Sweatpants should be the easiest decision in your wardrobe. But as a category, as sweats come down from theirĀ quarantine-induced sales peak, a closer inspection of your favorite cozy separates might be in order. Reworking our wardrobes can be an opportunity to reshop with a conscience (and donate what we no longer need), and that extends to even the most casual of staples. Here are our favorite sustainability-minded brands for sweats and loungewear.
ANDIE
Andieābetter known for creating suits-for-every-body swimwearārecently entered theĀ loungewear game, offering all-day-wear separates made with plant fibers. The companyās U.S.-made Eco Bamboo pants, tanks, shorts, and tees drape like silk and feel like modal thanks to a 50-50 blend of woven bamboo and recycled polyester.
PANGAIA
Pangaiaāas its name suggestsālooks to Earth to create plant-based fabrications and garment solutions. (Think: a peppermint oil-infusion finish calledĀ PPRMINTĀ that offers odor control and an antimicrobial treatment enabling fabrics to stay fresher longer.) ItsĀ sweatsĀ donāt take a back seat, eitherāusing repurposed production scraps and rain-fed organic cotton for luxuriously unique and modern matching joggers and tops. Available in womenās and menās styles.
ADAY
Womenās capsule-wardrobe creator Aday recently released new items usingĀ biofleece, a luxurious biodegradable Tencel fabric with a buttery smooth, tightly woven nylon exterior. The brand was inspired by the microplastics that inevitably shed from synthetic fabric and make their way into water sourcesāclaiming that, while the fabric is piling resistant, what fluff it loses decomposes in about 90 days.
GIRLFRIENDĀ
Inclusivity-driven activewear brand Girlfriend Collective reuses post-production fabric scraps and organic cotton to create a biodegradable blend that is as fleece-y and soft as its synthetic siblings. TheĀ Bluejay 50-50 sweats collectionĀ is available in a range of complementary colors for mix-and-match sets that are gender neutral and available in sizes XXS to 7XL.
ALLBIRDS
Allbirds entered the sweats game late last year, bringing colorful, sporty menās and womenās separates made from a blend of organic Pima cotton, hemp, and an FSC-certified tree fiber called TENCEL Lyocell. The brand even prints each itemās carbon footprint on the product. For example, aĀ womenās R&R sweatpantĀ Ā clocks in at 19.4 kg of CO2 emissionsāroughly the same as what is emitted by a gallon of gas in a vehicle, according toĀ Carbonfund.orgābut the brand says the item is ultimately carbon neutral, thanks to a balance of credits in sustainability efforts and practices.
RICHER POORER
Social-minded brand Richer Poorer uses recycled polyester to create theirĀ Recycled Fleece Hoodieāa thick, fluffy fabric in a rainbow of trend-driven colors for men and women, made from repurposed plastic water bottles. The result is both pillowy soft and with a heavyweight feel.
LACAUSA
Lacausa uses natural fibers, recycled materials, and deadstock to create most of its breezy womenswear, made, as their name foretold, in L.A. (Lacausa is also a play on the Spanish word forĀ the cause,Ā a nod to its ethical standards and sustainability efforts.) TheirĀ sweatsĀ lean on organic and post-industrial cotton and rPET (polyester derived from recycled plastic) to create plush, vintage-inspired terry and knits.
VUORI
Vuori is a post-workout (or post-pizza) dream, with buttery soft, stretchy fabrics thatĀ Fast CompanyĀ editors have long raved about. The cuts are slimmer and sportier but still comfortable enough to wear for overnight travel. While sustainability is already baked into the brandās main tenetsāoffsetting its business and manufacturing carbon footprint with Climate Neutral, using recycled and organic materialsāVuoriĀ made a pledgeĀ to swapĀ inĀ 80% certifiably sustainable materials into their apparel and 80% of plasticĀ outĀ of their shipping and supply chain for 2022.
Fast CompanyāsĀ RecommenderĀ section is dedicated to surfacing innovative products, services, and brands that are changing how we live and work. Every item that we write about is independently selected by our editors and, whenever possible, tested and reviewed.Ā Fast CompanyĀ may receive revenue from some links in our stories; however, all selections are based on our editorial judgment.