This hoodie is made from a recycled and organic cotton mix

9 Best Hoodies For Men That Are Both Cozy and Stylish

Last updated: February 13, 2022

Hoodies rank amongst the top pieces of clothing when it comes to comfort and coziness. There quite literally is not a better piece of clothing I’d rather wear on a lazy Sunday or when I’m trying to run some errands and need to put on something casual.

As formal wear continues on it’s steep decline, the hoodie is no longer an afterthought relegated to the backseat until needed. It’s earned its right as a stand-alone statement – worthy of designing your outfit around. And if that’s not how you feel about your current favorite hoodie, let me offer you some suggestions on the best hoodies for men.

J.Crew Garment-Dyed French Terry Hoodie

Known for its New England style prepster fashion, J.Crew has long been an American staple for quality fashion. Like many retailers, it struggled during the onset of the pandemic and it wasn’t until 2021, with the hiring of a new CEO and menswear designer, that it’s finally finding itself again. Preppy is still very much in-style and even more so as fashion grows less siphoned and once-individualized looks become increasingly accessible to all.

They’ve also stepped up their game when it comes to sustainability with more recycled fabrics and a goal to have one hundred percent of their key fibers sustainably sourced by 2025.

The Garment-Dyed French Terry Hoodie is a classic fitting hoodie that is the perfect balance between fitted and baggy (bonus: also available in Tall for longer torsos). With dropped shoulders, ribbed side panels, and a standard kangaroo pocket, this soft French Terry boasts a loose loop on the inside with a firm structure on the outside. The garment-dyed wash means it will gently fade over time, giving it the coveted vintage feel. Pairs well with light wash jeans, black jeans, chinos, or anything you think makes you, you.

CDLP Heavy Terry Pullover Hoodie

Swedish CDLP prides itself as a design house dedicated to luxury undergarments, homewear, and sportswear. In perfecting their niche they’ve radically pushed the boundaries for environmental consciousness and biodegradability. They employ silky, moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial materials from renewable wood sources as well as locally sourced, recyclable cotton.

True to their sportswear ethos, their Heavy Terry Pullover Hoodie is a classically robust and boxy cut with smooth semi-dropped shoulders that fits true to size.

As its name suggests, it is heavier than your average hoodie and brings warmth while still allowing for breathability with its inner loopback knit construction. This engineering allows it to simultaneously wick away moisture and retain its soft strength. Sustainably manufactured in Portugal, it is made of half recycled and half organic cotton.

It has a double-layered hood, a functionally standard kangaroo pocket, and its tonal logo blends well as a modest statement that you are not just a man of class but also of action.

Edwin Katakana Hoodie Sweat

With Brad Pitt as their spokesman and no need to prove themselves, the Japanese brand Edwin has been innovating and setting sick styles since 1947 (yes, I’m alliterating). Founder Tsunemi Yonehachi is touted as having introduced American jeans to Japan. Then, in true Japanese fashion, he perfected denim manufacturing, even creating “old wash” denim – grandfather to the infamous stonewashed denim.

Now into the 21 st century, they encompass much more than just jeans. Their tops, pants, and accessories are trend-setting with well-crafted, modern lines and streetwear silhouettes.

Not only were they the first large-scale denim manufacturer in Asia to meet B Corp certifications, but they have also opened an additional factory in Los Angeles to employ local workers and reduce carbon emissions as they service North American clientele.

The Katakana Hoodie Sweat is regular fit and true to size. It is made of heavy unbrushed, 100% cotton felpa and keeps you warm without being overbearing. It has a double-layered hood with rounded cords and a standard kangaroo pocket. The tonal stitched logo is its most modest logo, blending in with matte colors that might make your girlfriend try to steal it. If you’re looking to flex an on-trend, faded-out finish hoodie, this is it.

