Wool is often used in the fashion industry to make warm clothes for cold weather, such as pullovers, jumpers, turtlenecks, cardigans, sweaters, coats, and jackets.
However, it's not the most ethical fabric since most wool comes from animal exploitation. Sheep farming releases dangerous substances with long-term disastrous effects on ecosystems and human health.
Wool has the fifth more harmful environmental impact among all materials used for textiles. It's even worse than synthetic fibers, such as polyester and acrylic.
Thankfully, many ethical clothing brands offer sustainable and cruelty-free wool alternatives to dress better for the winter. They use eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, linen, hemp, lyocell, and recycled fibers.
Check out our selection below of the best affordable and ethical vegan wool alternatives to help feel good and look great this cold season.
Panaprium is independent and reader supported. If you buy something through our link, we may earn a commission. If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you!
1. Tentree Highline Grayson Cardigan
Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Vancouver, Canada
Values: Organic, B Corp, recycled, carbon-neutral, give back
Prices: $30-$70
Tentree is an ethical clothing brand designing casual apparel for a healthy, sustainable world with recycled materials and organic fabrics such as cotton and hemp.
Tentree is the perfect destination to buy affordable, sustainable, and ethical wool alternatives such as organic cotton cardigan sweaters.
The sustainable clothing brand is B Corp and climate-neutral certified and partners with global charitable organizations to plant trees and rehabilitate natural ecosystems.
Tentree aims to guide you on your journey and empower you to do your best for the environment. It planted over 60 million trees and restored land in over eight countries.
SHOP TENTREE
2. Poplinen Tencel Raglan Sweatshirt
Category: Basics, knitwear, sportswear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, children
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, inclusive, BIPOC, made in the USA, give back
Prices: $20-$70
Poplinen is a sustainable brand that makes eco-friendly garments in Los Angeles, USA. It creates effortless, cozy, vegan wool alternatives for women, up to extended sizes.
Poplinen only works with sustainable materials to design each new product. It uses plant-based GOTS certified fabrics, compostable and recycled materials, and low-impact, Oeko-Tex certified dyes.
The ethical clothing brand makes size-inclusive garments to help women feel beautiful. It fosters a space of celebration towards differences. It also gives a portion of sales towards environmental organizations.
SHOP POPLINEN
3. Nau Organic Cotton Pullover
Category: Basics, knitwear, outerwear, loungewear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Portland, Oregon, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $60-$290
Nau is a sustainable clothing brand that uses innovative fabrics, treatments, and silhouettes. It focuses on comfort, breathability, and packability for its fall and winter collection.
Nau makes vegan wool alternatives, including jumpers, sweaters, hoodies, and jackets, from sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. It's committed to making warm clothing with high cold-weather comfort.
The clothing brand creates beautiful, fashionable, and multifunctional winter pieces with weather resistance and the best fit in mind. It's on a mission to make the world more sustainable by creating clothes that last a lifetime.
SHOP NAU
4. Outerknown Hemp Lounge Crew
Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, swimwear, loungewear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled
Prices: $50-$90
Outerknown is a clothing label that creates fashionable clothes for women and men rooted in sustainability and transparency. It makes affordable, sustainable, vegan wool alternatives using hemp and recycled fibers.
Outerknown keeps strict sustainability rules and aims to raise the standard for quality, sustainable design in the global fashion industry. It uses organic and recycled materials to reimagine and embrace circularity.
Accredited by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), the ethical fashion brand invests in the livelihoods of over 5K workers through Fair Trade USA. Three of its partners are Fair Trade Certified.
SHOP OUTERKNOWN
5. Reformation Organic Cotton Cardigan
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, swimwear, activewear, loungewear, underwear
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade, carbon-neutral, made in the USA
Prices: $70-$100
Reformation is an ethical clothing brand that makes sustainable, fashionable, comfortable, affordable wool alternatives. It offers a collection of stylish, ethical, vegan cardigan sweaters made from organic cotton.
