Socks are one of those basics we often don’t think twice about. But when curating your sustainable wardrobe, they should be near the top of your list! Not only do most of us wear socks on the daily, did you know looking after our feet is important for our overall health? Speaking of health—what about the health of the people who make our socks, or their environmental impact, or even the animals? That’s where sustainable socks come in! Read on to discover our faves that will help keep your feet comfy and healthy year-round with this selection of sustainable socks by brands that do better.
The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Socks
Conscious Step
Socks That Give Water– Ships internationally from the US
Socks with a cause. Conscious Step is an American brand that offers premium fair trade, organic, vegan socks matched to a direct charitable impact. Choose from several causes including protecting our oceans, planting trees, and providing safe drinking water so you can have perfect, low-cut warm weather socks and give back to the community. The socks come in S-M sizes.
Organic Basics
SilverTech™ Socks 2-pack – Ships internationally from Denmark
“Design everything to last”. Organic Basics believes that investing in quality fabrics and workmanship is “the only way to act”. That’s why the brand created SilverTech, a synthetic, antimicrobial thread that prevents smelly clothes, while also assisting in temperature regulation, and better blood circulation for the wearer. PETA vegan approved and ethically made, these socks are guaranteed to help you stay cooler when it’s hot and warmer when it’s chilly. The socks come in sizes 35-42 for women and 35-46 for men.
Shop Organic Basics @ Rêve en Vert.
tentree
Constellation Ankle Sock 2-Pack – Ships internationally from Canada
tentree is a Canadian sustainable lifestyle brand that plants 10 trees for every item purchased. The certified B-Corp brand has already helped to remove tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and reforested over 5,000 hectares of land (that’s equal to 12,000 football fields). But its commitment to sustainability extends way beyond trees. Using recycled, organic, and circular fabrics, tentree cuts down on huge amounts of waste and water usage with every piece. These cool constellation socks are made from recycled polyester and come in unisex sizes S/M and L/XL.
Saint Basics
Eucalyptus Socks – Ships internationally from the Netherlands
Saint Basics creates the next generation of vegan eco-basics for people inspired by change. The Dutch brand is fully OEKO-TEX certified and has adopted the GOTS Code of Conduct to protect its workers’ labour rights. Find the socks in sizes 35 to 46.
ISTO.
Cotton Socks – Ships internationally from Portugal
ISTO.’s mandate is simple: create clothes to transcend the seasons and work as staple items in your wardrobe all year round. It has one single collection and pursues quality over quantity to try and make its items permanently available. It uses organic and natural materials, and is incredibly transparent in showing you the true cost of your clothes when you go to purchase a piece for your wardrobe. The range is available in XS-XL.
Afends
Digital Love Hemp Socks – Ships internationally from Australia
Afends is a Byron Bay based fashion brand leading the way in organic hemp fashion, using renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce its climate impact. You can these adorable digital love hemp socks in one size fits most.
Dedicated
Socks Ullvik Tie Dye Blue – Ships internationally from Sweden
If you love a great graphic tee, Swedish label Dedicated has you covered. Dedicated is an ethical streetwear brand for men, women, and children. All cotton used in its pieces are 100% organic and most are Fairtrade-certified, which means that you don’t have to sacrifice your ethics to dress in style. Find the clothes in XS-XL.
The Nude Label
Ribbed Cotton Socks – Ships internationally from Spain
The Nude Label curates comfy cotton underwear for women and men that feel as good as they look. We love the ribbed cotton socks. They are so soft you’ll forget you’re wearing them. You can find these socks in sizes 36-41.
Boody
Women’s Active Sports Sock – Ships internationally from Australia
Boody is an Australian brand that creates beautifully soft, everyday essentials designed to deliver pure comfort while not sacrificing your values. Designed to make you push even harder, the brand’s Active Sports Sock takes you that step further. Boody’s unique bamboo blend is naturally comfortable and moisture-wicking, so you stay fresh while working out. As a bonus, the brand uses entirely animal-free materials in all its pieces! Find the socks in size 3-9.
Woron @ Rêve En Vert
Grey Melange Organic Cotton Socks – Ships internationally from Denmark
Woron is a vegan underwear and fashion favourites brand that only uses GOTS certified fibres. These beautiful sustainable socks come in a variety of colours and are made from a luxurious Egyptian organic cotton, developed for an exceptionally smooth and soft fit. The cotton is grown in accordance with organic agriculture methods and is free from toxic dyes and fabric treatments including formaldehyde, heavy metals, and aromatic solvents. You can find the socks in sizes 37-41.
Unrecorded
Socks Yellow – Ships internationally from the Netherlands
Unrecorded is an independent clothing brand from the Netherlands that represents a new wave of unisex brands that are rebelling against the nature of fast fashion. Unrecorded is passionate about style, and produces apparel using eco-friendly materials. Its range includes items that are all year round essentials suitable for any wardrobe, available in sizes XS-2XL.
