A good pair of socks is a wardrobe essential. Whether you’re going to the gym, hiking, or making a statement with patterns and bright colors, socks are fashionable and keep your feet warm and happy.
Below we’ve featured some of the best brands making socks from organic cotton. They are great to wear, absorbent, soft, and, best of all, sustainable. You will not only be playing your part to save the environment, but you will be choosing a comfortable, breathable, and chemical-free pair of socks for your feet.
Read on to see our list of some of the best sustainable options you can shop for.
These sustainable clothing brands make their socks from organic cotton and other eco-friendly materials. They also employ sustainable methods of production and fair wages.
Related: For more info, check our articles on Organic Cotton Fabric & Sustainability & Environmental Impact of Cotton.
And once done wearing your socks, or when replacing those holey ones, we have a helpful guide to what to do with old underwear and socks full of tips on more environmentally friendly ways to deal with them than ditching them in the bin.
Quick links to our top choices for sustainable socks made with organic cotton:
For: Men, Women, and Kids
Materials: Organic cotton
Best for: Casual wear
Location: Colorado, USA (ships internationally)
Pact is a sustainable clothing brand committed to making the “Earth's favorite clothing.” With these folks, you can shop a wide range of sustainable sock options for the entire family, from knee-high to ankle, and crew socks options for men and women. You can also find breathable organic socks made from cotton for your little ones.
Pact uses only GOTS-certified organic cotton. They also employ sustainable methods during production to conserve energy and other natural resources. Pact is fair trade certified, with most of its cotton coming from factories certified by Fair Trade USA. They make a wide range of organic clothing, including sustainable socks, bedding, and underwear.
Pact is a brand committed to sustainability and giving back to society. They match their words with action through their “Give Back Wear Forward” program. Through this program, people can return used clothing, which they then donate to non-profit organizations. You can also return your shipping boxes.
Shop Pact Women's Socks or Men's
For: Women and Men
Materials: GOTS-certified organic cotton
Best for: Sports, everyday wear
Location: Denmark (ships worldwide)
Organic Basics is a clothing brand that makes a wide range of clothing, including activewear, sleepwear, and, of course, socks for both men and women. Their eco-friendly socks include ankle socks, no-show socks, crew socks, and active socks. They are durable and retain their shape after multiple wears.
Organic Basics make these socks from GOTS-certified organic cotton and other recycled materials like wool. They make each of their products using sustainable fabrics under ethical working conditions while keeping the environment in mind. Furthermore, they also offer free carbon-neutral global shipping.
Organic Basics produces its socks under fair working conditions and maintains transparency with all factories they work with. They also show their commitment to the environment by providing grants that go towards funding environmental organizations.
Shop Organic Basics Women's or Men's
For: Men and Women
Materials: Certified Organic Cotton
Best for: Casual wear
Location: United States of America (ships internationally)
Only Footprints is a local socks business with a passion for reducing its impact on the environment. Made with 100% raw organic cotton, Only Footprints simply makes organic cotton socks.
Their cotton grows in Texas, is spun in North Carolina, and is sewn right from the home of its manufacturer. They are also free of bleach, pesticides, and fertilizers. Only Footprints offer various sizes for both men and women. They also allow returns and ship their products internationally to selected countries.
Only Footprints keeps it 100% organic, right from sourcing to delivery. They ship each pair of socks using 100% recycled cardboard mailers. Their customers boast of comfy high-quality socks and quick delivery.
For: Women
Materials: GOTS-certified organic cotton, elastane (for elasticity)
Best for: Gifts, Everyday wear
Location: UK (ships internationally)
People Tree is a sustainable fashion brand that started back in 1991. They were one of the first brands to receive certification from the World Fair Trade Organization. They make a wide range of eco-friendly pairs of socks made with organic cotton. These socks are soft, breathable, and comfy. They also come in various sizes and fun prints.
People Tree also makes other clothing like dresses, t-shirts, hats, and yoga clothes.
They source natural materials and use sustainable production methods like closed-loop manufacturing and low-impact dyes to make their products. People Tree employs the skills of traditional weavers, knitters, and embroiderers, creating employment in countries like Nepal.
Apart from making sustainable organic socks, People Tree also has a foundation that helps to create a decent livelihood for poor communities. They also offer a program that allows people to return used clothing and shipping boxes for charity.
For: Men and Women
Materials: Organic certified cotton
Best for: Everyday wear
Location: USA (ships internationally to some countries)
Conscious Step is a brand committed to consciously protecting the environment, ensuring fair pay, and safe working conditions for its workers. They make a wide range of comfy socks, including ankle socks and crew socks. Conscious Step makes most of their pairs of socks with 75% organic cotton, 23% polyamide, and 2% spandex - the last for a bit of stretch.
They offer free shipping within the US for orders above $50. They also ship internationally to selected countries.