Carhartt WIP Hooded Vista Sweatshirt

Workwear turned streetwear is not a recent phenomenon. Much like Dickies, the workman’s brand that took over streetwear via the hip-hop boom in the ’90s, Carhartt became urban wear thanks both to hip-hop and to various celebrities donning its signature look. Founded in 1889 the Michigan-based brand makes durable clothing for laborers such as overalls, coats, jeans, and even hunting clothing. In 1989, Carhartt WIP (work in progress) was launched to bring a distinctly American aesthetic to Europe with more refined versions of Carhartt basics. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Kanye, and Bella Hadid (to name a few) have been spotted sporting the label.

Carhartt’s Hooded Vista Sweatshirt is the best of both worlds – quality and style. Get ready for comfort with its oversized feel and balloon fit. Composed of heavyweight 100% cotton sweat that has been brushed, it’s so uber soft you’ll wonder how life could be so good.

The hoodie is pigment-dyed which gives it its sought-after weathered appearance. It’s the complete package with a kangaroo pocket, padded hood, and of course, the signature square label proving you made a fly hoodie choice.

Abercrombie Essential Colorblock Popover Hoodie

If you’re curious how a brand from the 1800s can evolve to successfully compete in today’s market, you don’t need to look far. Abercrombie, the All-American clothing line evocative of fun and playful youth has done just that. Starting as an outdoor gear and apparel retailer, the brand adapted throughout the decades, perfecting its aura of escapism with its sister youth-brand Hollister. It embraced the digital age head-on, resulting in billions from online revenue. Again reimagining itself in 2021with an increase in gender-inclusive products and newer digital experiences.

They have also taken notable strides towards sustainability and follow the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (this means that they adhere to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in the categories of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption).

There’s no questioning why the Essential Colorblock Popover Hoodie has rave reviews. It’s the perfect cut for an on-trend look – slightly oversized but just short enough so it’s not baggy. The asymmetrical two-tone color is the perfect amount of eye candy to keep you from feeling basic. In line with its minimalism, no cords are needed and the kangaroo pocket is modest – just big enough to fit two paws.

The 70% cotton and 30% polyester mix makes it the kind of soft dreams are made of. Whether you wear it with coordinated joggers or your jeans, it’s sure to be your favorite piece in every season.

Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Pullover Hoodie

Reigning Champ is a Vancouver, BC based sportswear line committed to quality and simplicity since 2007. Designed for the field or the gym the line boasts durable and enduring tops, pants, jackets, and accessories for both men and women. Their minimalistic tracksuits and gear will have you pumped to take on any hurdle life throws at you. All of their items are handmade in Canada.

The Midweight Terry Pullover Hoodie is a perfect example of why Reigning Champ is the choice of athletes and go-getters alike. The design is trim fit but for an active shape. The sleeves are set-in in the front and raglan in the back and all seams are low abrasion flatlock. The side panels and kangaroo pocket have ribbed detailing and the woven drawstring is sleek.

The material is a 100% cotton Midweight Terry, making it light enough for movement but heavy enough to provide needed warmth. It’s a comfortable softness you’ll want to wear all day and maybe even all night.

John Elliott Hooded Villian

John Elliott is the brainchild of John Elliott and his friend from childhood Aaron Lavee. A California native, the designer started the brand with the understanding that despite what’s in their closet, some men frequently end up wearing their staple jeans and tees. Rather than fight against this proclivity, he honed in on it, perfecting these essentials in ways where he found them lacking.

It’s been said that you have to know the rules in order to break them – and John knew hoodies. He decided to make a hoodie unlike the rest with side-seam zippers and a hidden kangaroo pocket dubbed “The Villain”. Just as he’d hoped, this was an instant hit and set him and his team on a trajectory that has not slowed.

With the majority of its sales in e-commerce, the brand has consistently provided cutting-edge quality clothing. And in a demonstration of their values, during the pandemic, John Elliott has partnered with UCLA Health to raise thousands to provide meals for frontline workers and visitors.

Their next big move is transitioning into more sustainable practices. We’re here for it John!

