction — manufacturing more garments than the market will absorb — is responsible for the disposal of an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually across the global fashion industry. The industry's default response to uncertainty has historically been to produce in excess and discount or destroy the surplus.
HÉROS operates on a different model. Limited-edition and small-batch releases are a deliberate production decision, not just an aesthetic one. By aligning output closely with demand, HÉROS avoids the cycle of overproduction and markdown disposal that defines fast fashion economics. When a style is gone, it is gone — and that scarcity is the point.
This also extends to packaging. Both the HÉROS shipping box and shipping bag are designed to be reused — they are the return packaging when you send something back. Building reusability into outbound packaging reduces single-use material across the entire customer journey.
The Longest Sustainable Act
Care Extends Life
The most sustainable garment is the one you keep. Cold wash and air dry preserves stretch, recovery, color, and fabric structure — extending the life of every HÉROS piece significantly.
Textile longevity is one of the most impactful sustainability levers available to the individual consumer. Every additional year of use reduces the effective environmental cost of manufacturing — spreading the production footprint across more wears, more washes, and more time.
HÉROS performance fabrics are engineered with high recovery — meaning they return to their original shape after every wash. This recovery depends on preserving the integrity of the synthetic fiber structure. Excessive heat is the primary threat to that structure.
Care Instructions
Cold wash.
Air dry.
No tumble drying, fabric softener, or bleach. Wash with similar colors. Do not iron directly on fabric. The care label on each garment is the authoritative guide for that specific fabric composition and care.
Where We Stand
Our Commitments
What is done, what is in progress, and what we are working toward. We believe transparency is more valuable than perfection.
| BlueSign-certified mills | 100% of HÉROS fabric suppliers hold BlueSign certification. Active since founding. |
| Recycled fabric content | Up to 87% recycled polyester in active fabrics. |
| PFAS-free | Zero PFAS across all fabrics, independently verified by BlueSign's January 2026 complete PFAS ban. |
| BPA-free | All HÉROS active fabrics are BPA-free across every collection. |
| Reusable packaging | Both the outbound shipping box and shipping bag are designed to serve as return packaging, reducing single-use materials. |
| Small-batch production | Limited-edition and small-batch releases by design — reducing overproduction and markdown disposal. |
| Supply chain transparency | Working to publish mill-level sourcing information publicly. In progress. |
| End-of-life program | Exploring garment take-back and recycling partnerships for the future. |
Frequently Asked
Sustainability FAQ
BlueSign is an independent Swiss certification that audits the entire textile manufacturing supply chain from chemical inputs to finished product. It covers chemical management, water and energy use, air emissions, and worker safety — upstream, not just at the end product level. It is the most comprehensive standard available in textile manufacturing.
Yes. All HÉROS fabrics are PFAS-free at both the material and manufacturing level. As of January 2026, BlueSign has a complete PFAS ban across all certified materials — so BlueSign certification independently verifies this claim without relying solely on our own assertion.
Recycled polyester in activewear is typically produced from post-consumer PET plastic bottles or pre-consumer industrial polyester waste. It uses significantly less energy and water than virgin polyester production and diverts plastic from landfill and ocean disposal. Performance properties are identical to virgin fibers.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in some fabric treatments for water resistance. They do not break down in the environment or human body — hence "forever chemicals." They have been linked to endocrine disruption and immune system effects. Regulatory bodies in the EU and California have moved to restrict or ban them in consumer textiles.
Yes. Recycled polyester and nylon meet the same technical performance specifications as virgin synthetics — four-way stretch, compression recovery, moisture management, and colorfastness. The sustainability benefit is in the supply chain and raw material sourcing, not in the garment's wearability.
Cold wash and air dry. Avoid tumble drying, fabric softener, and bleach. HÉROS compression fabrics are engineered with recovery that depends on preserving fiber structure — heat is the primary threat to that structure. Proper care is the single most impactful thing you can do to extend a garment's life.
Small-batch production is a deliberate decision to reduce overproduction — one of the largest sources of waste in the fashion industry. By aligning supply closely with demand, HÉROS avoids the cycle of excess inventory and markdown disposal. When a style is sold out, it is gone.
The HÉROS shipping box and shipping bag are both designed to be reused — they double as the return packaging when you send something back. Building reusability into outbound packaging reduces single-use material across the full customer journey.
