9 Sustainable Gloves & Mittens For Defrosting Your Fingers (Not Icebergs)
When cold weather strikes, a pair of sustainable gloves is about as essential as underwear.
But to keep warm without warming up our planet, it’s best to keep our winter wear—from sustainable beanies to sustainable coats—free of synthetic fabrics.
Not only are these chemically intensive and petroleum-based, but every post-snowball fight wash contributes to microplastic pollution.
We’ve gotta hand it to all these sustainable glove brands who actually have us hoping for snow.
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Our Favorite Fair Trade & Sustainable Winter Gloves For Finger-Warming Fun
For gloves that will leave your hands in luxury, Naadam’s sustainable cashmere gloves get a big thumbs-up from us.
Aura Que’s fair trade wool gloves will warm your hands and the hearts of the Nepalese communities each purchase supports.
Arms of Andes keeps your fingers from feeling frosty with fair trade alpaca gloves that support traditional farmers in Peru.
The handy sustainable fashion criteria at the end of the article helped with this finger-warming selection.
The Full List Of Sustainable Men’s & Women’s Gloves
- Aura Que | Visit Store
- Arms of Andes | Visit Store
- Patagonia | Visit Store
- The Queens at 46 | Visit Store
- Eileen Fisher | Visit Store
- Seasalt Cornwall | Visit Store
- The Artful Mittens | Visit Store
- Fortlandic | Visit Store
- Naadam | Visit Store
1. Aura Que
About Aura Que
Aura Que exists to keep two essential body parts warm: hands and feet.
Their range of slippers, hats, and ethical winter gloves feature adorable chunky knit patterns that will add some flare to your winter minimalist wardrobe.
Their sustainable wool gloves are available in several unisex styles, including wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, and convertible gloves.
Aura Que’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Aura Que offers non-mulesed, fair trade merino mittens colored with azo-free dyes, which only the best sustainable slipper brands prioritize.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The wool is sourced in Nepal before it’s transformed into the fair trade wool gloves by Nepalese artisans within a WFTO collective.
The women who knit the gloves do so from home and are provided with training opportunities, flexible working hours, and an income that allows them to support their families.
Green business practices:
The wool is also minimally processed, hand-felted, and dried in the sun.
Water used during production is recycled and any excess fabric is used in new products.
2. Arms of Andes
About Arms of Andes
Do you know what it looks like to run on alpaca power?
Arms of Andes does.
The brand is run by Peruvian-American brother and sister duo Meli and Rensso who keep production of their winter accessories and outerwear entirely in Peru.
Their fair trade alpaca wool gloves are available in a variety of weights, providing moisture-wicking warmth for any level of cold.
Arms of Andes’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials
Arms of Andes’ gloves are made from cruelty-free alpaca wool.
Once sheared, the wool is dyed with low-impact synthetic (or sometimes natural) dyes.
Supply chain and labor practices
Part of Arms of Andes’ mission is to “preserve the traditions of Peruvian Alpaca Wool production,” and they source wool directly from Peruvian farmers in the Andes—meaning fair prices without middleman cuts.
These farmers use free-roaming and gentle, hand-shearing practices and Arms of Andes support them with funds for regular veterinary care.
All parts of production take place in Peru, which allows for a lower carbon footprint, but we’re not sure about the ethical conditions of the factories. We’ll reach out to confirm.
Green business practices
Alpaca wool is durable when taken care of properly, so its garments will be with you for a long time before needing to be replaced.
But if you’re wondering what to do with old clothes, including your alpaca gloves, wool is biodegradable, so once your gloves reach their final leg (or should we say finger) you can throw them in the compost pile.
This is part of Arms of Andes’ “Leave No Trace” clothing philosophy.
All products are shipped in 100% compostable mailers.
3. Patagonia
About Patagonia
Patagonia has become a go-to brand for every type of eco-conscious adventurer, especially if Type II fun in frigid environments is your thing.
From waterproof ski jackets to fair trade hats, they have an impressive outdoor clothing selection for the whole family, for hitting the early morning pow-pow or après-ski cocoa.