The Hooded Villian is slim-fit and sleek with a single horizontal seam slightly under the midsection. It stands out from the rest by how it doesn’t stand out – you can’t see the kangaroo pocket but it’s there. On each side, high-end Riri zippers from Switzerland provide surreptitious slide, concealing the pocket and lending the hoodie to easy layering.

The fit is true to size and the knit is a 100% French Terry cotton with flatlocked seams – a softness you can see before you even touch.

Nike Tech Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie

Although officially a sportswear line, Nike has long catered to its dual nature by understanding its role as both a sportswear and a streetwear provider. Its first Tech Pack was born in 2007 to more specifically serve its role as a line for athletes. Techwear then blossomed and thrived and became a larger-than-life illustration of functional fashion.

With each Tech Pack edition, Nike proves that it is pushing the boundaries for modern fabrics molded by the finest technological advancements. The Tech Pack staples are often known for their fleece lining – providing warmth while still utilizing all the technology that provides expert breathability.

An industry standard, Nike is doing its part to lead by example in sustainability efforts (find out more about their intensive 2025 goals at purpose.nike.com/planet).

The Sportswear Tech Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie is possibly their best yet. The Tech fleece is a strong insulator even when the weather drops down to the low digits. And if you’re taking this bad boy to shred in the mountains you’ll find its sleek design lends itself well to layering.

Lightweight enough for everyday use and streetwear style, it’s no wonder this hoodie has rave reviews. It is a silky soft cotton and polyester blend with a four-panel hood. The design taping on the chest gives a vintage feel while remaining subtle. Pair with matching joggers for an extra drip tracksuit.

It’s standard fit without being constricting but if you want a looser hang, simply size up. Throw your earbuds or keys in the zip sleeve pocket and just do it.

Stone Island Garment Dyed Popover Hoodie

The Italian luxury brand Stone Island is textile innovation at its finest. Founded in 1982 Ravarino, Italy by Massimo Osti, the line went through several acquisitions and consolidations throughout the decades. It held its integrity however as one constant remained – research and experimentation. Materials are constantly produced and tested to make the most cutting-edge creations. Reflective jackets that refract light in the dark, steel-coated bronze mesh fabrics, and even a jacket with a layer of glass on top are just a few of the many creations that make Stone Island a leading textile designer.

In an almost cult-like following, the brand has been largely worn by British street gangs or football fanbases known as “hooligans”. In 2015, after Canadian rapper Drake was seen wearing the brand, demand for Stone Island skyrocketed in North America. In 2016, they opened their flagship store in New York.

The Garment Dyed Popover Hoodie is both fire and ice. Its clean white color with black-banded compass logo is immaculately fashion-forward and edgy. The innocuous drawstrings and expansive pouch add just the right touches. The fit is standard with plenty of coverage lengthwise without being boxy. Make a statement and be comfortable doing so in this luxury hoodie made from 100% super-soft cotton.

Recycled Cotton Vs Organic Cotton – Which One Is Better?

Historically, fashion and textiles have been some of the least sustainable of industries. However, they have made great strides in improving their environmental impact of late. Two of these advancements relate to cotton. There are now significant efforts being made to grow cotton organically. At the same time, infrastructure has been put in place to recycle used cotton. Environmentally-minded consumers may then ask: which is better, recycled cotton or organic cotton?

Recycling, like many things, can be complicated. Different materials can be recycled more efficiently than others. Additionally, recycling uses resources and produces greenhouse gases. Growing organic cotton, too, is a complex affair. It reduces harmful pesticides, but is still a resource-heavy process. This article further illuminates these two areas.

What Is Recycled Cotton?

What is recycled cotton? Is cotton recyclable? The simple answer is: yes, it is. Recycled cotton is used cotton fabric that is converted into fiber for new textile items. Other terms frequently used to describe it are ‘regenerated’ or ‘reclaimed’ cotton.

