Imagine walking barefoot on soft grass on a summer day. Now capture that feeling, and you have the experience of walking in a pair of the best bamboo socks (and yes, bamboo is technically a grass).
In the natural world, bamboo is known for its incredible ability to go from seed to shoot to towering stalk in record time. In the fashion world, its popularity is growing just as quickly, which is good and bad since the sustainability of bamboo fabric largely depends on how it’s processed.
So where can you buy bamboo socks that are also sustainable socks?
We considered materials, manufacturing, packaging, and more to find those brands stepping up to sustainability. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be updating all of our articles using our new Brand Rating System which covers 22 different criteria. To find out more, have a read of our explainer here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Some Feet-Favorite Socks Made From Bamboo
It’s hard to talk about bamboo without talking about Boody. Their organic bamboo and ethical closed-loop processing keep the planet and our feet comfortable.
Cariloha wants to keep your feet in utmost comfort with a bamboo-tiful selection of printed bamboo fiber socks that are breathable and keep feet cool.
Index: The Best Bamboo Socks
- Boody Jump to brand
- Cariloha Jump to brand
- Cozy Earth Jump to brand
- Doris & Dude Jump to brand
- Seasalt Jump to brand
Boody
About Boody
Price Range: $10—$16
Boody and bamboo go together like feet and super soft socks.
That’s why you’ll find it in everything this Aussie-American brand makes, from underwear and bras to loungewear and PJs.
They offer every imaginable style of organic bamboo socks for women and men, from Chunky Bed Socks to crew socks ro invisible ones.
Boody’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Boody’s bamboo and organic cotton socks blend mostly bamboo viscose with organic cotton, nylon, and Lycra.
They use a closed-loop process that reuses solvents and water to turn their organic, FSC-certified bamboo fiber into fabric.
Like all Boody-wear, the moisture-wicking socks are backed with Ecocert and OEKO-TEX certifications.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Wiggle those toes in a worry-free way knowing that Boody is also WRAP-certified and adheres to manufacturing standards put forth by ISO-9001 (read: no child or forced labor or harassment).
Carbon commitments & green practices:
In addition to using better bamboo manufacturing practices and ISO-14001 environmental compliance, Boody uses recycled or compostable packaging and plant-based ink.
Each product description details the environmental impact, allowing greater transparency.
Community & charitable giving:
For this brand, there are no ifs, ands, or Boody-butts when it comes to protecting our planet which is why they support various eco-organizations through 1% for the Planet.
Cariloha
About Cariloha
Price Range: $10—$45
Cariloha was looking for A Comfy Way To Save The World™, and they chose bamboo to make it happen across their luxuriously comfortable selection of apparel, bed, and bath goods.
For female footwear, you’ll find a range of low cut socks, athletic socks, trouser socks, crew socks, knee-high socks, and no-show bamboo socks.
Why choose boring, regular socks when you can keep your feet dry AND daring with fun prints like Geo Floral Coral?
Their men’s bamboo socks and sets include only ankle-high athletic varieties with heel tabs to help them stay put.
Cariloha’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Cariloha socks are made with a blend of bamboo viscose (processed with a GOTS-certified solution in a closed-loop process), organic cotton, nylon, and spandex.
Their “softy socks”, however, are mostly virgin polyester with only some bamboo fiber, so we might avoid these.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Cariloha partners with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., China, and Turkey to produce their ethical men’s underwear, socks, and more.
Some are Fair Trade factories and they plan to increase the number in the future.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Cariloha grows its own bamboo on a brand-owned farm in China that doesn’t utilize fertilizers, pesticides, or any chemicals. It’s just ten square miles but produces 14,000 tons of bamboo every year.
In 2020, this carbon-neutral business received the Utah BusinessGreen Business Award for Innovation.
Community & charitable giving:
Over the years, Cariloha has supported organizations like the Mauli Ola Foundation, LDS Philanthropies, American Indian Services, and more.
They also have a paid business internship program for university students.
