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A high-quality sweatshirt can be dressed up or paired down, perfect for running errands, getting coffee with friends, or lounging at home on the couch.
While it can be tempting to head to fast fashion stores to pick up a cheap sweatshirt, these come with a price — poorly treated workers, low wages, and huge amounts of waste and emissions created.
Luckily, there is a variety of excellent sustainable brands with good labor practices, eco-friendly material choices, and great quality materials making sustainable sweatshirts that we’re confident you’ll love.
Let’s take a look at the recommendations.
Combine these sweatshirts with some of our ethical loungewear options for the perfect work-from-home outfit.
Our Ethical Sweatshirt Picks
1. Girlfriend Collective
Sustainability: Organic cotton, Texloop RCOT™ Recycled Cotton. 100% biodegradable. Ethical Supply Chain.
At a glance: Gender neutral sweatshirts in a range of colours for every style, from muted nudes to pastel pinks. Cropped styles and hoodies.
Price range: $68 – $82
Girlfriend Collective’s super soft sweatshirts are made from fabrics that would otherwise be destined for landfill.
The brand combines recycled offcuts with organic cotton to make their high quality, eco-friendly sweatshirts.
Their range extends to hoodies and cropped styles, so you’re sure to find a sweatshirt for you. They also have inclusive sizing, with options between XXS-6XL.
2. Mate the Label
Sustainability: Non-toxic, Natural and Certified Organic Materials.
At a glance: Natural, low impact dyed, Fleece and Organic cotton sweatshirts. Range of colours and styles including cropped and boxy.
Price range: $100-$120
LA based brand Mate makes sustainable and simple but stylish essential wear for everyday life. Using natural, non toxic dyes and certified organic materials, such as organic cotton, they are protecting the environment by saving water, and CO2. Their pieces are produced in Los Angeles in a supply chain that ranges only 10 miles wide, to reduce unnecessary carbon emissions in the brand’s supply chain.
Their sweatshirts are lightweight, so you’ll stay cozy without overheating. The use of organic cotton means they are super durable and soft, ideal for lounging at home or going out for coffee.
3. KOTN
Sustainability: Certified B Corp,OEKO-TEX® non-toxic dyes, Ethical supply chains. Better Cotton Initiative sourced cotton.
At a glance: Unisex crewneck Sweatshirts in nude tones, with matching sweatshirts and sweatpants.
Price range: $52-$65
KOTN work with ethical cotton suppliers and factories ensuring all workers are paid a fair wage and in safe working conditions. They are also working with farmers in Egypt to promote organic cotton practices.
Currently, not all of the cotton they use is organic cotton, but KOTN is on a mission to ensure 100% of their fibers are organic certified within the next 5 years.
Their sweatshirts come in lightweight and heavy crewneck styles, which are breathable and moisture wicking, great for both working out, or winding down at home.
4. Patagonia
Sustainability: 100% organic cotton, Fair Trade Certified™ Made.
At a glance: Practical sweatshirts, great for hiking, yoga and casual wear.
Price range: $59-$90
Classic outdoor wear brand Patagonia has been leading the way in sustainable clothing for many years. Patagonia uses 100% organic cotton in all of their cotton-based clothing, which uses 82% less water and creates 12% less CO2 than producing a sweatshirt with non-organic cotton.
They have a range of colors and styles of sweatshirts, all featuring their classic Patagonia namesake logo.
If your sweater ever gets damaged, Patagonia will repair it for you to reduce the chances of clothes being wasted or ending up in landfill. Based on our experience with Patagonia clothes, we’re sure it’ll last you years.
5. For Days
Sustainability: Zero waste initiatives. GOTS Organic cotton, recycled fabrics. Recycled packaging.
At a glance: Classic sweatshirts and vintage inspired zip sweatshirts and hoodies.
Price range: $44-$54
For Days sweatshirts get even comfier when you look at the positive work they’re doing. The brand has a zero waste initiative which lets you send back your old For Days clothes when you are done with them. The brand then recycles the fabric and turns it into new garments. You can redeem credits when products are recycled back into their system, which you can buy new clothes with.
They use GOTS organic cotton, which saves water, CO2 and harmful pesticides.
Their sweatshirts are super soft and made of lightweight terry material, keeping you cool and cozy.
6. Colorful Standard
Sustainability: Ethically produced, 100% Organic GOTS cotton sweatshirts. Environmentally Friendly Dye – Oeko-Tex® and PETA approved vegan.
At a glance: Sweatshirts and hoodies in different colour choices, from calm pastels to bold and bright
Price range: $70 – $90
If you want to add a pop of color to your wardrobe, check out Colorful Standard.
Their organic cotton sweatshirts come in 45 different eco-friendly color choices, all made with non-toxic Oeko-Tex® certified dyes.
Colorful Standard’s ethos is to limit clothing consumption and create clothes for the long haul. They do this by using high-quality, durable materials designed to last season after season.
Wrapping Up: Organic Cotton Sweatshirts
We hope you have found the perfect sustainable sweatshirt, let us know your feedback in the comments below.
If you’re looking for a sustainable sweater this winter, checkout our handy guide to sustainable knits here.