There are two major sources for recycled cotton. Pre-consumer material includes the scraps and by-products of the cotton manufacturing process. Post-consumer material refers to the items that have been bought and used. These can be clothing items, towels, bedsheets, furniture upholstery and many other things.

The vast majority of recycled cotton comes from pre-consumer materials – mainly scraps and cuttings. Post-consumer material is much harder to sort and recycle. This is because it is often blended with other materials and has been colored. This makes it a more labor and resource-intensive process, which in turn, makes it less efficient to recycle.

What Is Organic Cotton?

Organic cotton is a material that has the same textile quality as regular cotton. However, it is produced without causing the same level of environmental damage. The cotton seeds used to grow it are not genetically modified. There are no harmful pesticides, insecticides, or chemical fertilizers used. Additionally, ethical and non-environmentally harmful farming practices are employed. These include crop-rotation and no-till farming, which help to conserve the soil.

Another important aspect of organic farming is that it safeguards those making it. The farmers and workers who tend to it are not exposed to harmful chemicals and substances. There are a number of organizations that bestow certification on organic cotton. This includes groups like Organic Content Standards, USDA-NOP, and Naturland. If organizations such as the above haven’t certificated a cotton yield, you can’t be sure it’s organic.

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Each?

These practices, along with others such as the use of growth-encouraging insects, don’t harm the environment. Additionally, they pose no threat to the health of those tending to the crops. Water is also used more efficiently, and thus less is needed. Ultimately, the quality of organic cotton is also very high. It’s durable, long-lasting, and feels great on the skin. The lack of chemicals in the production process also makes the cotton hypoallergenic.

However, organic cotton production is not a perfect process. To begin with, it’s a less efficient approach in terms of crop yield. This is because non-organic cotton is genetically altered to produce larger amounts. The result of this is that organic cotton takes more space to grow a similar amount. This can result in more deforestation to make the amount of room needed. Additionally, organic cotton does still require a large amount of water. This is an area that has seen improvements recently. Nevertheless, it is still a resource-heavy production process in this regard.

Recycling cotton entails significantly less water consumption than growing it. When we recycle cotton, we also save it from being dumped in a landfill. This limits the amount of material causing greenhouse gases in garbage dumps. There is also a wide range of potential uses for recycled cotton. It can be made into cleaning cloths, insulation, clothes, mop heads, and much more.

However, recycling cotton does have some drawbacks. The process does negatively affect the quality of the material. This means that recycled cotton fabric has to be mixed with synthetic fibers. This includes materials such as polyester. Synthetic materials are much less environmentally friendly. On top of this, the impact on quality means that cotton can’t be recycled continuously. Furthermore, the recycling process uses resources, which further contribute to its carbon footprint.

It should be noted that while both organic and recycled cotton have their drawbacks, they are continuously being improved upon. Progress is being made all the time to make both more environmentally friendly. Ultimately, recycled and organic cotton are both preferable to regular cotton.

Recycled And Organic Cotton In Numbers

Now that we have a better understanding of the pros and cons, lets look at the numbers. What are the statistics for how these materials affect the world?

Is Recycled Cotton Worth It?

Just how difficult is it to recycle cotton? What are the major pitfalls that people face when trying to recycle it? Let’s take a close look at the process itself.

To fashion new textiles out of used cotton, this first needs to be cut up into raw material. However, in doing so, the quality of the cotton is reduced. This is because the staple length is shortened. The staple length is what determines the cotton’s strength and softness. The longer this is, the better the cotton.

Accordingly, recycled cotton needs to be blended with virgin cotton or synthetic materials. What’s more, the process uses up resources, as does the transportation of the material. This means that the whole process isn’t as sustainable as many would like.

Recycled Cotton Vs Organic Cotton: Is There A Winner?

So, is there a clear winner between recycled cotton and organic cotton? The simple answer is no, there isn’t. In fact, the better question to ask is: how can we make both more sustainable? Work needs to be done to lessen the environmental impact of both types of cotton. Organic cotton farming needs to be made more efficient and progress must be made on generating higher quality recycled cotton.