Their sustainable winter gloves are ready for the harshest outdoor elements—combined with modern amenities like touchscreen-friendly fingertips.
Whether you’re prepping for a stroll, snowball fight, or strenuous adventure, Patagonia has a pair of heavily insulated technical gloves that offers everything you need to enjoy the great outdoors, from heavy-duty sustainable men’s winter gloves to the casual Better Sweater™ convertible mittens.
Patagonia’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their vegan glove range incorporates mostly 100% recycled polyester Synchilla® or Better Sweater fleece, paired with 100% recycled nylon or synthetic suede palm reinforcements.
Their warm sustainable gloves utilize 100% recycled PrimaLoft® Gold Eco insulation made using emission-reducing P.U.R.E.™ technology.
87% of their product line uses recycled materials but you will find some virgin spandex in the gloves.
Most fabrics are bluesign®-approved as free of toxic chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Some are officially fair trade-certified gloves (along with 87% of their line).
You can see exactly which, as well as what country and factory every product is made via the Footprint Chronicles on each product page.
Thanks to these efforts, Patagonia consistently ranks high on Fashion Revolution’s Fashion Transparency Index.
They also have several programs in place to ensure their factory, farm, and mill workers are supported.
Green business practices:
Patagonia plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2025 but already uses 100% renewable energy in the US and 76% across its global network.
Right now, their recycled content poly bags are only recyclable in Patagonia’s limited store locations, but they’re working on compostable packaging solutions and already use plastic-free product tagging.
They’re also piloting a regenerative agriculture certification program, will repair any Patagonia garment FOR LIFE, and resell unwanted Patagonia duds for eco-cheap on their Worn Wear platform.
Community & charitable giving:
You’ve heard of 1% for the Planet, but did you know Patagonia founded it?
Between political activism, hosting environment-beneficial events, educating other brands on corporate responsibility, and connecting organizations and individuals together through the Patagonia Action Works program, Patagonia is committed to a better future.
The company now belongs to two climate-oriented nonprofits, meaning “Earth is now [its] only shareholder”.
4. The Queens at 46
About The Queens at 46
For sustainable gloves from the UK, The Queens at 46 is where “the Re-Loved [becomes] the Be-Loved”.
And there’s a lot to love about their upcycled sustainable fingerless gloves and wrist warmers.
The Queens team makes a variety of cozy accessories, all of which are made to order and can thus be custom created by communicating with the shop.
The Queens at 46’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices:
Materials:
The Queens’ sources upcycled fabrics and recycled materials for their soft sustainable mittens, primarily from wool and cotton.
Different swatches of fabrics are sewn together to make funky and stylish hand accessories.
Supply chain and labor practices:
All Queens’ products are made in-house in the brand’s Cornish shop by “the Queens” themselves, AKA two women and best friends.
We’re not sure where they source their recycled materials but will reach out to inquire.
Green business practices:
The premise of TheQueensat46 is to repurpose textiles that would otherwise go to the landfill into beautiful and useful products. The shop recently surpassed 9,500 products sold, so that’s a lot of upcycling.
5. Eileen Fisher
About Eileen Fisher
When it comes to sustainable women’s fashion, Eileen Fisher does it all, from rain jackets for dreary days to plus-size linen clothing for sunny ones.
The Certified B Corp’s commitment to ethics, inclusivity, and sustainability is found in their entire range, including sustainable women’s gloves (or rather fingerless glovelettes).
For those made of 100% sustainable materials, dig your digits into the Cotton and Recycled Cashmere Glovelettes.
Eileen Fisher’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
EF’s super soft sustainable fingerless mittens are made of either organic cotton and GRS-certified recycled cashmere or recycled cashmere, wool, and a touch of polyamide.
They also have a luxury pair of non-recycled cashmere and silk gloves but we always recommend opting for cruelty-free and recycled materials when possible.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Based on material, the gloves are manufactured in either Vietnam or Romania.
Their mapped supply chain makes it easy to see where EF suppliers are located, as well as what ethical and environmental standards each partner adheres to.
Not only do they prohibit forced and child labor, but they’re also working with others in the industry to get rid of human trafficking and slavery from fashion once and for all.
