For consumers For business
A white and yellow striped bucket hat with a chin strap made by Armedangels.
24 Jul
A white and yellow striped bucket hat with a chin strap made by Armedangels.

Our 7 Favourite Responsibly-Made Bucket Hats

Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more.

 

Bucket hats have made a steady comeback in recent years, from practical green for sun protection and camouflage, to sombre black for streetwear, to floral for a bad hair day. Here are our favourite responsibly-made bucket hats from better brands.

Set and forget

In the resurgence of ‘90s fashion in recent years, one strong contender for top spot is the humble bucket hat. Said to be the perfect mix of practical and fashionable, bucket hats are a great go-to for sun protection, accessorising, and hiding bed hair.

Whether the style suits your tastes or not, there’s no denying it is everywhere. And, as with most trends, ultra fast fashion giants like the notorious SHEIN have scooped it up and pumped it out in everything from furry to cat-eared to chequered. But with price tags like £3.50 and material descriptions like “100% polyester” over and over again, it’s clear the conscious consumer can do better.

That’s where these “Good” and “Great” brands creating cool and lower-impact bucket hats come in (when your local second hand shop doesn’t quite deliver). With everything from crocheted to waxed cotton hats and a variety of fun prints, you’re bound to find the best bucket hat for your head.

7 more sustainable bucket hats you’ll love

Underprotection

Rated: Good
woman wearing floral bucket hat by Underprotection

Bianca Bucket Hat – Ships internationally from Denmark

The recycled PET plastic Bianca bucket hat is bright and colourful in a floral print, and features a generous rim for that crucial sun protection in the midday heat.

Underprotection is a Danish brand combining ethics and aesthetics, creating underwear, loungewear, and swimwear from lower-impact materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton. All of its packaging, paper, and polybags are either recycled or biodegradable, and it only works with certified factories as it believes “fair working conditions and fair wages are human rights”. Underprotection exists to celebrate women of all kinds, and its goal is to make them feel as beautiful and comfortable as possible.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Underprotection.

Shop Underprotection @ Curate.

Lucy & Yak

Rated: Good
Leopard reversible bucket hat by Lucy and Yak.

Reversible Corduroy Hat – Ships internationally from the UK

To get your leopard bucket hat fix without the harmful production practices, opt for this unique bucket hat handmade from deadstock fabric.

Independent, handmade, and responsible, we love Lucy & Yak’s playful take on classic garments. With unisex designs for everyone, this UK brand will brighten up your day.

Find pieces inclusively sized in UK 4-32.

See the rating.

Shop Lucy & Yak.

Afends

Rated: Good
Checkered hemp bucket hat by Afends.

VOID Hemp Check Bucket Hat – Ships internationally from Australia

A trend within a trend, Afends tackles the black and white check bucket hat responsibly, making it from hardy hemp.

Born in Byron Bay, Afends is a responsible brand leading the way in hemp fashion. Drawing inspiration from the environment, streetwear, and surf culture, Afends’ mission is to create more sustainable clothing through innovation, action, and positive change. As true hemp advocates, they purchased 100 acres of farmland called Sleepy Hollow to grow their own hemp crops and ignite the hemp revolution. Explore their range made from 100% lower-impact threads.

Find most of the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Afends.

tentree

Rated: Good
An organic cotton beige bucket hat by tentree.

Bucket Hat – Ships internationally from Canada

tentree brings us a basic organic cotton bucket hat in neutral shades to match any outfit.

Canadian brand tentree believes big change starts small. Small as in bringing your reusable bag to the grocery store, making fewer, more thoughtful purchases, and choosing to purchase sustainably when you do. The brand plants ten trees for every item purchased to help regenerate ecosystems and provide planting jobs in communities around the world, and has already planted over 65 million trees.

All tentree’s products are created with an Earth-First approach, meaning they’re made in fair, safe working conditions, and constructed using more responsibly-sourced and recycled materials.

tentree’s super comfy fabrics and easy wardrobe staples are typically available from XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop tentree.

Elk

Rated: Good
A colourful printed bucket hat responsibly-made by Elk.

Emra Silverscreen Bucket Hat – Ships internationally from Australia

The Emra Bucket Hat is a playful and practical addition to your wardrobe. It features the popular Jesna print on a durable recycled polyester canvas fabric.

A pioneer of independent Australian design, Elk was founded in Melbourne in 2004. Elk creates bi-annual collections that are informed by a design ethos where simplicity and sustainability meet innovation.

Find most items in AU sizes 6-18.

See the rating.

Shop Elk.

Outerknown

Rated: Good
A reversible denim and upcycled shirt bucket hat made by Outerknown.

Project Vermont Beach and Beyond Bucket Hat – Ships internationally from the US

Handcrafted from a fusion of upcycled denim and the brand’s best-selling Blanket Shirt fabric, this reversible bucket hat offers both a classic denim-dyed look or a timeless Blanket Shirt pop.

Founded by surf champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a responsible brand that aims to blend style and function with the protection of natural resources. The brand is Bluesign certified and has partnered with the Fair Labour Association.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Outerknown.

Shop Outerknown @ Wearwell.

Shop Outerknown @ Good.

Plant Faced Clothing

Rated: Good
A black recycled polyester drawstring bucket hat by Plant Faced.

Recycled Bucket Hat – Ships internationally from the UK

Step up your headwear game with the return of the bucket hat. This more sustainable stunner is made from 100% GRS certified recycled polyester, making it both stylish and lower-impact.

Streetwear without the sweatshops, that’s the motto of this British 100% vegan and cruelty-free streetwear apparel brand that is all about promoting a new wave of consciousness that supports the non-harming or exploitation of any beings in fashion production.

Buy Plant Faced Clothing in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Plant Faced Clothing.

Editor's note

Feature image via Armedangels, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

Ethical brand ratings. There’s an app for that.

Wear the change you want to see. Download our app to discover ethical brands and see how your favourites measure up.