How we make Ame
Sustainability isn't a marketing word for us - it's a constraint we design around. Every choice we make in fabric, production, and packaging starts with the same question: is there a better way to do this?
We don't do everything perfectly. But we're honest about where we are, and deliberate about every step.
Fabrics
We work with a small selection of materials chosen for their environmental credentials and their performance on the mat.
Refibra™ TENCEL™ Lyocell
Made from a blend of upcycled cotton scraps and wood pulp from sustainably managed forests, Refibra™ TENCEL™ is produced in a closed-loop process that recaptures and reuses water and solvents, dramatically reducing waste. The result is a fabric that's soft, breathable, moisture-wicking, and gentle on the planet.
Natural Cotton
Our classic shorts are made from 100% cotton interlock, chosen for its breathability and durability over time. Cotton that lasts is cotton that doesn't end up in landfill.
TENCEL™ Lyocell, Organic Cotton, Bio-Based Spandex
Our Studio Pant is made from a blend of bio-based TENCEL™ Lyocell, GOTS certified organic cotton, and Creora, a bio-based spandex derived from field corn. It's soft, breathable, moisture-wicking, and has a drastically reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional cotton/spandex production.
Hemp + Organic Cotton
Hemp is one of the most resource-efficient crops on earth — it requires little water, no pesticides, and actually improves the soil it grows in. Blended with organic cotton, it produces a fabric that gets softer with every wash.
Manufacturing
Every Ame garment is made in Los Angeles — and for most of our fabrics, that's where the story starts too. Our cotton and TENCEL™ fabrics are milled here in LA, which means the majority of our supply chain begins and ends within the same city. Shorter distances, lower emissions, and a level of oversight that simply isn't possible when production is spread across continents.
We work with a few small, local manufacturers and make everything in small batches — so we're not overproducing. Small-batch manufacturing is one of the most effective ways a clothing brand can reduce waste, and it's been central to how we've operated from the beginning.
Making locally also means we can stand behind our labor practices. We know the people who make our clothes.
Note: our hemp fabric is sourced outside LA. Hemp is one of the most resource-efficient crops on earth. We're working on finding a local producer that meets our fabric standards. When we do, we'll make the switch.
Packaging
The fashion industry has a packaging problem most people never see: almost every garment shipped in the world travels inside a single-use plastic polybag. It's considered standard. But we decided to reject it.
At Ame, shorts are wrapped in a simple paper bellyband — nothing more. No plastic bag, no tissue paper, no excess. Inside the mailer you'll find your order and a paper postcard. That's it.
Our shipping mailers are the one place we use plastic, and we've chosen carefully: they're made from recycled ocean plastic. A recycled poly mailer is lighter and more protective than the paper alternatives, and it gives recovered plastic a second life instead of sending it to landfill. It's not a perfect solution, but it's the most considered one we've found.
Minimal packaging isn't an afterthought for us. It's the goal.
End of life
We don't yet have a formal take-back or recycling program — but it's where we're headed, and we're not waiting until then to help.
If your Ame garment has reached the end of its life, here are three options:
Send it back to us. We'll make sure it's recycled properly. Just get in touch and we'll arrange it: email us at info@ameyogaclothing.com
Use Trashie. Trashie's Take Back Bag program lets you mail in old clothing and textiles from any brand for recycling. It's easy, affordable, and keeps garments out of landfill.
Use Ridwell. If you're in a Ridwell service area, they offer textile recycling pickup as part of their regular collection rotation.
A garment that's cared for, and responsibly retired, is the full expression of what we're trying to build.
The honest part
We're a small business, which means we move carefully and can't do everything at once. There's always more to do.
What we can promise is that every decision gets asked the same question: is there a better way? And when the answer is yes, we change.