Green business practices:
Through their Renew program, you can send back old EF wares to be re-sold or recycled, preventing textile waste.
Beyond-repair garments are turned into artwork, pillows, and wall hangings through Waste No More.
Community & charitable giving:
Every year, more than $200,000 is provided in grants to women working for climate-positive change.
Additionally, this brand gives back to a long list of non-profit partners, including Savory Institute, Organic Farming Research Foundation, 350.org, the EWG, and more.
6. Seasalt Cornwall
About Seasalt Cornwall
We first fell for Cornwall-based Seasalt Cornwall over their cozy and conscious bamboo socks.
They’ve done it again with men’s and women’s sustainable stylish gloves—which are pretty much socks for the hand anyway.
Choose from gloves, fingerless, or mittens—in adorable fun patterns, to boot…er, glove.
Seasalt’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their best sustainable mittens are the Seedlings, made with RWS-certified lambswool and recycled nylon.
Next are those made from 80% non-mulesed merino wool and 20% nylon—which include the Valley Wood and Roost Snood models.
Others feature a blend of traditional nylon, cotton, and merino wool, which we would avoid in favor of their more eco-friendly gloves.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The gloves are manufactured in China, by factories that adhere to the brand’s Ethical Trading Policy as per their Ethical Trading Initiative membership. This prohibits child and forced labor and promises a living wage.
Green business practices:
Their ReLoved program sells gently-used Seasalt garments and they use recyclable packaging, in addition to other practices to reduce their carbon footprint and reach carbon neutrality by 2040.
More can be found in their Sustainability Report.
Community & charitable giving:
By 2025, Seasalt will have donated £1 million to mental health, disability-focused, and local community initiatives and have logged 20,000 employee volunteer hours.
7. The Artful Mitten
About The Artful Mitten
The Artful Mitten has a range of unique, colorful, sustainable mittens.
They’re made from recycled and upcycled sweaters—lambswool, shetland, cashmere, and merino—and equipped with a cozy fleece lining.
Each piece is unique and handmade, and the shop owner, Carrie, is happy to work with you on a custom order if you have a specific idea in mind.
The Artful Mitten’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All of The Artful Mitten’s sustainable wool gloves are made from recycled wool and cashmere sweaters.
Supply chain and labor practices:
The Artful Mitten is a one-woman operation, with all eco-friendly winter being sewn and crafted by the shop owner, Carrie.
Green business practices
Like all Etsy orders, The Artful Mitten’s are shipped 100% carbon neutral.
8. Fortlandic
About Fortlandic:
Handknit “with love and gratitude,” Fortlandic fair trade fingerless gloves are fleece lined and cozy.
Check out their convertible glove/mitten hybrids for two hand accessories for the price of one—as well as matching socks, beanies, headbands, or leg warmers.
Fortlandic’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices:
Materials:
Fortlandic’s stylish sustainable mittens are made with 100% New Zealand sheep wool where legislation promotes animal welfare and bans the use of practices like mulesing.
Unfortunately, the synthetic fleece lining doesn’t appear to be recycled, so we urge you to make these mittens last—and remove the lining before composting the wool if they wear out.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Fortlandic’s gloves and other products are hand-knit in Nepal by stay-at-home moms to earn a supplemental income.
This Empowering Women Entrepreneur Workshop (EW)² system also provides training if needed giving these women more future job prospects.
Community & charitable giving
Fortlandic is associated with the Khumbu Foundation, a non-profit based in Colorado that supports charitable work in Nepal, like a school for children with disabilities.
It is also through this foundation that they are able to provide training and employment to low-income Nepalese women.
9. Naadam
About Naadam
Cashmere is one fabric that’s synonymously associated with “cozy”, and this brand does this oft ethically-dubious fabric better.
Beyond sustainable sweaters and sustainable sweatpants made of conventional cashmere, Naadam’s cashmere is keeping both wearers and the goats from which it’s sourced comfortable and cozy.
Their luxuriously soft fair trade gloves for men and women include conventional finger gloves and convertible “pop top” mitts.