NAADAM
Cashmere Dress Socks – Ships internationally from the US
NAADAM’s cashmere dress socks are perfect for work. Made from 100% Mongolian Cashmere, they have the softest, dreamiest feel and always stay in place. These sustainable socks are stocked in one unique size.
Underprotection
Gisele Low Stocks – Ships internationally fron Denmark
Underprotection’s Gisele Low Socks are knitted in soft bamboo fibre with beautiful sewn stones on. A simple but quite bold accessory for colder seasons! (Pssst: they’re also available in a higher version!) Find them in sizes 36-38 and 39-41.
A-dam
Dorien Socks – Ships to Europe from the Netherlands
Socks that clean oceans? Yep, that’s right. Made with 15% ECONYL® for flexibility and 84% GOTS organic cotton, these vegan-friendly socks remove harmful plastics from the ocean and are regenerated for a fresh pair of socks. Not a fan of this embroidered fish? Pick your favourite high-end embroidered character or even just stick to a solid coloured sock for everyday wear. You can find the socks in sizes 36-46.
PACT
Premium Crew Socks 3-Pack – Ships internationally from the US
PACT is a brand that is passionate about being part of a movement that’s transforming the way apparel is made. All of its clothing is sweatshop and child-labour free, ensuring that you can ‘tread lightly’ while sporting its apparel. This one size fits all sustainable sock hits mid-calf and is sewn from premium organic cotton yarn, meaning it’s suitable for vegans, too. Socks are stocked in one unique size.
Girlfriend Collective
Please Recycle Quarter Crew Sock – Ships to Australia, the US, and the UK from the US
Known for its minimal, luxury women’s activewear, Girlfriend Collective recently launched ‘Everyday GF’ —a collection of sustainable everyday staples, featured on women who champion equality, opportunity, and access for BIPOC communities, today and every day. Beautifully crafted in a range of cool colours, the quarter crew Please Recycle socks work to increase circulation and reduce swelling. The brand uses recycled polyester as well as low-impact non-toxic dyes and is fully Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, which means it’s good for your body as well as the planet. Socks are stocked in one unique size.
Shop Girlfriend Collective @ LVR Sustainable.
Shop Girlfriend Collective @ thegreenlabels.
NICO
Recycled Cotton Long Socks Mixed 3 Pack – Ships internationally from Australia
Established in 2012 by Lis Harvey, NICO celebrates minimalism and understated luxury. The brand brings high quality basics and underwear to the Australian fashion landscape featuring clean lines, luxe fabrics, and the styles and colours needed for everyday. The clever people who made these socks are working to solve the problem of textile waste in Bangladesh by creating yarns out of recycled cotton, saving water and drastically reducing CO2 emissions in comparison to conventional cotton. NICO’s factories are signatories to The Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord and are compliant with BSCI and certified with WRAP. The brand occasionally uses wool from non-mulesed sheep. Socks are stocked in one unique size.
ASKET
The Ribbed Cotton Sock 3-Pack – Ships internationally from Sweden
ASKET has been creating timeless wardrobe essentials since 2015 with revolutionary sizing and fair pricing. These vegan ribbed cotton socks provide comfort and elevation in all the right places. Crafted from long staple Egyptian cotton, they’re reinforced at the toe and the heel to make sure comfort is combined with durability. Socks can be found in sizes 39-47.
NIKIN
TreeSocks Standard Allover – Ships internationally from Germany
If you’re the kind of person who wears their morals look no further. Not only is a tree planted every time you purchase a pair of these lovelies, you also get to show your tree pride! The ultra-comfortable TreeSocks will complement your look perfectly and accompany you every step of the way, and are vegan-friendly, too! Shop NIKIN’s socks in sizes 36-46.
Harvest & Mill
Women’s Organic Cotton Socks – Ships internationally from the US
Harvest & Mill pieces are grown, milled, and sewn exclusively in the US, supporting American organic cotton farmers and local sewing communities. The brand makes socks for men and women, always ensuring they are not dyed or bleached, greatly reducing the use of water, energy, and dye materials. Even better, by cultivating different varieties of cotton, the brand is able to bolster biodiversity, which is essential for ensuring healthy ecosystems and keeping our planet resilient in the face of climate change. Neat! You can find these organic sustainable socks in sizes S-L.
Komodo
Blossom Socks – Ships internationally from the UK
UK brand Komodo puts people and the planet first with its ethically-sourced and eco-friendly range of menswear and womenswear. The label uses some eco-friendly materials including GOTS-certified cotton and hemp, and ensures that most of its suppliers pay a living wage to their workers. These cute blossom socks are available in sizes 36-41.
Pop My Way
Socks in Oatmeal – Ships internationally from the UK
Pop My Way is a GOTS certified brand that features mix and match baby essentials that are designed to "pop" onto the garment. This UK brand's modular and versatile designs take the stress out of getting your little one dressed with mix and match elements you can switch in and out for ease or occasion. Love!
Editor's note
Feature image via Conscious Step, 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 more than 3,000 brands. We may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links.
