"Microplastics and Chemicals in dancewear" (WE'RE IN DANCE MAGAZINE!!)🤯
This small biz recently experienced a HUGE moment! We were featured in an article in Dance Magazine!
In early summer of 2026, we were contacted by freelance journalist, Stav Ziv. She was researching a piece about the effects of microplastics and chemicals in dancewear. Naturally, we assumed the email was a fake, AI-generated scam looking for our credit card info (because you really can't trust anything these days 😅), so we ignored her...
Fast forward a week later: I did eventually connect with Stav, who is not only a very real New York based journalist who writes for Dance Magazine (among many others), she's also incredibly lovely. Her article "Microplastics in Dancewear - Do chemicals and microplastics in dancewear impact your health?" is featured in the Sept/Oct 2026 edition.
As both a parent and the founder of a children’s dancewear brand, this topic hits close to home. Honestly, this article is a read that I think everyone - not just dancers - should pay attention to. Here is the quick tea on what you need to know:
What exactly is a microplastic?
Imagine your favorite dance leotard, or any other piece of clothing you live in. Now, picture them shedding tiny, invisible bits of glitter - except it’s not festive, and it’s made of plastic.
Why are micro-plastics bad for bad for our health?
Why are there chemicals on dancewear? 🧪
Think of chemical additives as the Instagram filters of the textile world. Some companies use them to make the fabric low-effort for you to maintain. Think: wrinkle guards, antimicrobial agents, stain repellants, and color fastness. You might recognize chemicals like BPA (Bisphenol A) and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) also know as "forever chemicals".
"Bisphenols are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can mimic, block, or interfere with hormones." - Libby Davis, science manager at the Center for Environmental Health.
The article notes that BPA has been associated with issues regarding fertility, fetal development, insulin resistance, cancers, anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity. Meanwhile, PFAS have been linked to immunotoxicity, dyslipidemia, thyroid disruption, reduced fertility, and some cancers.
Um... yikes. 😱
What can we do about it?
The article outlines a super helpful checklist of ways dancers, parents, and everyone in between can protect themselves and the planet:
- Consider fabric content: Lean toward natural fibers (like Bear Bear Dancewear's bamboo bodywear collection 👋)
- Look for reputable third-party certifications - Keep an eye out for the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label on fabrics. P.S. this is the part of the article where we pop up! 🤗
- Notice red-flag language: Be wary of marketing buzzwords like "stain-resistant", "water-proof", and "wrinkle-free".
- Launder wisely: Wash cold and air-dry to reduce the breakdown and shedding of microplastics.
- Change ASAP: Spend less time in activewear so chemicals have less time to be absorbed by your skin.
- Invest in fewer, higher-quality pieces: Such as - no surprise here - Bear Bear Dancewear's premium bamboo leos.
- Advocate: Be a part of the "healthier, planet, healthier you" movement!
- Know you can't be perfect: You probably can't eliminate your exposure to microplastics and chemicals all together. Instead focus on where you can reduce it. Every little bit helps.
A major thank you to Stav Ziv and Dance Magazine for dropping us in their pages! For this small Canadian biz, it was a gigantic honor to be included in their research. I'll be forever pinching myself. 🥲
Let's all strive for less synthetic chaos, and more natural comfort!
Go read the full article, it's really good.
👉 Buy copy of Dance Magazine or find the full article here.