That being said, they are both much better than regular cotton. For consumers, the most important thing is to reduce your own carbon footprint. It’s certainly preferable to recycle cotton than to send it to a dump. Buying organic cotton is also much greener than buying its regular alternative.

What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It So Bad?

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Fast fashion is a relatively new phenomenon in the industry that causes extensive damage to the planet, exploits workers, and harms animals. Here’s why it’s best to steer clear when you can.

A tragic reality check for fashion

It was all too good to be true in the oughties. All these stores selling cool, trendy clothing you could buy with your loose change, wear a handful of times, and then throw away. Suddenly everyone could afford to dress like their favourite celebrity or wear the latest trends fresh from the catwalk.

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion can be defined as cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at breakneck speed to meet consumer demand. The idea is to get the newest styles on the market as fast as possible, so shoppers can snap them up while they are still at the height of their popularity and then, sadly, discard them after a few wears. It plays into the idea that outfit repeating is a fashion faux pas and that if you want to stay relevant, you have to sport the latest looks as they happen. It forms a key part of the toxic system of overproduction and consumption that has made fashion one of the world’s largest polluters. Before we can go about changing it, let’s take a look at the history.

How did fast fashion happen?

To understand how fast fashion came to be, we need to rewind a bit. Before the 1800s, fashion was slow. You had to source your own materials like wool or leather, prepare them, weave them, and then make the clothes.

The Industrial Revolution introduced new technology—like the sewing machine. Clothes became easier, quicker, and cheaper to make. Dressmaking shops emerged to cater to the middle classes.

By the 1960s and 70s, young people were creating new trends, and clothing became a form of personal expression, but there was still a distinction between high fashion and high street.

In the late 1990s and 2000s, low-cost fashion reached a peak. Online shopping took off, and fast-fashion retailers like H&M, Zara, and Topshop took over the high street. These brands took the looks and design elements from the top fashion houses and reproduced them quickly and cheaply. With everyone now able to shop for on-trend clothes whenever they wanted, it’s easy to understand how the phenomenon caught on.

How to spot a fast fashion brand

Some key factors are common to fast fashion brands:

Why is fast fashion bad?

Polluting our planet

Cheap textiles also increase fast fashion’s impact. Polyester is one of the most popular fabrics. It is derived from fossil fuels, contributes to global warming, and can shed microfibres that add to the increasing levels of plastic in our oceans when washed. But even “natural” fabrics can be a problem at the scale fast fashion demands. Conventional cotton requires enormous quantities of water and pesticides in developing countries. This results in drought risks and creates extreme stress on water basins and competition for resources between companies and local communities.

The constant speed and demand mean increased stress on other environmental areas such as land clearing, biodiversity, and soil quality. The processing of leather also impacts the environment, with 300kg of chemicals added to every 900kg of animal hides tanned.

Exploiting workers

As well as the environmental cost of fast fashion, there’s a human cost.

Fast fashion impacts garment workers who work in dangerous environments, for low wages, and without fundamental human rights. Further down the supply chain, the farmers may work with toxic chemicals and brutal practices that can have devastating impacts on their physical and mental health, a plight highlighted by the documentary “ The True Cost “.

Harming animals

Animals are also impacted by fast fashion. In the wild, the toxic dyes and microfibres released in waterways are ingested by land and marine life alike through the food chain to devastating effect. And when animal products such as leather, fur, and even wool are used in fashion directly, animal welfare is put at risk. As an example, numerous scandals reveal that real fur, including cat and dog fur, is often being passed off as faux fur to unknowing shoppers. The truth is that there is so much real fur being produced under terrible conditions in fur farms that it’s become cheaper to produce and buy than faux fur.

Coercing consumers

Who are the big players?