The clothing retailer designs effortless silhouettes that celebrate the feminine figure with the most beautiful and sustainable fabrics possible. It pays attention to minimizing its social and environmental impacts.
Reformation uses sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, linen, and Tencel lyocell. It also makes some of its clothes with upcycled and recycled materials, such as regenerated nylon or deadstock fabrics.
Many of its suppliers have attained a social compliance certification like Fair Trade, SA8000, or WRAP. They are working to increase participation in social certification programs to ensure good working conditions.
SHOP REFORMATION
6. Made Trade Crew Neck Sweater
Category: Basics, knitwear, sportswear, loungewear, outerwear, swimwear, underwear, sleepwear, bags, accessories, shoes
For: Women, men
From: Portland, Oregon, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, vegan, BIPOC
Prices: $50-$110
Made Trade is a woman-owned and family-run retailer sustainably and ethically creating goods for the modern wardrobe and home. It offers stylish, comfy, vegan wool alternatives made from organic cotton.
Made Trade is committed to true transparency and positively impacting the world. The well-curated online marketplace sells a great selection of ethical products handcrafted by the best brands.
Made Trade adheres to sustainable and fair trade practices that support both artisans and the Earth's natural resources. It strives to make the world more beautiful through higher ethical standards.
SHOP MADE TRADE
7. Mien Cozy Fleece Sweatshirt
Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, maternity, accessories
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, inclusive, local, artisan craft, made in the USA
Prices: $40-$80
Mien Studios make elevated everyday basics and size-inclusive styles for fashionable women in a size range of XS to 3XL. It offers sustainable, affordable, vegan wool alternatives like GOTS certified cotton fleece.
Mien Studios sustainably and ethically makes beautiful and comfortable clothes for layering in Los Angeles, USA. It uses the best fabrics and local craftsmanship to create stylish and distinctive apparel.
Designer Lisa founded Mien as a first-time mom-to-be looking for pre-pregnancy to postpartum and nursing clothing designed to fit our bodies. Her collections are sustainable, comfortable, low maintenance, and flattering.
SHOP MIEN STUDIOS
8. Toad&Co Recycled Cotton Sweater
Category: Basics, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan
Prices: $40-$80
Toad&Co is a sustainable fashion brand making socially and environmentally committed outdoor clothes. The label creates comfortable, vegan wool alternatives from organic and recycled cotton.
Toad&Co aims to make a difference to clean up a dirty apparel industry, educate people on sustainable practices, and inspire folks to live their lives to the fullest.
The brand believes in sustainability and spontaneity because every day is an adventure. It uses eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, hemp, Tencel, and recycled fabrics to make affordable clothes.
Toad&Co offers a large selection of sustainable outdoor wear and equipment ethically made with eco-friendly materials.
SHOP TOAD&CO
9. Everlane Organic Cotton Crew
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, activewear, underwear, bags, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $10-$90
Everlane is an ethical fashion brand creating modern and beautiful essentials, at the best factories, without traditional markups. It's a great destination to buy high-quality, affordable, sustainable, vegan wool alternatives.
The clothing retailer is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and sells primarily online. It uses sustainable and vegan materials such as organic cotton and recycled fabrics.
The apparel brand offers ethically made and designed to last jumpers, pullovers, sweaters, cardigans, crews, and accessories for cold weather. It believes in exceptional quality to make a difference.
Everlane is widely known for its radical transparency. It educates consumers on its supply chain, factories, employees, and the price breakdown of each product.
SHOP EVERLANE
10. Christy Dawn Sweater Dress
Category: Basics, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women, girls
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Upcycled, made in the USA
Prices: $225-$895
Christy Dawn is a sustainable fashion designer that creates boho-chic, ethical, and timeless sweater dresses exclusively from upcycled fabrics. She offers a big collection of vintage-inspired pieces ethically crafted in Los Angeles.
Christy Dawn designs each style with longevity in mind. Every fashion piece is intentionally durable, timeless, and versatile.
