Instagram Made Me Buy It: Silverwind Activewear

Social media advertisements eventually get us all. I don’t think that’s inherently a bad thing, but I do think it’s a good idea to do a little research before you make your purchase. To that end, let me tell you about my experience with athletic wear brand Silverwind.

This post is unsponsored. I purchased my Silverwind workout set with my own money and have not been in contact with the brand in advance of publication. All experiences and opinions are my own.

WHAT MAKES SILVERWIND SO SPECIAL?

Silverwind is an athletic wear company that prides itself on sustainability. Their fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles, and they have multiple certifications to prove it. They claim to only make their clothing in small batches to prevent overproduction, and give back to many ecocharities. The products are produced in and shipped from China, if that is important to you.

The company offers sports bras, leggings, shorts, swimsuits, and a limited amount of other clothing items and accessories. They do have some solid colors, but their big thing is colorful and elaborate prints. If you’re willing to take a gamble, you can also go for one-of-a-kind misprints in the form of discounted mystery items. I would describe most non-sale prices as mid-tier, with the average pair of patterned leggings coming in around $65.

HOW THEY GOT ME

Like many of us, I probably spend a skosh more time scrolling Instagram than I should. In between posts I encounter a fair number of advertisements, most of which the algorithm has tailored to my interests. This includes a lot of cute athletic wear, because of course it does. Is there anything a runner loves more than new gear?

I’m not usually one to take the bait, though – I’ll maybe click the link and check it out, but I’m rarely tempted to follow through with a purchase. I’m allergic to buying things at full price, for starters, and free shipping minimums tend to be high. Nine times out of ten I conclude that the value isn’t there and keep on scrolling.

Silverwind broke through my barriers in a couple ways: first, they presented me with the world’s cutest bee print. I love bees! No sooner had that initial bumbling thought crossed my mind than it was followed with another dose of kryptonite: I thought of a good runDisney race costume I could use it for. I get way too excited about potential race costumes way too quickly, lemme tell ya (that’s a post for another day).

Still, I might have trotted on if I hadn’t notice this adorable bee workout set also featured SIDE POCKETS. By this point, I think we all know my unofficial motto is no side pockets, no sale. So I clicked through.

MY SILVERWIND SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

As far as I can tell, the Silverwind website is built on the Shopify platform, and provides a seamless if basic shopping experience. Promo codes are available, including at the time of this writing a 25% off code on your first purchase. As far as I can tell it applies to everything on the site.

You have the option to buy items individually, or some things come in a discounted top + bottom set. The “Buzz” bee sports bra cost $48 and the shorts $58 individually, or you could get both for $99 at a savings of $7. (Tax is included, which is interesting.) With my first purchase discount code I snagged the set for $75. Free shipping begins at $70, so score!

There is one caveat here: the sets are only sold by individual size across both items. If you’re someone who takes a different size in your bottoms than your tops, you won’t be able to mix and match.

THINK SLOW

After taking a week or so to think about it and doing a smidgen of research, I finally bought my set. According to the website, items are shipped out within 1-3 business days of ordering. After 5, I politely inquired after my order through the chat bot, just to make sure nothing had gone wrong. If the bot can’t answer your question, it gets forwarded via email to a real person.

After a couple days, I received a response from a customer service agent. She told me that my bee set was backordered, and the new stock would ship as soon as it arrived in the next week. This was hardly the end of the world! But there was no indication on the website. It would’ve been nice to know in advance, just to set expectations properly.

Silverwind ships their clothing directly from China to save on middleman costs. This does make sense, but I gotta say, shipping took FOREVER. I placed my order on March 22; my package shipped on April 5. On April 19 all tracking updates ceased until my order arrived in my mailbox on May 3.

Now, I am admittedly in Puerto Rico, which slows things down a bit. Still, the radio silence between April 19 and May 3 was a bit concerning. If it had gone much longer I would’ve pinged customer service again.

Again, not the end of the world! But don’t expect to order from Silverwind on Monday and wear your new set in your half marathon on Sunday.

BUT IS THE PRODUCT ANY GOOD?

I will say I was quite pleased with the quality of my new set once it finally arrived. My items arrived in biodegradable packaging and a cute little drawnstring bag. The print was vibrant, crisp, and true to photo. As for the fabric, I found it to be soft and just stretchy enough.

I do wish the shorts were just a touch longer, but as the proud owner of thick thighs (oh, the lives they’ve saved!) who is also 5’9″ this is probably more of a personal problem. On me, the high rise hits around the belly button. I don’t find the legs to ride up or the waist to roll down.

As for the sports bra, I found it supportive and shaping. While the cups are removable, the slit is cut in such a way that they stay put in the wash, although they do roll up in there sometimes. That being said, I have what one might generously call average boobs that don’t require a lot of hoisting. A bustier gal might not care to take a chance on the strappy design.

SILVERWIND CAN TAKE A FALL

I can provide firsthand experience in one more unfortunate way: I took a medium-bad fall on a run while wearing my bee set. Luckily I managed to get one more step in after the initial trip before I went down. By rolling to the side before I hit, I got away with some mostly superficial scrapes on my shoulder and palm and a very exciting multicolored bruise on my upper thigh/hip.

Whelp, I gotta say – looking at my workout gear, you’d never know. The pattern is still intact and the fabric isn’t frayed. Well played, Silverwind.

This is also as good a spot as any to mention that my Silverwind gear has gone through the wash a couple times now with no ill effects. I wash on cold and air dry.

SHOULD YOU BUY FROM SILVERWIND?

Silverwind is unquestionably a legitimate company. I received decent customer service, my package did come with contents as described, and the quality is good. While the prices can be a bit high by some standards, they also have a decent sale selection and (ostensibly) solid ethics.

Shipping is a crapshoot but your patience will be rewarded. If you fall in love with a pattern or are looking to source new athletic wear from a sustainable brand, I wouldn’t discourage you from taking the plunge.

BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A CHOICE

I will say, though, that what Silverwind offers is not entirely unique. Many companies now tout sustainability (I love Girlfriend pocket leggings although not as much their bike shorts) and bold and unique patterns (I’ve never tried Constantly Varied Gear or Love Her but I hear good things; Crowned and Sparkle Athletics are big in the runDisney community). It’s always a good idea to shop around for other options before committing.

In short, I wouldn’t say Silverwind is the be(e!)-all end-all of athletic wear companies – but between the sustainable fabric, admirable quality, and adorable prints, I could see making a purchase again in the future… as long as I’m not in a hurry!

Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!