Other big names in fast fashion today include UNIQLO, GAP, Primark, and TopShop. While these brands were once seen as radically cheap disruptors, there are now even cheaper and faster alternatives like SHEIN, Missguided, Forever 21, Zaful, Boohoo, and Fashion Nova. These brands are known as ultra fast fashion, a recent phenomenon which is as bad as it sounds.

Is fast fashion going green?

The underlying issue with fast fashion is the speed at which it is produced, putting massive pressure on people and the environment. Recycling and small eco or vegan clothing ranges—when they are not only for greenwashing —are not enough to counter the throw-away culture, the waste, the strain on natural resources, and the myriad of other issues created by fast fashion. The whole system needs to be changed.

Is fast fashion in decline?

There is also a growing interest in moving towards a more circular textile production model, reusing materials wherever and whenever possible. In 2018, both Vogue Australia and Elle UK dedicated entire magazine issues to sustainable fashion, a trend being taken up each year by more and more big names.

What can we do?

Learn about fast fashion’s sustainable alternative, slow fashion

Here are some of our favourite brands giving fast fashion the flick and embodying a slow, circular, more sustainable way of wearing:

20 Recycled Clothing Brands Making The World Better

The clothing we wear doesn’t always have to be new. Consider looking into recycled clothes for both style and sustainability.

According to the BBC, 92 million tons of textiles are wasted a year. Massive amounts of clothes end up in landfills and thus harming the planet.

Most people perhaps don’t think about choosing clothing that’s been recycled. Even I’d never thought much of it before writing this article. It’s important that we’re all aware of the options out there so that we can do our part in helping to save the planet.

What is recycled fashion?

Recycled fashion refers to clothing made from previously used materials such as plastic bottles, nylon, polyester, and even old clothing. When you choose to purchase recycled clothing, you become a small part of influencing major clothing companies to practice sustainable production.

What clothing brands use recycled materials?

1. Girlfriend Collective

Girlfriend Collective’s motto is “don’t make waste, wear it.” With the stylish clothing they have available, perhaps anybody would be convinced to wear waste.

They sell leggings, skirts, and many other types of female clothes. You can look at their activewear that’s all made out of recycled materials.

2. Wray

Wray offers t-shirts, tank tops, and skirts made out of recycled mesh. The company works with responsible factories and uses compostable packaging to ship its products. Wray also chooses to use a closed-loop production system.

3. American Recycled Clothing

It’s pretty much in the name that American Recycled Clothing provides people with quality vintage recycled clothes. There are options you might like, from polo shirts to unisex sweats. You’ll also find they get a lot of good Google reviews as well.

4. Beyond Retro

Beyond Retro is a fashion brand that focuses on vintage clothing as well. You can find jeans, coats, and many other types of clothing. Beyond their clothing being recycled, their plastic bags and packaging are also recycled as well.

5. Wolven

Wolven strives to make sustainability sexy. They offer leggings and swimsuits that are made out of recycled bottles. They work to fight against fast fashion and achieve a more sustainable environment.

6. Patagonia

Patagonia has been mentioned before in other lists of clothing brands as they’re one of the pioneers in eco-friendly outdoor clothing. You’ll find clothes from this company made out of recycled polyester found on plastic soda bottles.

7. Rapanui

All of the clothes made by Rapanui are made from natural materials. They also make use of renewable energy and ship their products in plastic-free packaging. Check out their recycled organic t-shirts made out of recycled cotton.

8. Ellie Evans

Based out of Australia, Elle Evans sells swimwear that’s both ethical and sustainable. The swimsuits are made out of recycled plastic waste picked out of the sea. You can look good on the beach and help make the ocean look good too.

9. Fanfare

Fanfare makes ethical clothing for women. They strive to have their sustainable fashion bring change to the womenswear industry. Their collection includes many items made out of recycled, organic, and waste fabrics.

10. BATOKO

Batoko is a brand that focuses on recycled plastic swimwear. Based out of the UK, they ship their clothes worldwide for anyone to enjoy wearing. According to their website, they’ve recycled the equivalent weight of 300,000 plastic bottles by making their swimwear.

