15 Merino Wool Brands You Need to Know About
If you are on a mission to finally stash away your seen-better-days sleepwear, the organic cotton pajama brands are here to help you wind down and sleep soundly in the most eco-friendly pajamas you’ve ever owned. Consider them as another excuse for hitting the snooze button from time to time.
Are you gravitating toward a simple oversized T-shirt and shorts? Do you prefer sustainable sleepwear consisting of a classic long-sleeve top with pants? How about a robe, or a flowy nightgown that completes your low-effort sleep style? The environmentally-friendly pajama lineup below is brimming with ultra-comfortable, heavenly-soft, and extremely cozy options for every taste.
Of course, all organic cotton pajama brands prioritize sustainable practices in their manufacturing processes, including the use of sustainably sourced materials, minimizing waste, and working with fair trade certified partners.
Here’s a list of eco-friendly pajamas and sleepwear brands perfect for swaddling your body in comfort this season and beyond.
Merino Wool Clothes For Every Occasion
2. Badger Natural Beard Balm
Price:
$28.88
Sustainable Ingredients:
Organic Babassu Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Baobab Oil & more
Doubling as a leave-in beard conditioner, Badger, one of the best natural beard balms for men in 2023 is packed with an array of nourishing, USDA Certified organic ingredients. jojoba, babassu, and baobab oils are known for penetrating facial hair deeply and moisturizing it with no greasy after feel.
You can easily style and condition your beard, seal in moisture, and keep stray hairs in check while in just a few seconds. Bonus point: the light masculine scent is ideal for adventurous gents who don’t enjoy overpowering aromas.
2. Unbound Merino
Price:
$25 – $285
Sustainable Materials:
Merino Wool, Organic Cotton
Unbound Merino selects only humanely shorn wool from Merino sheep, all sourced from independent wool farms located in Australia. Their flagship t-shirts are made with 100% ultra-fine merino wool that is as soft and comfy as it is sustainable. Fast-drying, moisture-wicking, breathable, and temperature regulating – you can’t go wrong with these shirts.
3. Under the Canopy Organic Cotton Loungewear
Price: From $24
Sustainable Materials: OEKO-TEX® certified dyes and GOTS organic cotton
Under the Canopy might be lauded for their amazing assortment of affordable bedding and bath towels, but did you know that they are also one of the best organic cotton pajama brands of 2023? That’s right! This eco-friendly company offers a variety of sustainable sleepwear options for adults, including organic pajama sets and nightgowns.
Their ultra comfy and soft tanks, tees, joggers, and robes are ethically and consciously made in Turkey out of GOTS and OEKO-TEX-certified cotton. From tank tops and long-sleeve styles to joggers and robes, the collection has all our sleep-related needs covered. Plus, these environmentally-friendly pajamas are available in a slew of colors – think dreamy light blue, blush, and gray.
4. Coyuchi Organic Pajamas for Men & Women
Price: From $28
Sustainable Materials: 100% organic cotton
If you are on the hunt for the best organic cotton pajamas for men and women, Coyuchi’s sustainable sleepwear collection was practically designed for you. Certified by GOTS, MADE SAFE, and Fair Trade, these eco-friendly pajamas are made of organic cotton sourced cotton from Tanzania, Uganda, and India via the Chetna Coalition.
What’s more, each style comes with a detailed description of how much water, emissions, and pesticides were avoided during its production. So rest assured that your rompers, organic flannel pajama pants, tanks, tees nightgowns, shirts, and jogger pants are equal parts comfortable, responsible-made, and planet-friendly. And while you are there, don’t forget to check out their fantastic sustainable pillow collection!
5. Eileen Fisher Women’s Organic Cotton Sleepwear
Price: From $68
Sustainable Materials: 100% Organic Cotton
Eileen Fisher, the sustainable California based clothing brand that aims to bring an air of sophistication to any professional wardrobe, offers an amazing selection of organic cotton sleepwear options for women who adore luxurious sets and separates. Whether you are looking for soft tanks, and comfy pants, robes, and even slippers, the B Corp is ready to deliver premium quality eco-friendly pajamas made of GOTS-certified yarn, milled, and dyed in California.
