Body Positive Workout Clothes For Women: Mollyhopp Clothing For Yoga And Running

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Please note that as of 2020, MollyHopp is no longer in business. Lululemon, Rockwear, and Lorna Jane are other options I have personally tried, tested, and loved for women’s workout clothes.

Bright, funky workout clothes for women are more popular than ever. Many women are looking for options other than black when choosing their running and yoga clothes. Mollyhopp is one of the up-and-coming activewear brands that offer exactly what women are looking for, with a selection of yoga tops, yoga pants, and running clothing.

Founded and designed by Singapore-based activewear enthusiast Linn Klewinghaus, these women’s workout clothes are created with a ‘body positive’ philosophy in mind. I’m lucky enough to have my own set of Mollyhopp yoga leggings, yoga socks, and one of their gorgeous bamboo tops. Today I’m going to share my thoughts on this brand of women’s workout clothes and why I think they’re a great choice.

Workout clothes for women, designed with women in mind!

When I asked Linn what made her start the Mollyhopp brand of workout clothes for women, she said it was first born out of her own needs. She struggled to find activewear that fit and looked the way she wanted it to. For example, one feature of both her yoga leggings and running capris is a longer-than-usual ‘rise’. This is the distance from the crotch to the top of the waistband. So when you’re wearing Mollyhopp leggings, you don’t need to worry about your butt crack sticking out. Your stomach is also tucked in nicely under the fabric.

Not many yoga clothing brands or activewear brands offer plus-size activewear. And if they do, it’s often in plain old black. This is a distinguishing feature of the Mollyhopp clothing range. They offer not only plus-size yoga and running clothing but also activewear for ALL sizes. It’s important to Linn to offer a full range of sizes to ensure the brand is inclusive and non-discriminatory.

The Mollyhopp range of workout clothes for women is bright, bold, and colorful. It’s about being body positive and loving your body as it is right now. It’s about saying, “I’m proud of my body, and I’m not going to wait until I get to some unattainable size that society seems to expect of me.” By embracing the Mollyhopp philosophy, you’re choosing not to hide behind black all the time. Linn said she always wore black to the office and wanted to create a range that differed from this standard choice. Thus, Mollyhopp was born – workout clothes for women that ooze personality and flair.

Ethics and Sustainability

It’s important to me to support activewear brands that I feel are doing their bit for ethics and sustainability. I’m happy to support Mollyhopp because I feel they are making efforts in both areas.

On ethics

The Mollyhopp range is designed in Singapore by Linn herself, and it is made in China. In the past, there has often been a stigma associated with products made in China. Some people associate China with ‘slave labor’ or ‘poor working conditions. It’s time for that to change and for brands to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Brands that are looking for cheap labor are now going outside of China. In general, China is too expensive for them. Linn has personally visited the factory where her clothing is made. She explained to me that the working conditions are great and that it’s a place that she herself would be happy to work. The workers get a full hour for lunch and knock off at 4:30 pm. This is a far cry from what most of us would determine to be ‘slave labor’.

Active wear brands and environmental sustainability

Activewear brands have been in the limelight recently because most of them make clothing from synthetic fibers. Clothing made from synthetic fibers has been highlighted as an ecological nightmare. This is because microplastics from synthetic clothing are washing into waterways, and they’re having devastating effects on our oceans.

However, deciding on whether natural or synthetic clothing is more sustainable is not a simple choice. The production of both natural and synthetic clothing has a significant impact on the environment. Conventional cotton for example (a ‘natural’ fiber) requires huge amounts of water and pesticides. It can be argued that natural and synthetic fibers are on par in terms of ecological impact.

In recent years, I have always made an effort to select natural fibers over synthetic ones. Some of the reasons behind my choice include that they feel nice against my skin, they’re not made from plastic or oil, and they break down naturally in landfills. However, these choices become more complicated when you consider more than just the material itself. The chemical processes required to produce natural clothing can be significant. In places like Singapore, the landfill reason doesn’t necessarily apply because a significant percentage of rubbish is burned.

Mollyhopp clothing fibers

Mollyhopp offers workout clothes for women that are made from either natural or synthetic fibers, so you can take your pick. They’ve got gorgeous bamboo tops (a natural fiber, though it arguably goes through a lot of chemical processing to produce a soft material) in a range of colors. Linn is currently considering producing clothing from eucalyptus (another natural fiber). She’s not yet convinced that these natural fibers are better for the environment, since they go through many chemical processes to be produced.

The Mollyhopp running clothing range is made from synthetic fiber, as are their yoga pants. Although I will continue to choose natural fibers when I can, I’ll mainly choose a limited number of well-thought-out pieces for my minimalist wardrobe. I aim to choose quality items that are versatile and will last a long time. I also enjoy supporting individuals and small businesses. So far, the Mollyhopp range fits my requirements.

My yoga outfit from Mollyhopp

All three items I own from Mollyhopp fall into the yoga clothes category. I have one of their pink bamboo tops, which I absolutely love. It feels great against my skin, and it’s a really versatile piece to have in my wardrobe. It looks great with jeans or denim shorts, and I’ve even worn it out on a date! The other day I popped a cardigan over the top and it was certainly more than passable for office wear.

I chose the Might Molly’s yoga leggings, which I love. These are very different from something I would normally choose. All the activewear I’ve ever owned has been in block colors. The only yoga leggings I’ve ever had have been black. So initially I wasn’t drawn to these, but I really loved them once I tried them on! Sometimes you just need to pick something up that’s different from your usual wardrobe. You might be pleasantly surprised once you try it on.

Finally, I’ve got a pair of pink yoga grip socks, which also double as yoga ‘toe socks’. I’ve got kind of funny-looking feet, but I’ve been told that these socks are quite ‘funny-cute’. The main reason you’d purchase yoga socks is to help your feet grip your mat better. If you can get past the fiddly part of getting your toes into the socks, you’ll be sorted!

Find out more about Mollyhopp workout clothes for women

In 2020, Mollyhopp ceased operations.

If you’re a fan of yoga, check out this article. It’s about my first experience at Bikram yoga. You might also be interested in reading about these great yoga poses for digestion.

If you’re looking for great sports sandals to fit your active lifestyle, check out this review of my favorite performance-based ones or this review of my favorite all-around lifestyle pair (that are also super cute!)

What’s your favorite activewear brand? Leave a comment in the box below!

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