11. ADAY

Just like the concept of Minimalism, ADAY believes in doing more with less. The unique thing about some of their clothes is they’re made from recycled fishing nets from the ocean. One of them you might like is their Over and Out Jacket.

12. Alternative Apparel

Alternative Apparel creates fashionable products with soft eco-fabrics, organic cotton, and recycled cotton. They use 1.8 million plastics a year to create the fabrics for their clothing. Enjoy taking a look at their recycled cotton hoodies and pocket t-shirts.

13. RubyMoon

If you’re looking for activewear or swimwear that’s sustainable, RubyMoon is just the brand you’ve been looking for. Based out of the UK, this not-for-profit brand believes in creating a positive environmental and social impact.

14. Re/Done

Re/Done is a company that sells vintage clothing for both men and women. You can enjoy looking at their recycled classic and loose tees made out of 50% recycled polyester. Another thing this brand does is take apart the seams of denim jeans and repurpose them.

15. Picture Organic Clothing

The main clothes you’ll find from Picture Organic Clothing are activewear and outdoor clothing. The company creates some of its clothes with recycled textiles from plastic bottles.

16. Ecoalf

Based out of Spain, Ecoalf is considered one of the leading pioneers in sustainable fashion. They strived to create the highest quality clothing out of recycled fabrics. You can find t-shirts, jackets, coats, and other types of clothing you might be interested in.

17. Planetwarrior

If you’re into doing yoga, then you’ll really enjoy the recycled plastic yoga wear that Planet Warrior offers. The brand’s main focus is making luxurious recycled fashion to combat plastic waste.

18. Repainted

Repainted is an Italian brand that creates handmade swimwear by making use of recycled plastics. They also made some nice dresses as well. Most of their products usually have patterns such as flowers, but some swimsuits just have one color.

19. prAna

PrAna is a brand that uses nylon, polyester, cotton, and wool that’s all been recycled to create some of their clothing. Their focus is on making sustainable clothes for travel, outdoor adventures, and yoga.

20. Mara Hoffman

Mara Hoffman makes 100% of all of its swimwear out of recycled nylon or recycled polyester. They strive to create all of their clothing ethically in the hopes of making a more sustainable world.

Final thoughts

Now that you’re aware of the many brands out there that sell clothes made of recycled materials, now you can do your part. Consider looking into getting clothing made out of recyclable materials. It’ll make the world a better place.

That Organic Cotton T-Shirt May Not Be as Organic as You Think

The organic cotton movement in India appears to be booming, but much of this growth is fake, say those who source, process and grow the cotton.

Harvested organic cotton at a bioRe facility in Kasrawad, India. India is the single largest producer of the world’s organic cotton, responsible for half of the supply. Credit. Saumya Khandelwal for The New York Times

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“This product contains independently certified organic cotton grown without chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers and genetically modified seeds,” the product description reads.

With the fashion industry trumpeting its sustainability commitments, those labels are both a means of value signaling and a lure to consumers willing to pay more to act better.

There’s only one problem: Much of the “organic cotton” that makes it to store shelves may not actually be organic at all.

The largest single producer of the world’s organic cotton supply is India, which accounts for half of the organic cotton sold globally, and where the organic cotton movement appears to be booming. According to Textile Exchange, a leading organic proponent, organic cotton production in India alone grew 48 percent in the last year, despite the pandemic.

However, much of this growth is fake, say Indians who source, process and grow organic cotton.

At the heart of the problem is an opaque certification system rife with opportunities for fraud. Consumers are assured of “organic” material by brands, which rely on official stamps of approval from external organizations. Those in turn rely on reports from opaque local inspection agencies that base their conclusions on a single planned yearly inspection (in the case of the facilities) or a few random visits (for farms).