Naadam’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The sustainable cashmere gloves and hats are made with just that: 100% Mongolian ethical cashmere.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Naadam’s cashmere goats are ethically herded, provided with veterinary care, and shorn via a traditional hand combing method that doesn’t cut or scare the goats.
By purchasing directly from goat farmers rather than middlemen, the farmers earn significantly more than average and have access to retirement, insurance, and healthcare benefits.
BSCI-certified and Code of Conduct-adhering factories in China produce the garments.
Green business practices:
The goats are free to roam in a part of the Gobi desert that isn’t experiencing desertification like other regions. To keep it that way, they’ve secured an area the size of Manhattan for goat grazing to minimize damage elsewhere.
Carbon-neutral shipping, closed-loop dyeing, recycled mailers, and renewable energy-powered production facilities are some of the other efforts that give Naadam a green name.
Community & charitable giving:
The brand’s support for the Gobi Revival Fund supports rural herding communities with financial support and resilience-building skills for tough times.
Damaged goods and returns are donated to Green Tree Textiles.
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How We Found the Best Sustainable Mittens
Looking for sustainable and ethical work gloves but don’t want to put in the actual work?
That’s why we’re here. We shoveled through ALL THE SNOW using our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria to find these eco-friendly mitten brands.
To save you the trouble, let’s plow through a summary of what we look for.
Materials:
Gloves and mittens are unfortunately easy to lose, which makes it even more important to choose ones made from eco-friendly materials.
But what are sustainable gloves made of? The same stuff that our favorite sustainable activewear is made of.
Which includes organic cotton, hemp fabric, and recycled or ethical wool or cashmere.
A big gloved thumbs up to brands who only use natural fibers, meaning the gloves would be zero-waste and compostable.
When those aren’t available, we look for recycled synthetics, like recycled polyester and nylon.
While we didn’t include any leather options on this list, if sustainable leather gloves are your winter want, be sure to look for A) upcycled or deadstock leather, or B) vegetable-tanned byproduct leather.
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Global Recycle Standard (GRS), bluesign®, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Recycled Content Standard (RSC)
Supply chain & labor practices:
The fashion industry is fraught with serious supply chain human rights violations. We’re all about avoiding frostbite, but not when it comes with trade-offs like child labor or unfair pay.
These brands either have small supply chains (hello, most Etsy shops) or are committed to transparency and fair wages. We feel warmer already when we’re able to see specific factory details or take a peep at their code of conduct.
Even better if the brand has third-party certifications, reassuring us we’re not going to get a big dumping of greenwashing—though certifications shouldn’t replace transparency about labor practices.
- Certifications: B Corporation, Business for Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), Fair Trade, SA8000, Fair Wear Foundation, World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)
Green business practices:
Sourcing sustainable materials is the first step in being a truly green business, but it shouldn’t stop there.
Whether they’re purchasing from carbon offset programs or using eco-friendly packaging materials, winter is much more bearable knowing there are businesses out there that are committed to reducing their environmental impact in all the little ways they can.
More things to look for include clothing recycling programs, closed-loop manufacturing processes, localized supply chains, and emission-saving transportation.
Community & charitable giving:
How great is it when you can warm your hands and warm your heart?
Many of these brands—even the small ones—have given back to their communities through donations, volunteering, and funding worthy causes so that everyone can feel the warmth of warm fair trade winter gloves.
Final Thoughts On Fair Trade Mittens & Gloves
Preparing for a snowball fight might not seem like a good time to help save the planet, but it can be the critical moment when you decide on (hopefully) a pair of sustainable winter gloves.
The planet may be warming, but that means we’re in for more severe weather—including colder winters. Some speculate climate change could even lead to another ice age!
Bundle up with brands that aren’t making the situation worse by using eco-friendly materials, maintaining ethical supply chains, and implementing conscious business practices.
Remember, gloves aren’t like fingers; you don’t need ten of them.
Only upgrade and buy a new pair of environmentally-friendly gloves when you need them and consider secondhand options and online thrift stores before scanning these sustainable winter mitten brands.
We all have a friend who’s down to a single glove or has a kid who’s constantly losing them. Help them keep their fingers warm by sharing this list of eco-friendly winter gloves with them.
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