Eco Friendly Sweaters: We're Threading Water
It may come as a surprise to learn that fashion is one of the highest polluting industries in the world, given that clothing has been a human staple for thousands of years. We all get dressed every day but may not think about where our clothes are actually coming from.
In recent years, clothing companies have encouraged us to spend money on trend-driven, cheaply made clothing, or “Fast Fashion.” We’re buying more and wearing items only a few times (as they are only meant for one season’s trends). Because companies don’t know what people will actually buy, unsold clothes are frequently thrown away. In fact, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second.
Clothing factories are high sources of carbon emissions and often have unsafe working conditions. Textile dyeing is the world’s second-largest polluter of water, as the leftover water from the dyeing process is dumped into rivers or streams. That’s certainly a stain that doesn’t come out in the wash.
The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of all industrial water pollution and is the second-largest consumer of water worldwide. Put all of this together, and our desire for a change of clothes is causing a change in climate.
We always advocate for buying fewer, more sustainably made pieces of clothing that will last, which is especially true when it comes to sweaters. So we rolled up our green sleeves and put together our top picks for companies that have created great looking, eco-friendly sweaters with a conscious effort to reduce pollution and impact across their entire supply chain.
Patagonia Better Sweater:
Choice Top
The first certified B Corp in California has customer service that will make you feel as warm and cozy as their ethical clothing. Patagonia has a history of taking care of their products well after they’ve left the store. Whether it be through DIY repair guides, in-shop repair centers, or store credit for worn clothing, they will never fleece you. Our featured choice, the Better Sweater, is a zip-up that can be worn every day and still feel brand new (speaking from experience). Other than the zipper teeth, it’s made out of 100% recycled materials. It’s essentially like wearing a hug. Independent of their products, Patagonia is involved in several programs that promote environmental activism, employee volunteer work, and less overall waste in manufacturing. Wouldn’t knit be lovely if more companies would emulate them?
Reformation
“Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We’re #2.” Reformation is a women’s clothing and accessory line that uses sustainable materials to create modern clothing you will definitely want to be seen in. Emphasizing ethical working conditions in their factory in Los Angeles, this is “fast fashion” done right. A sketch can become a dress in a month, and Ref also highlights a limited edition collection each week. Their clothes are comfortable, affordable, fashionable- they really make it easy to switch between options 1 and 2. At the moment, we are particularly digging the Cashmere Boyfriend Sweater. Reformation has a strict rating system for the fibers they use, so you’ll never be cotton the middle. With each order, you will receive a report of how much CO2, water, and waste you’ve saved by shopping with Reformation over the average manufacturer. Speaking of saving, they offer free shipping on all orders with no minimum.
Naadam
Naadam is a sustainable cashmere clothing company that works directly with herders and their goats; middlemen are Na-a-a-t required. Same goes for the sales side of the equation with their direct to customer business model. This way, the herders get 50% more pay and the customer spends 50% less cash. Naadam takes care of their Mongolian goats, ensuring veterinary care, sustainable breeding programs, and hand-combing instead of shearing. We think their sweaters are comfortable and incredibly soft. We also appreciate the basic style options so we can match a lot of our existing clothing and accessories along with them. Consider Naadam the G.O.A.T. of sustainable cashmere.
Outerknown
Outerknown founder Kelly Slater certainly has a close relationship with the water, which carried him to 11 world surfing championships. That’s why he and designer John Moore created a clothing company dedicated to fashion production in a sustainable way. We felt the quality of their sweaters the second we put them on. There is a nice weight to the material (merino wool and organic cotton mix) without the sacrifice of softness. There is definitely palpable care in their clothing and in their mission. Outerknown manufactures globally with makers who abide by the strict guidelines of the Fair Labor Association & Bluesign. Their #itsnotok products help fund the Ocean Conservancy nonprofit, raising awareness about the ever-increasing pollution in our waters. We should all get to know Outerknown.
Everlane
Putting the “Re” in “ReCashmere,” Everlane has an entire line of sweaters made from 60% recycled cashmere and 40% merino wool, halving the carbon footprint of standard cashmere production. They ensure fair wages and frequent quality checks at their many factories around the world, which speaks to Everlane’s principle of “Radical Transparency” throughout their entire supply chain. In fact, they are so transparent that we can definitely see ourselves in one of their modern, comfy sweaters.
Amour Vert
Less is amour with California based sustainable clothing company Amour Vert. Their products are made in limited quantities so that production standards can remain high (and landfills don’t keep going vertical with their unused products). Almost 60% of a garment's environmental impact happens during fiber and fabric manufacturing, which is why they partner directly with mills to develop fabrics that are sustainable, soft and durable. Unlike some of the basic recommendations above, Amour Vert offers a great variety of sweater patterns and styles for both men and women. Check out their “Buy a Tee, We Plant a Tree” program, which has led to about 300,000 trees planted in North America.
Athleta
There are a few months of the year when athletic gear simply isn’t warm enough and we all think “if only I had a turtleneck tunic to keep me cozy.” Well, Athleta has you covered with a sporty but comfy line of high-quality sweaters. Athleta is a certified B Corp with a laundry list of ways to make their clothing production more sustainable every year. They also partner with Fair Trade and other programs that support women and girls worldwide.