Granted, these organic cotton pajamas are more on the pricier side. But, you have to keep in mind that the brand is not only circular by design but also supports numerous nonprofits and NGOs that fight to preserve our Planet. Let’s not forget that they were also the earliest adopters of clothing take-back programs. In fact, Eileen Fisher’s Renew line launched in 2009!
05
Los Angeles Apparel
Garment Dye Pastel Crew Neck T-Shirt
$24
If any tee will cause a thematic shift in the t-shirt industry, this is it. Made of 100% USA organic cotton, this beefy, durable, and absorbent tee is virtually shrink free as a result of garment dyeing. It is washed with natural enzymes, resulting in a broken-in feel, just like your favorite just-washed tee that you’ve worn for a decade or two. Its special features include its heavy and sturdy feel and combined with a more generous fit and higher neck line.
6. Fair Harbor
Price Range:
$60 – $90
Sustainable Materials:
80% Recycled Polyester (made from 11 plastic bottles), 12% Cotton, 8% Spandex
Fair Harbor was quite literally made for this! They have some of the most stylish, good looking swim trunks we’ve seen. If you love a good print, you’re going to LOVE Fair Harbor. These swimmers are made with durable, high performance, quick-drying fabric, have side pockets, a built-in cool max liner, and a comfortable elastic waistband! The Bayberry Trunks, in particular, come with built-in compression underwear that will keep you cool and dry after a swim or a run! Our favorite part? 11 Plastic water bottles were made in the making of these trunks!
Fair harbor does so much as a brand as well. It was started by two siblings who grew up on Fair Harbor, Fire Island, and started their company to reduce ocean plastic. With so many brands not thinking about the Earth, it’s so refreshing to find one that does finally. They’ve recycled over 2.5 million plastic water bottles, and on the way to 3 million next year!
7. The Tropics
Price Range:
$95
Sustainable Materials:
92% Recycled Polyester, 8% Spandex
The Tropics keep the Earth in mind with everything they do. Their vision is much greater than creating a brand, but it’s having a positive impact on the Earth and establish a source of inspiration for individuals to connect, collaborate, and make a lasting difference.
Their standard Trunk in Plunge is a timeless piece that will look good at the beach, on the boardwalk, or at a sandy dinner. Built with recycled polyester and spandex, these are as comfortable as they get. This pair of trunks is made of 11 plastic water bottles, too! Some might even say it’s “the best pair of boardshorts they’ve ever owned!”
8. Vissla
Price Range:
$50-$70
Sustainable Materials:
36% Polyester from Coconut | 34% Recycled Polyester | 20% Cotton | 10% Spandex
Have you heard of Vissla? If not, you’re in for a treat! This brand is one of our favorite sustainable alternatives to Chubbies! They use the process of upcycling to turn waste into treasure. They use Cocotex yarn made of coconuts and blend it with Repreve recycled polyester yarns to create a perfect performance boardshorts. Vissla has been so innovative and user-focused. These boardshorts fight odor, stretch, breathe, and, most importantly, last a long time!
Their boardshorts are built for style, comfort, and sustainability. We especially love these retro-fit board shorts made of coconut and recycled poly fibers. They have a 4-way stretch and tethered waistband. We know you’ll be in the sun with these too, so they have built-in UPF 50. We promise, as soon as you try these, they’re going to become a season staple.
9. United By Blue
Price Range:
$60-$70
Sustainable Materials:
60% recycled polyester, 36% organic cotton, 4% elastane
If you have been following us for some time, you already know we are a big fan of United by Blue. For every product purchased, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from the ocean and waterways! So far, they have removed over 3 million pounds of trash! They know the ocean and trash pollution problem is one of the most pressing issues of our time. United By Blue leads by example and is a part of the solution rather than the problem.
We love their Men’s Organic Scallop Board Shorts. It comes in 5 colorways and made with a cotton/poly blend. These shorts are detailed with a gusset fly and drawcord waistband. Whether you’re swimming, tanning, surfing, or lounging, these will keep you looking comfortable and cool.
10. Myoli Bay
Price Range:
$50-$70
Sustainable Materials:
Recycled water bottles, Recycled coconut shell button on back pocket
Myoli Bay is named after a small island off East of Cape Town, South Africa. Their brand focuses on all-day comfort and freedom in your swimwear, and every beach should be heaven on Earth. That’s why they do what they do! They make swimwear out of other people’s trash, and they dedicate 15% of their sales to ocean and beach cleanup!