To support those who support the world’s communities, military, veterans, first responders, students, teachers, hospital employees, and government employees get 15% off.
Cozy Earth
About Cozy Earth
Price Range: $42—$48
Why just have a cozy home when you could have a Cozy Earth?
Their homewares and eco-friendly clothing selection capture their values: minimalism with purpose and quality.
For feet, this brand offers two styles of cozy socks for both men and women: Plush Lounge Socks and Modern Crew Socks, each only available in sets of three.
And if you’re wondering, “Do bamboo socks wear out quickly?”, these won’t, thanks to their extra thick knit fabric.
Cozy Earth’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Unlike their 100% bamboo pajamas, these bamboo socks aren’t toe-tally made of bamboo fiber. They’re actually mostly (73%) virgin polyester, unfortunately.
Minimal though it may be for this product, Cozy Earth is an industry leader in bamboo viscose, with OEKO-TEX and Ecocert certification, meaning they’re non-toxic and safe for sensitive skin especially.
The special no-pill weave ensures a longer-lasting sock.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The founder of this company speaks fluent Mandarin which allows for strong relationships with their Chinese suppliers (FSC and USDA-certified organic farms).
By hand-picking and personally engaging with the top manufacturers, they are confident enough in the quality of their eco-friendly products to offer 100-day exchange and 10-year defect warranties on their products.
They also personally oversee fair labor and wage practices for their workers.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The water from processing the bamboo fabric is recycled and kept from entering the environment.
They also typically stay away from using dyes, but if they need to, they ensure all sustainable dyes are free from harmful chemicals.
Products come shipped in eco-friendly packaging.
Doris & Dude
About Doris & Dude
Price Range: £6—£7
Put a (sustainable) spring in your step with Doris & Dude.
Socks are their foot forte—in fact, they’re the only thing they sell.
It all started when Doris gave Dude (a lover of eco-friendly flip flops and a rare wearer of socks) a pair of socks. Wishing they were more fun, the couple had an idea to create socks people would actually enjoy wearing.
They came up with adorable designs—Raining Cats and Dogs, anyone?—for organic cotton bamboo socks for men, women, and children.
Doris & Dude’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
When you put your best foot forward, you’ll be getting a blend of 40% bamboo, 40% GOTS-certified organic cotton, 17% recycled polyester, and a bit of elastane.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Everything is dyed in and manufactured in Portugal, meeting all EU labor laws and fair pay standards.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
All D&D (no, not that kind) socks are mailed using recyclable packaging.
Seasalt
About Seasalt
Price Range: $7—$61
Coming from the salty seas of Cornwall, Seasalt shares a stunning selection of clothing and accessories, inspired by the natural beauty and cultural magic that surrounds them.
The 40-year-old company collaborates with a brilliant mix of artists, illustrators, textile, and fashion designers to bring their ideas to life.
The men’s and women’s bamboo socks come in a range of colors and styles, from crew socks for everyday wear to socks for your whole bottom half (AKA Artistry bamboo tights).
Seasalt’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
When you throw on a pair of Seasalt bamboo dress socks to pair with your dress shoes and sustainable work clothing, you’ll be cushioning your toes in a blend of bamboo viscose, nylon or polyamide, and elastane.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Their manufacturing partners are located in India, China, Pakistan, Vietnam, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, and the US. All comply with their ethical standards commitment statement, which is based on the Ethical Trading Initiative code.
They conduct regular audits and surprise visits to monitor compliance.
They also have a slavery and human trafficking statement, purchasing policy, and gender pay gap report.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Seasalt implements sustainability policies and practices to reduce its carbon footprint, like recyclable packaging and a ReLoved program that sells gently used Seasalt clothes.
Inclusivity:
Seasalt is made up of 82% women.
Community & charitable giving:
For every pair of socks sold, 20p (around $0.33) is donated to charity.
They have also teamed up with Mind by pledging to fundraise over £300,000 to support mental health services.
