Changing the world, one garment at a time
After over 15 years working in the environmental sector — a space often dominated by men — Jennifer Donnelly made the decision to take time out to focus on her family after the birth of her second child.
Her children, Hugo and Wren, are big fans of activewear and spend most of their time in it, especially as both are keen athletes. One sunny afternoon while watching them play in the garden, Jen noticed how their clothes were clinging to their skin. Curious and concerned, she started researching what their sportswear was actually made of — and was horrified by what she found.
Performance wear, as it’s often called, was loaded with synthetic fabrics, chemical dyes, and toxic finishes. None of this sat well with Jen, especially given her environmental background.
She searched for better, healthier alternatives — ideally organic or natural materials — but quickly realised that very few options existed, especially ones that combined function, comfort, and style. While there were some organic cotton pieces on the market, they were limited, and often plain or unappealing. As a proud Liverpudlian with a passion for fashion, Jen wasn’t prepared to sacrifice style — and she knew her children wouldn’t either.
That’s when the idea for Svante was born.
Svante is the world’s first natural activewear brand for young people — fusing regenerative materials, ethical practices, and seriously cool designs. The debut collection for both girls and boys includes leggings, sports crop-tops, sport shorts, t shirts, hoodies and more.
Jen’s goal wasn’t just to create another organic clothing label. She wanted Svante to go further — to prove that kids’ sportswear could be high-performance, stylish, and good for the planet. Every piece in the Svante range is made using hand-selected, regenerative natural materials, designed for comfort, breathability, and movement. And crucially, they’re made with identity and self-expression in mind. All Svante suppliers must pass a strict environmental audit. “ if its not safe for our kids – its not Svante” says Jen.
“We want to leave the world in a better place than we found it,” Jen added.
And the details don’t stop at the clothes. Svante offers full ingredient transparency, so parents know exactly what’s touching their kids’ skin. There’s also a give-back scheme, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to environmental and social impact.
The take back initiative is brilliant, Svante will invite customers to return outgrown clothing items, every item collected back will be recycled, upcycled or repurposed, this will ensure none of it goes into landfill.
“Parents are becoming more conscious,” she adds. “It started with the food we eat, but now they want to know everything — including what their kids are wearing.”
The Svante journey has been a real family affair. Both Hugo and Wren have been hands-on — testing, reviewing, and shaping the range with their own feedback. Nearly three years in the making, the brand is now ready for launch.
That journey begins with a Kickstarter campaign [insert link here] — and Jen is inviting conscious families, ethical shoppers, and sustainability advocates to be part of the movement.
If you want to support a revolution in kids’ fashion and help bring Svante to life, now’s your chance. Let’s raise the standard — not just for comfort or performance, but for the planet, too.