As its name suggests, this brand takes conscious steps toward supporting and donating to social and environmental causes. They are also a member of 1% for the planet.
For: Women and Men
Materials: Organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, wool, recycled polyester, elastane
Best for: Gifts and outings
Location: UK (ships internationally)
Made with certified organic cotton, polyester, and elastane, Thought has got you covered with socks styled with beautiful, fun prints and patterns. They are breathable and soft, keeping your feet and toes cozy. They also have antibacterial properties.
Thought uses plastic-free, recyclable packaging, vegan glue, and biodegradable bags reducing materials that end up in landfills. They also offer international shipping and are 100% sea freight.
Thought has an environmental and animal welfare policy that ensures that they minimize their impact on their local environment. About 95% of their collection is PETA- approved. Additionally, Thought donates its extra stock to non-profit organizations in the USA.
For: Men and Women
Materials: Certified organic cotton, low-impact dye
Best for: Casual Wear
Location: United States of America (ships internationally)
i Love Bad Organics is a sustainable brand that boasts of cozy, high-quality, sustainably made socks. Their socks are 98% made from GOTS-certified organic cotton grown by Fair Trade farmers and 2% Lycra. They also do a line of hemp socks if you fancy a variety of sustainable choices.
If you want a pair of durable socks for comfortable casual wear, then you can’t really go wrong with these socks. They are versatile, durable, and can retain their shape even after multiple wears. Their socks come in shoe sizes for both men and women. They also accept returns and ship worldwide.
This brand demonstrates its passion for society through donations to different charities. They donate 10% of their profits to orphanages, special needs organizations, and animal welfare organizations.
For: Men and Women
Materials: USA-grown organic cotton, undyed or naturally dyed
Best for: Individuals with sensitive skin
Location: USA (ships internationally)
Harvest and Mill is a US brand specializing in making sustainable clothing like socks, shirts, etc., from 100% organic cotton grown in the US. This cotton is independently spun in Oakland, San Francisco, and Berkeley. Most of their garments, including their socks, are undyed and unbleached. Others are dyed using natural dyes.
With this brand, you can be sure you are buying a cozy, non-toxic pair of socks that are kind to your feet and toes. Their products come packaged using compostable packaging.
Their manufacturing process ensures they reduce their impact on the environment. They claim to use 53% less energy and 50% less water than other sustainable fashion brands, all of which contribute to protecting nature’s natural beauty.
Shop on Harvest and Mill for Women & Men
For: Men, Women, Kids, and Babies
Materials: Certified organic cotton, wool
Best for: Casual wear
Location: United States of America (ships internationally)
Maggie’s Organics makes sustainable pairs of socks that come in various styles, colors, and thicknesses. Founded in 1992, Maggie’s Organics knits and dyes its socks using organic cotton and wool in the United States. They offer a versatile range of socks, from knee-high, athletics, crew socks, no-show socks, and so much more, for men and women.
They also offer soft and durable socks made of organic cotton for your kids and little ones. With Maggie’s Organics, you can get sustainable socks for the entire family.
Maggie’s Organics maintains transparency with its supply chain and goes as far as publishing its organic certificates for each product. They also organize and fund charity programs to support local communities.
For: Men and Women
Materials: Organic cotton, spandex
Best for: Casual wear
Location: Canada (ships internationally)
Rawganique is a small-scale fashion company that makes its clothes and products using natural materials, including cotton, hemp, and linen, grown in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Their pairs of socks come in a range of styles and sizes that are durable and cozy. Rawganique also offers a wide range of other products, including underwear, shoes, and accessories. They spin, knit, and weave each product free of chemicals. They retain a small company ethos and maintain sustainable practices that protect the environment.
Rawganique manufactures products that are non-GMO, BPA-free, PVC-free, cruelty-free, and free of chemicals. They use strictly organic materials and practice homestead farming on Denman Island with the utmost respect for the land. They also ensure their team of artisans is well paid.
Shop on Rawganique for Men & Women
For: Men, Women, and Kids
Materials: Organic cotton, polyamide, elastane
Best for: Casual wear
Location: Spain (ships internationally)
Besocks makes a range of beautifully designed sustainable socks using GOTS-certified organic cotton and sustainable production methods. This cozy pair of socks from Besocks is chemical-free and cruelty-free. They are soft, breathable, and suitable for even the most sensitive skin. They come in recycled or FSC packaging and can be shipped internationally.
Besocks comes with certifications like GOTS, and OEKO TEX STANDARD 100 that guarantee sustainable production. They ensure safe working conditions and make sure the right of their workers are protected.
Shop on Besocks
With sustainable organic socks, you can keep your feet warm and cozy while protecting the environment. And what’s not to absolutely love about that? Our list of best sustainable socks highlights information that will help you pick the perfect socks just for you.
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
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