Sustainable Sweaters for Women: 13 Certified Brands (2026)

Most sustainable sweater lists check how a sweater feels. We check who made it. Every brand below passed Ujo Shop’s 100-point review of transparency, fair labor, and materials. Brands can’t pay to be certified, and we re-review them, so brands that slip lose their rating.

That last part matters. Several popular sweater guides still recommend brands that fail our review today. We explain three of them below.

Prices are US prices from each brand’s site, checked October 6, 2026.

How we chose these sustainable sweaters

Every brand here scored at least 50 out of 100 on our certification:

• Transparency (14 points):Does the brand name its factories and suppliers?
• Fair labor (33 points):Are workers paid living wages, with safe conditions and third-party proof?
• Sustainably made (49 points):Does the brand measure and cut its emissions, water, and waste, and use better materials?
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (4 points).
• Our principles:We deduct points from fast fashion business models and from brands we can’t trust.

Then we picked sweaters from those brands and checked each one’s fiber content on the brand’s own product page.

The 12 best sustainable sweaters for women

Ujo Shop is reader-supported. We only feature fashion brands that pass our sustainable brand criteria.Learn more here.

1. Toad&Co Peak Merino Crew Sweater

The Peak Merino Crew Sweater ($148) is 100% non-mulesed merino wool in a fine mini-waffle knit. Toad&Co reworked its merino to pill, fuzz, and stretch less.

• Best for:An everyday all-wool sweater with a subtle texture.
• Watch out for:It’s mid-lightweight, so it layers well but isn’t your warmest option.
• Why it passed:Gold-rated, with a published factory list and a warehouse partner that creates jobs for adults with disabilities.

Our experience:Our team has worn Toad&Co’s Cotati Dolman Sweater, a boxy wool-blend knit with dolman sleeves. It’s super comfortable and warm, and it looks great on. It’s now a sale style, so grab it while it lasts.

2. KNOWN SUPPLY Mars Sweater

The Mars Sweater ($138) is an oversized cardigan in 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, made in a Fair Trade Certified factory in India.

• Best for:A cozy, oversized cardigan with a bold print.
• Watch out for:It’s cut oversized, so check the measurements before you order.
• Why it passed:Fair Trade Certified production, and the brand introduces you to the person who made your clothes.

Our experience:We haven’t worn this cardigan, but I made KNOWN SUPPLY’s organic cotton dad hat my everyday hat after a sponsored 2022 collaboration with the brand. Every piece carries a tag naming the person who made it. Read our KNOWN SUPPLY review.

3. Pact Essential V-Neck Sweater

Pact’s Essential V-Neck Sweater ($78) is 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, sewn in a Fair Trade Certified factory. The matching Essential Crew Neck Sweater is also $78, and the Essential Cardigan is $88.

• Best for:The most affordable pick, and anyone who finds wool itchy.
• Watch out for:Cotton is less warm than wool. It’s a layering sweater, not a winter coat substitute.
• Why it passed:Fair Trade Certified factories and GOTS-certified organic cotton.

Our experience:We haven’t worn Pact’s sweaters, but our team wears Pact’s organic cotton underwear, and I’ve reviewed Pact’s men’s pants and henleys. Watch our Pact review.

4. tentree Mesa Sweater

The Mesa Sweater ($98) is a lightweight, 100% organic cotton knit with a relaxed fit and a longer length.

• Best for:An easy everyday sweater under $100.
• Watch out for:It’s lightweight, so plan to layer it in real cold.
• Why it passed:Science-based climate targets, a trade-in program, and ten trees planted for every item sold.

5. Sézane Nino Jumper

The Nino Jumper ($130) is 100% merino wool certified to the Responsible Wool Standard, with cable-knit detail at the cuffs. Sézane says more than half the fiber comes from regenerative farms, and it’s spun, knit, and made in Italy.

• Best for:A refined everyday sweater with a French look.
• Watch out for:Sézane’s factory disclosure stops at the country level, so you know where it’s made but not which factory.
• Why it passed:Item-by-item traceability pages, RWS wool, and science-based climate targets.

6. ASKET Merino Turtleneck

The Merino Turtleneck ($140) is 100% extra-fine merino, RWS and Nativa certified and mulesing-free. The yarn comes from Italian mill Tollegno 1900, and Alextricot knits it in Romania.

• Best for:A fine turtleneck that layers under everything.
• Watch out for:The fine 24-gauge knit is thin, so it’s a layer, not your warmest sweater.
• Why it passed:ASKET names this sweater’s suppliers down to the sheep farms and publishes each garment’s cost and carbon footprint. This turtleneck’s production emits 9.16 kg of CO2e.

Our experience:We haven’t worn this turtleneck, but I’ve worn ASKET’s Cashmere Wool Scarf for years. It’s made from recycled wool and recycled cashmere in Prato, Italy, and it’s one of the softest things I own. I’ve also worn ASKET tees for five years, and they’re the best-fitting tees I own. Read our long-term ASKET review.

