The late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld was notorious for saying “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.”. He might be a bit bumped to know that his own namesake label is in fact, now selling sweatpants. But who would blame someone for having a sweatpants day (or 15) during these times? No, not even Karl.
If we are in sweatpants so often, might as well look for sustainable and ethical options. Here, I have scoured the internet and found some well-designed, sustainable sweats options that would make sure you are fashionable AND comfortable. Not a multiple choice!
1. Pangaia
It amazes me to watch Pangaia develop a close to cult following for its sweatpants. It’s just sweatpants! Not a new tech gadget. But then looking at their styles and production methods, it doesn’t really surprise me.
A self-described “material science company on a mission to save our planet”, Pangaia creates their sustainable sweatpants from organic or recycled cotton, dyed with environmentally friendly dyes. Their designs are minimal, the colours are well-picked, and the styles have a certain “street” quality to them, which makes them popular with trend-setting celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Justin Bieber, Pharrell Williams and Jaden Smith.
For my full review, check the video below or read my review.
2. MATE
MATE is a Clean Essentials brand made sustainably in Los Angeles with non-toxic, natural and Organic materials. I would describe MATE’s aesthetic closest to “September Saturday afternoon in Malibu”
Founder Kayti O’Connell Carr says “Our goal is to offer Women everywhere a clean product that is just as beautiful as it is sustainable. We are proud to be a female founded company that is predominately operated by Women.”
Getting to the product – the brand uses organic cotton to make all its sweats. To explain their material choice, the brand brings up the fact on how the use of chemicals in conventional cotton farming has led to the hospitalization of up to 1 million farmworkers every year. That’s 1 million too many! By using organic cotton, MATE keeps the people they work with and the products they sell safe.
Check out these sustainable sweatpants from MATE!
3. Misha Nonoo
Misha Nonoo is definitely not a brand usually known for their loungewear. In fact they are known for an entirely “opposite” category – work-wear. Their bestseller is a shirt called the “husband shirt”.
I have always been a fan of their attention to design details and their made-to-order manufacturing method (each garment is cut and sewn when you place your order to avoid leftover inventory). So it is no surprise that when they launched their version of sweatpants – my “I. LOVE. IT.” button lit up in my head.
The Marais Pant is somewhat like your traditional sweatpant – but make it designer. It is wide-legged, with a black contrast waistband and seam detail down the front and back of each leg. My favourite in fact, is the version in linen. Not only do the pants look incredibly classy, linen is also one of the best materials for comfort because of its breathability and strength. Don’t you love them already?
Misha also has a cozier sweats option in the form of the Soho sweatpant.
4. Ninety Percent
To say Ninety Percent is revolutionary as a business model is an understatement. It is a London-based sustainable womenswear label that shares 90% of our profits between charitable causes and those who make their collection happen. This is their way to try approach the fashion industry differently.
The designs of their products are on par with their mission – for it is part of their goal to design products that would be lived in for a long, long time. So let’s talk sweatpants. At Ninety Percent, sweatpants are available in the “boy-fit” or “wide-legged” cut. For a more timeless shade – choose your sweatpants in classic black, white or camel. For something a little more trendy, go for the Amethyst tie-dye pants!
The brand’s creative director Creative Director says of their ethos: “Putting sustainability first, our woman gives a damn about the impact her clothes have on the planet. Not to mention she also expects well-considered designs that are built to last.”
Are you her? If so, go check out more of Ninety Percent’s timeless pieces!
5. Kotn
If the word “traceability” in the dictionary could link to a website, it would be Kotn’s webpage on how their clothes are made. It is incredibly heartwarming to see a brand that puts so much effort into building their supply chain from the ground up to make sure it is ethical and just.
Kotn’s materials puts a lot of emphasis on one material – Egyptian cotton. Grown in only one place in the world — the Nile Delta — Egypt’s “white gold” is finer, softer, and more breathable than any other cotton. Unfortunately, since 2001, there has been a 95% decline in demand from big corporations that opted to go with cheaper options. As a result, millions of farmers, weavers, and craftspeople are struggling to make ends meet.
By working directly with cotton farming families in Egypt, the brand want to rebuild the industry from the inside. They make their own fabrics from raw cotton bought direct from farmers at guaranteed prices. Like farm-to-table, but for your clothes. I highly recommend reading more about their practices on their about page!
Kotn offers a lot of high quality basics in their hero material, and their sweatpants are no different. Their sweatpants have a slightly flared, culotte-inspired cut. My favorite from their selection is the one in plaster pink. Isn’t it delightful!
6. Entireworld
I came across Entireworld in this New York Times article about how sweatpants might become the only fashion item that people will ever care about… Just kidding. But close enough, it’s about the “collapse” of the fashion industry under the current pandemic, and how brands selling sweatpants like Entireworld have risen meanwhile.
Entireworld is founded by Band of Outsiders designer Scott Sternberg. For context, Band of Ousiders was the darling of the fashion world at one point, with designs favoured by major publications and the fashion set. But having ran into bad financial partnerships and ousted from the company he founded, Scott found himself reimagining how he creates and produces fashion. With Entireworld, he seeks to produce pieces that encourage a slower way of living, for people and the planet.
What I was most captivated by when I landed on Entireworld’s webpage was its background music. Never have I ever not mute a site’s music if they played one, let alone stay on the site because of it. The online experience on the brand’s store was truly an experience on its own.
But let’s talk about the clothes. Entireworld’s sustainable sweatpants are simple, slouchy, basic. Made from organic cotton and recycled polyester and produced in ethical factories, you can rest assured that your comfy-wear are produced with the planet and people producing them in mind.
7. Bassike
Bassike has grown to become one of Australia’s leading fashion brands putting sustainable manufacturing at the forefront of its minimalistic, easy-going, and well-designed clothes.
Bassike’s approach to sustainability comes in a few ways. This includes manufacturing 90% of total Bassike products, and 100% of their jersey garments in Australia, greatly reducing their carbon footprint had garments need to travel back and forth from factories overseas.
Their jersey range (light-weight knit – including the sweatpants below) is also zero-waste! Much of fashion industry’s waste comes from leftover fabrics from clothing production. In 2018, 97% of the jersey fabric Bassike purchased was used to make their garments. Of the small remainder, 2% was cut into rags and donated to local mechanics, while 1% was held in stock for future garment production.
For sweatpants, Bassike has a wide offering. My fav include these organic cotton sweatpants, and also a more lux pair in cashmere!
8. Vege Threads
Another Australian company! Vege Threads prides itself in working with local knitting mills and dye houses in Australia. 100% of their clothes are made in their home country using organic and eco-friendly materials and dyes in limited numbers.
Made of 100% organic cotton fleece, their sustainable sweatpants look really comfortable. A close cousin, their lounge pants in an organic rib knit fabric looks fabulous too!
So that’s it for my sustainable sweatpants roundup! Get ready to get comfy already!!
If you like my above list, check out my roundup of 11 sustainable womenswear to be aware of in 2020.