Wolven

Wolven was founded in 2014 by Kiran Jade, a South Asian-American artist and designer, while she was studying Fine Art at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Inspired by her mother's tradition of buying fabrics at Eastern markets and having custom clothes sewn, Jade began merging geometric textile art with activewear, She and partner Will Ryan started by selling at yoga and music festivals before officially launching the brand (initially as Wolven Threads) in 2015.

The brand's core material is 84% recycled PET (post-consumer plastic bottles) / 16% spandex, certified by the Global Recycled Standard and OEKO-TEX Standard 100. The fabric is quick-drying, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial. Select pieces use carbon-neutral modal from sustainably harvested beech trees. Primary manufacturing takes place in China, with some production in Los Angeles. The Chinese factory holds a WCA audit score of 87%.

Wolven's environmental commitments extend beyond materials. Packaging is 100% recycled or compostable, including hemp twine wrapping and compostable bags. The brand removes one pound of ocean-bound plastic for every order placed and donates through 1% for the Planet. A Pre-Loved resale section on the website enables customers to buy and sell used Wolven garments, adding a genuine circularity component. Annual impact reports have been published since 2022.

Celebrity endorsements from Miley Cyrus and Sophie Turner have boosted visibility, and the brand has grown to over 500,000 Instagram followers. Pricing ranges from approximately $42 for bikini pieces to $128 for one-piece swimwear, with leggings at $88-$102: comparable to Lululemon. Frequent sales improve accessibility. Wolven competes directly with Girlfriend Collective and prAna but differentiates through its art-first print design philosophy.