7. Patagonia Recycled Wool-Blend Crewneck

Patagonia’s Women’s Recycled Wool-Blend Crewneck Sweater ($159) comes in jersey, cable, and jacquard knits. It’s 65% recycled wool and 31% recycled nylon, sewn in a Fair Trade Certified factory.

• Best for:A durable everyday sweater with a cable option.
• Watch out for:Nearly a third of the yarn is nylon. It’s recycled, and it adds durability.
• Why it passed:Fair Trade sewing, Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee, and Worn Wear repairs and resale.

Our experience:We haven’t worn this sweater, but my organic cotton Patagonia short sleeve button-up is about eight years old and shows no visible signs of wear. It still has a lot of life left!

8. Outerknown Women’s Nostalgic Sweater

The Women’s Nostalgic Sweater ($178) is a slim, 70s-style waffle knit in 78% organic cotton and 22% recycled polyester, made in Romania. Customers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 102 reviews.

• Best for:A retro striped sweater with a slim fit.
• Watch out for:Nearly a quarter of the yarn is recycled polyester.
• Why it passed:Gold-rated, with Fair Labor Association membership and Outerworn, its resale shop for used pieces.

Our experience:We haven’t worn this sweater, but our team has tried Outerknown’s apparel including the wrap dress seen here. I’ve also worn Outerknown swim trunks, jeans, and a wool blazer. Watch our Outerknown swim trunk review.

9. Armedangels Wool Knit Sweater

The Wool Knit Sweater ($178) blends 60% recycled wool with 40% RWS-certified organic wool in a loose, medium-heavy knit, made in Istanbul, Turkey.

• Best for:A warm, all-wool sweater with no synthetics.
• Watch out for:Hand wash only.
• Why it passed:Gold-rated, with GRS-certified recycled wool and Fair Wear Foundation membership.

10. Reformation Meadow Merino Cardigan

The Meadow Regenerative Merino Cardigan ($178) is 100% NATIVA wool, traceable from a farm transitioning to regenerative grazing. It’s a lightweight ribbed cardigan with a button front.

• Best for:A fitted cardigan to layer over dresses and tops.
• Watch out for:It’s lightweight, so it won’t replace a heavy winter sweater.
• Why it passed:Traceable wool, and it shares environmental impact data on its products.

11. Untouched World Mira Sweater

New Zealand’s Untouched World knits and hand-finishes the Mira Sweater ($228) in New Zealand. It’s 100% merino certified to ZQRX, from a single farm, Glenthorne Station, and it’s machine washable. For cashmere, Untouched World’s Kapua line blends 40% cashmere with possum fiber and silk, from $394.

• Best for:Traceability down to the farm.
• Watch out for:Untouched World ships from New Zealand, and US orders pay import duties and taxes on delivery. The brand says these can add more than a third to the price.
• Why it passed:Gold-rated, with ZQ-certified merino and a published animal welfare partnership.

12. Artknit Studios Merino Ribbed Sweater

Artknit’s Merino Wool Ribbed Sweater ($249) is 100% merino from Australian sheep, knit in a fine rib and made in Italy.

• Best for:A close-fitting, dressier merino knit.
• Watch out for:Artknit is based in Italy, so check US shipping and duties at checkout.
• Why it passed:Named family-run factories and a repair program.

The best sustainable cashmere sweaters

Cashmere is where sustainable sweater lists most often go wrong. Virgin cashmere drives overgrazing, and “ethical cashmere” claims are hard to check. These three picks come from brands that passed our review and show where their cashmere comes from.

Boden Elsie Cashmere V-Neck Sweater

The Elsie Cashmere V-Neck Sweater ($170) is 100% cashmere certified to the Good Cashmere Standard, which sets rules for goat welfare, herders’ working conditions, and grassland protection. Boden traces 100% of the fiber in its pure cashmere styles to farms in Inner Mongolia, and the sweater is machine washable.

• Best for:The most affordable certified cashmere we found.
• Watch out for:It’s virgin cashmere, not recycled.
• Why it passed:Silver-rated, with fully traceable cashmere.

Boden Elsie Cashmere Crew Cardigan

The Elsie Cashmere Crew Cardigan ($190) uses the same Good Cashmere Standard certified, fully traceable cashmere as the V-neck, in a straight-fit cardigan that falls between the waist and hip. It comes in several colors and is machine washable.

• Best for:A cashmere layer you can wear over everything.
• Watch out for:Like the V-neck, it’s virgin cashmere, not recycled.
• Why it passed:Silver-rated, with fully traceable cashmere.

Artknit Studios ReCashmere Crew Neck Sweater

The ReCashmere Crew Neck Sweater ($335) is knit from Artknit’s ReCashmere yarn: 65% upcycled cashmere and 35% virgin, GRS-certified and spun in Florence. Artknit makes 15 women’s pieces in it, including V-necks, close-fit sweaters, and a belted jacket.

• Best for:Mostly recycled cashmere, made in Italy.
• Watch out for:It’s an archive style, so it’s discounted now but may sell out.
• Why it passed:Named family-run factories and a repair program.