The fashion designer aims to make simple, easy-to-wear pieces that will become wardrobe staples you'll cherish for a lifetime. Her sweater dresses keep you comfortable while preserving the integrity and beauty of the Earth and its people.
11. People Tree Fair Trade Cotton Jumper
Category: Basics, denim, loungewear, activewear, knitwear, outerwear, underwear, sleepwear, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, artisan craft, give back
Prices: $30-$80
People Tree is an online garment retailer making vegan wool alternatives from environmentally friendly materials, including Fair Trade, GOTS-certified organic cotton, and Tencel lyocell.
People Tree became the first fashion company to receive the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) product label in 2013. It guarantees dedication and compliance with the Fair Trade principles.
People Tree is committed to working with disadvantaged farmers and workers to promote fairer trading conditions. It helps combat poverty and employs people in underserved communities around the world.
SHOP PEOPLE TREE
12. NA-KD Organic Cotton Turtleneck
Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, knitwear, underwear, swimwear, nightwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $20-$40
NA-KD is a top next-generation fashion marketplace, a mobile-based online shopping sanctuary for fashion addicts. It offers affordable, stylish, sustainable, vegan wool alternatives for women.
NA-KD sells many different clothing labels at various price points and designs a range of cute and fashionable clothes, footwear, and accessories under its brand.
The NA-KD brand is one of the fastest-growing on social media. It regularly partners with influencers to launch new collections, such as Andrea Hedenstedt, Anika Teller, Astrid Olsen, Camille Botten, Dilara Avci, Pamela Reif, Kristin Sundberg, and more.
SHOP NA-KD
13. prAna Recycled Half Zip
Category: Basics, knitwear, outerwear, sportswear, denim, swimwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Carlsbad, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade
Prices: $50-$100
prAna is a sustainable clothing brand that makes quality garments for positive change to inspire new generations to thrive and stay active. Its vegan wool alternatives are fashionable, comfortable, and affordable.
prAna offers ethical and eco-friendly classics for travel and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. It stocks a wide range of comfy and stylish knitwear, outerwear, and more.
The fashion brand uses many sustainable materials such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, and regenerated nylon. It also uses cellulosic fibers made from renewable resources such as lyocell and modal.
SHOP PRANA
14. Kotn Egyptian Cotton Sweater
Category: Basics, knitwear, loungewear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Values: Organic, B Corp, give back
Prices: $30-$120
Kotn is an eco-friendly clothing brand that ethically and sustainably makes vegan wool alternatives from Egyptian cotton in the Nile Delta. It's committed to supply-chain transparency and give-back initiatives.
The eco-friendly label creates knitwear, turtlenecks, and sweaters for cold weather with considered design, relentless quality, honest value, and positive impact. It aims to set the standard for conscious creation and consumption.
Kotn only uses cruelty-free fabrics and no animal-derived materials. It works with an Egyptian NGO to build schools and provide every child in its farming communities with safe, convenient, quality education.
SHOP KOTN
15. Coyuchi Dillon French Terry Cardigan
Category: Basics, knitwear, sleepwear, loungewear, accessories, homeware
For: Women, men, children
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, give back
Prices: $30-$90
Coyuchi is a fashion company that creates comfy and vegan wool alternatives. It uses sustainable processes and eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton.
Coyuchi has been crafting coastal-inspired organic fashion basics, loungewear, and knitwear for a clean, environmentally conscious lifestyle and home since 1991.
The brand is committed to luxurious comfort without compromise, a deep reverence for nature, and a desire to fill homes with sustainably sourced, ethically made goods.
SHOP COYUCHI
Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.
About the Author: Alex Assoune
What We're Up Against
Multinational corporations overproducing cheap products in the poorest countries.
Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers.
Media conglomerates promoting unethical, unsustainable products.
Bad actors encouraging overconsumption through oblivious behavior.
- - - -
Thankfully, we've got our supporters, including you.
Panaprium is funded by readers like you who want to join us in our mission to make the world entirely sustainable.
If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you.
0 comments