These trunks made the list because they are genuinely a great alternative to Chubbies. They have that shorter swimsuit look for those men who have been squatting all winter, and ready to show off the quads. No shame, we agree, ya look good! They also ditched the mesh liner and replaced it with a “privacy screen” to protect you from oversharing. They are nice and stretchy, so if you literally want to squat in them, you can!
11. Riz
Price Range:
$135-$150
Sustainable Materials:
100% recycled polyester
If you are on a quest to find the top ethical men’s swimwear brands, Riz should definitely be on your radar. The brand uses 100% recycled and recyclable fabric, made using plastic bottles to create their eco-friendly men’s swimwear line.
The best part? They offer Free Repairs For Life! As Riz explains, all sustainable men’s swimwear are digitally printed in England and lovingly made in Portugal. In addition, with every order, £1 gets donated to the Marine Conservation Society.
What’s even more impressive? You can donate your own, worn-to-death swimsuit and receive a generous 25% discount on your next order.
12. Everlane
Price:
$65
Sustainable Materials:
95% Recycled Nylon, 5% Elastane & 100% Recycled Polyester lining
You couldn’t talk about the best sustainable swimwear for men without mentioning Everlane. Firstly, every eco-friendly swimsuit style is made from 5% Recycled Nylon, boasting water-repellent properties.
Furthermore, the lining is also made from 100% Recycled Polyester to divert waste from landfills. To top it all off, no matter your ethical men’s swimwear of choice, you’ll be happy to know that Everlane is a bluesign® Systems Partner and currently holds the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification as well as the Cradle To Cradle Gold Certification.
If you are a fan of minimalist swimwear made to last, this brand is definitely for you.
13. Finisterre
Price Range:
€168-€331
Sustainable Materials:
Yulex® Natural Rubber
Finisterre is arguably one of the best sustainable swimwear for men that puts heavy emphasis on the needs of cold-water surfers who constantly chase their next adventure.
Even if you aren’t a warm-weather sports fanatic, you’ll definitely find your new favorite ethical swimwear crafted from 100% recycled fabric. As the brand points out, Yulex® Natural Rubber wetsuits and swimwear are the ultimate clean alternative to neoprene.
In fact, their ethical men’s swimwear produces up to 80% less CO2 than their traditional neoprene counterparts – now that’s impressive.
14. Prana
Price Range:
$65-$69
Sustainable Materials:
92% Recycled Polyester, 8% Elastane
Prana is on a mission to eliminate waste by renewing pre-worn clothing. In addition, they utilize high-quality, natural raw materials like organic cotton and hemp while also adhering to fair-trade policies.
Touted as one of the best sustainable swimwear for men, Prana is also Bluesign certified and proudly uses plastic-free packaging. Did you know that, thus far, the brand has given back $400,000+ to 33,000+ workers around the world?
From multi-printed ethical men’s swimwear covered in palm trees to discreet options with monochromatic palettes, Prana is definitely one of the top sustainable men’s swimwear brands
15. Vuori
Price Range:
$68
Sustainable Materials:
Recycled water bottle plastic
The brand known as one of the most coveted sustainable performance apparel brands has tapped into swimwear – and it’s beyond good. This Climate Neutral company focuses on recycled materials packed with anti-odor and quick-drying benefits that do not harm the planet on its inhabitants.
Furthermore, the brand puts much emphasis on working with vendors that adhere to the International Labor Organization (ILO) core labor standards to ensure safe and healthy working conditions.
Vuori’s collection of 30+ sustainable swimwear for men will easily help you “transition from water to life” thanks to the array of prints, and colors and high-performing VCycled™ fabric.
Conclusion: Is Organic Cotton Sustainable?
Along with bamboo, hemp, and Tencel, organic cotton is amongst the top 5 most sustainable fabrics on the eco market. This fiber is not only produced with no chemicals but also requires significantly lower natural resources during the farming process. Organic cotton is also profitable for the small farmers because, even though labor-intensive, tractor and energy use is very low. Last but not least, organic cotton creates healthy soils, allows farmers to save their seeds year after year, andwork with the environment in a long term.
About Author
Konstantina Antoniadou
Freelance sustainability and fashion writer with an ongoing curiosity to explore new innovative technologies, and report on trends in “green” industries.