Why Quince, Naadam, and Organic Basics aren’t on this list

The Good Trade’s sustainable sweater guide, updated September 22, 2026, recommends all three, ranking Naadam #2 and Quince #4. Its criteria say every pick has “the credentials and certifications to back it up.” In practice, that means a row of badges, and the badges don’t hold up.

Quince gets five: budget friendly, eco-friendly packaging, natural materials, OEKO-TEX, and size inclusive. Under our criteria, those are worth about 11 points out of 100 at most, and none of them say who made the clothes or what they were paid. Even the OEKO-TEX badge overstates it. That certification only tests textiles for harmful substances, and Quince shows a certificate on some products, not its whole range.

Naadam’s badges are out of date. It’s credited for “second hand” and “circular fashion,” but its official resale site is no longer live, and its recycled cashmere line has shrunk to a few final-sale pieces. Recycling your own production scraps is a better material choice, not a circular system.

Here’s what our reviews found.

Quince scored 16 out of 100.It earned 0 of 33 points on fair labor and 0 of 14 on transparency. Quince publishes no factory list and no evidence of living wages. Read our full Quince review.

Naadam fell from 56 to 4 out of 100.Naadam passed our review in 2021 and 2023. By 2025, it had removed its impact report, its goals, and its progress reporting, and it disclosed no factory list or living wage data. Read what happened to Naadam.

Organic Basics lost its certification over ownership.Delta Galil bought the brand in 2022. Delta Galil is listed in the United Nations database of companies involved in Israeli settlement activities. We revoked its certification over that ownership. Since the sale, longtime customers have also reported less transparency and lower quality. I owned Organic Basics before and after the acquisition, and the newer underwear wore out much faster. Read why we revoked it.

Seven of The Good Trade’s 13 picks are brands we also certify, including Patagonia and Toad&Co. Mixed in with them are three that fail our review. When a trusted list puts Quince next to Patagonia under the same “sustainable” label, readers can’t tell them apart. That’s how greenwashing spreads: not only through a brand’s own marketing, but through the lists that recommend it. We’ve written about this problem before.

The Good Trade’s editors say they test every sweater, and testing tells you how a sweater fits and feels. It can’t tell you who made it, what they were paid, or what happened to the brand’s commitments last year. That takes the same scored review, applied to every brand, and repeated. It’s the only way a list stays honest.

This isn’t a new position for us. I told the Daily Mail that The Good Trade has published positive Quince reviews that repeat the brand’s claims about ethical factories, and we’ve shown how sustainable media enables Quince’s greenwashing, using The Good Trade as the case study. As I put it then: “A brand can’t talk its way to points it hasn’t earned.”

What to look for in a sustainable sweater

• Natural or recycled fibers.Wool, merino, and organic cotton are the best starting points. Recycled wool and recycled cashmere keep existing fiber in use.
• Animal welfare standards.Look for RWS, ZQ or ZQRX, or a named traceable program like NATIVA.
• Little or no virgin synthetics.A small share of recycled nylon for strength is a reasonable trade. Skip sweaters that are mostly acrylic or virgin polyester.
• A brand that names its factories.If a brand won’t say where its sweaters are made, you can’t know how the people making them are treated.

Our guide to the most and least sustainable fabrics goes deeper.

FAQ

What is the most sustainable material for a sweater?Wool and organic cotton from traceable sources, or recycled wool and cashmere. Wool needs little washing and lasts for years, and organic cotton suits mild climates.

Is Quince sustainable?No. Quince scored 16 out of 100 in our review, with no factory disclosure and no evidence of living wages.

Is Naadam ethical?Not by our standards. Naadam was certified until 2025, when it removed its sustainability reporting and its score fell to 4 out of 100.

Is Organic Basics still sustainable?We revoked its certification after Delta Galil acquired it in 2022, because of Delta Galil’s listing in a UN database of companies involved in Israeli settlement activities.

How should I care for a wool sweater?Wash it rarely, in cold water, and lay it flat to dry. Fold it instead of hanging it, and use a sweater comb to remove pills.

Is cashmere sustainable?Virgin cashmere often isn’t. Growing demand has put more goats on fragile grasslands, especially in Mongolia, and overgrazing degrades the land. Recycled cashmere is the better choice, and a brand should be able to show you where its fiber came from. Our picks are above: Boden’s traceable cashmere and Artknit’s mostly recycled ReCashmere.

More sustainable fashion for women

Make Your Impact Go Further

Know someone shopping for a sweater this winter? Send them these 13 brands. Every share helps more people find clothes made fairly and built to last.

Questions about fit, fabric, or which brand suits you? Ask us in the comments and we’ll help. Or let our stylists pick sustainable pieces for you.

Until next time, dress like you give a damn.

Garik Himebaugh is the founder of Ujo Shop, the go-to resource to find ethical clothing. He’s also a sustainable personal stylist and international speaker on all things sustainable fashion. Garik loves coffee, climbing, and clothes.