Outdoor Voices
Rated: Good
Price: $$
Location: USA
Quick verdict
Outdoor Voices is best for casual recreationists who value fun, Instagram-friendly athleisure aesthetics over hardcore performance or sustainability credentials. The brand stands out for its cult "Doing Things" ethos, iconic Exercise Dress, and cultural resonance. But buyers should be aware of a turbulent history including near-bankruptcy in 2024, mass layoffs, and significant sustainability shortcomings. The brand is currently in a relaunch phase under new private equity ownership with founder Ty Haney back at the helm as of mid-2025.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Austin, TX
- Founded
- 2013
- Product categories
- Activewear, Womenswear, Menswear
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- Bluesign (partial); no Fair Trade, B Corp, OEKO-TEX, or other major certifications
Outdoor Voices sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Uses some recycled polyester, Bluesign-certified fabrics, and BCI cotton, but the majority of products are virgin synthetics. Only 3 of 13 fabric types meet their own "Evergreen" sustainability standards.
Labour practices are very poor. No public Code of Conduct, no factory audit disclosures, no living wage commitments. Sued by supplier MAS Amity for $2.5M in unpaid bills. Manufacturing in high-risk countries (Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, Turkey).
Not carbon-neutral. No GHG reduction targets, no water data, no textile waste minimization. Previous goals (80% recycled fibers by 2022) were never verified. Uses recyclable/recycled packaging.
Critically lacking. Does not disclose supply chain details, factory locations, audit results, or progress on stated goals. There is a massive gap between eco image and disclosed practices.
Premium pricing ($58–$188) delivers attractive designs and decent signature fabrics (CloudKnit, TechSweat, RecTrek), but quality decline reported in recent years. Financial turmoil raises questions about consistency.
What they do well
- Iconic, recognizable aesthetic: Color-blocked designs and the "Doing Things" ethos created genuine cultural resonance. The cult-favorite Exercise Dress holds a 4.6/5 rating from 794 reviews on their site.
- Some sustainable material usage: Uses recycled polyester, Bluesign-certified fabrics, BCI cotton, and recyclable/recycled packaging.
- Inclusive brand messaging: Body-positive marketing showcasing diverse models and celebrating movement for fun rather than competition.
- Versatile product design: Products like the Exercise Dress and RecTrek pants genuinely bridge activewear and everyday casual wear.
Room for improvement
- Sustainability is largely performative: The brand markets itself with eco-conscious imagery but provides almost no verifiable data on supply chain practices, carbon footprint, or labor conditions.
- Financial instability and poor worker treatment: The March 2024 mass layoffs (80% of corporate staff, all retail employees) were handled poorly. Workers received no severance initially, minimal communication, and stores closed with days' notice. Former employees have reported toxic culture under multiple leadership regimes.
- Limited size inclusivity: Despite "every body" messaging, sizing historically only reached XL, excluding the average American woman. Newer items extend to XXXL but inconsistently across the line.
About Outdoor Voices
Outdoor Voices was co-founded in 2013 by Tyler Haney, a Parsons graduate from Boulder, CO, who envisioned activewear celebrating joyful movement over competition. The brand's pastel color-blocked leggings and Instagram-first marketing made it a DTC darling, raising $64+ million in venture capital at a peak $110M valuation by 2018, backed by General Catalyst, Forerunner Ventures, and retail legend Mickey Drexler as chairman.
The fall was dramatic. By 2019, OV was losing ~$2M per month on $40M in annual sales. Internal clashes between Haney and Drexler erupted, employee complaints about toxic culture surfaced, and Haney was pushed out as CEO in February 2020. Ashley Merrill (Lunya founder) took a majority stake. Profitability remained elusive. In March 2024, all 16 retail stores abruptly closed, 80%+ of staff were laid off without severance, and vendor payments went unpaid: MAS Holdings sued for $2.5M. Private equity firm Consortium Brand Partners acquired the brand in June 2024, clearing all debts.
In a remarkable turn, Ty Haney officially returned in August 2024 as "founder, partner and co-owner" and in July 2025 announced a full relaunch with refreshed branding and product line. The brand currently operates online-only with wholesale through Nordstrom and Saks; new brick-and-mortar stores are planned. Manufacturing spans the US, Vietnam, Taiwan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and China. Free US shipping over $100; 30-day returns. Sustainability credentials remain thin. This is a brand to watch cautiously rather than endorse as genuinely sustainable.
Product highlights
The Exercise Dress
Sporty A-line dress with built-in shorts, adjustable straps, side pockets
~$100
The brand's most iconic product; spawned an entire "exercise dress" category that competitors copied
Candy Fleece Jacket
Colorful patterned fleece in OV's signature playful aesthetic
~$188
Represents expansion into outerwear and cozy casual beyond core activewear
RecTrek 26" Pant
Outdoor-friendly stretch pant with zip-off capability
~$108–128
Fan-favorite universally praised for fit and versatility
Diamanté "Doing Things" Hoodie
2025 relaunch capsule piece with rhinestone cursive logo
~$58
Signals the brand's creative reset under Haney's return