In recent months, the credibility of these inspection agencies has been destroyed. In November, the European Union voted to no longer accept organic certifications on Indian raw products from the main companies responsible for organic cotton: Control Union, EcoCert and OneCert. And in January, the international agency that provides accreditation to organic inspection agencies, IOAS, withdrew OneCert’s ability to inspect and certify cotton processors for these labels.

Crispin Argento, founder and managing director of the Sourcery, a small consulting firm that helps brands source organic cotton, has spent the past year hunting down organic cotton with his team only to see suppliers disappear when they start asking for proof of authenticity. He estimates between one half and four-fifths of what is being sold as organic cotton from India is not genuine. And almost the entire supply chain is implicated in what he calls a game of “smoke and mirrors.”

For at least a decade, in reports and at conferences convened by agitated large brands and the network of nongovernmental organizations that serve them, the organic cotton industry in India has been described as in “crisis,” but the problems have been kept largely out of the public eye.

N.G.O. workers worry exposure would lead to the total collapse of the industry and harm the small subset of farmers who are, in fact, growing organically. They also fear the wrath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which has come down hard on those who dare to criticize the country. Others are profiting handsomely from the certification system.

When confronted with the allegations of fraud, many fashion brands and their sourcing partners that use Indian organic cotton admitted that the system wasn’t perfect but affirmed their commitment to organic cotton and said any problems that existed were located outside their own supply chains.

A spokeswoman for PVH, the owner of Tommy Hilfiger, wrote in an emailed statement that organic cotton was one of a variety of sustainable materials they had committed to sourcing and noted, “We know that rigorous standards and reliable verification processes are critical for sourcing sustainable materials.” Michael Kors and Urban Outfitters did not respond to emails requesting comment on their organic cotton sourcing.

At least one brand has decided it no longer wants to look the other way, however. Though organic cotton used to be a centerpiece of its commitments, the women’s wear brand Eileen Fisher now has a page on its website describing why it is moving away from certified organic cotton, the better to address what the brand calls “an uncomfortable fact.”

“The ‘organic’ cotton that’s sold each year far exceeds the amount that is actually grown,” it says.

Pesticides, Chemical Fertilizer and Genetically Modified Seeds

In Khargone district in India’s central state of Madhya Pradesh, one of the country’s largest producers of certified organic cotton, farmers have cultivated the plant known locally as white gold for generations.

“Cotton is the life giver for us,” said Niyaj Ali, 60, sitting on a charpai, a traditional South Asian woven bed, next to his son, his wife, a daughter-in-law and several grandchildren in a spacious front room of cool concrete floors under a thatched roof. “It takes care of everything — the labor in the fields, the school fees for the children, the food on the table.”

In the late 1990s, when cotton grown without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizer was a rarefied product purchased exclusively by high-priced yoga and wellness brands, two Swiss companies formed the bioRe Foundation to support organic cotton growing in Madhya Pradesh.

Through India’s contract production system, which allows cotton suppliers to register up to 500 farmers as a single corporate entity, bioRe started sourcing and selling organic cotton regulated by India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

Four years ago, employees of bioRe came to Chandanpuri, Mr. Ali’s village, with a pitch: If the cotton farmers would convert their fields to organic, bioRe would provide the training and the seeds, teach them how to make organic fertilizer from animal dung and organic insecticide from native herbs, and pay them a premium over the market price for conventional cotton. BioRe also promised to buy whatever volume they managed to grow.

Mr. Ali and nine other farmers agreed. The way he saw it, genetically modified seeds were expensive and drying out the soil. The pesticides and chemical fertilizers were toxic and unhealthy. He would happily return to natural methods, like the ones his grandfather used, especially if organic cotton was more profitable. Three years ago, Mr. Ali started the painstaking process of converting his 11-acre farm from conventional cotton farming to organic.

Last fall, he finally harvested his first organic cotton crop. It was so much skimpier than what he was used to with conventional farming that his costs on seeds and labor far exceeded the premiums bioRe paid.