9 Sustainable Hats Brimming With Eco-Friendly Style
Sustainable hats off to you and your sustainable fashion journey!
Hats made from virgin plastic-based synthetic fabrics and unethically-sourced wool have us feeling like the Mad Hatter: “A dream is not reality, but who’s to say which is which?”.
But who’s to say something can’t be both?
Our dreams of (stylishly) messy hat hair that’s better for people and the planet are becoming a reality, with several brands creating everything from ethical felt hats to eco-friendly trucker hats that will kick your fashion game into head-high gear.
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The Best Hat Brands Tip Their Brims To Mother Nature
It should come as no surprise that we head right to Patagonia and their selection of women’s and men’s eco-friendly sun hats and sustainable winter hats to get geared up for any adventure.
Storied Hats isn’t telling tall tales with its catalog of responsibly manufactured, ethical, sustainable snapback hats. They’re not just one of the coolest hat brands, but one of the most conscious thanks to their ethical factories.
prAna won’t let you lose your head with a wide range of sustainable hats made out of recycled materials.
Before you pick one, put on your thinking cap and head to the bottom to read our cHAT about how we decided on these eco-chic cranium covers.
The Full List Of Ethical & Sustainable Hats
- tentree | Visit Store
- Cuyana | Visit Store
- Storied Hats | Visit Store
- prAna | Visit Store
- Patagonia | Visit Store
- Eileen Fisher | Visit Store
- Ninakuru | Visit Store
- Kin the Label | Visit Store
- Accompany | Visit Store
1. tentree
About tentree
Price Range: $25–$55
tentree: the name says it all.
This tree-planting organic clothing brand uses earth-friendly materials and carbon-negative practices to make “earth-first apparel.”
Besides apparel for our bodies, tentree also keeps us outdoor-ready with sustainable trucker hats, sun hats, and other durable hats for men and women.
Us and our self-sufficient homestead dreams have us digging the looks of the Taylor Felt Rancher Hat, which features a wide, fully protective brim and is made of 100% recycled wool.
tentree’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Some of our favorite favorites also happen to be those used by tentree in their sustainable beanies and baseball caps, including hemp fabric, recycled polyester, organic cotton, recycled wool, and TENCEL™ lyocell.
tentree uses a little spandex/elastane to get that perfect fit on your noggin.
Supply chain & labor practices:
In each product description, you’ll see where the sustainable caps are crafted. Most are made in Vietnam, and some in China.
The Certified B Corp’s manufacturing partners adhere to high standards and a Code of Conduct based on ILO standards.
Many are also backed up with additional certifications like WRAP, BSCI, SA8000, and Fair Trade.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Because they use some of the planet’s best materials, you can see the impact each piece of sustainable activewear has on our planet (water, waste, and CO2)—which is much less than it would be with conventional materials.
Community & charitable giving:
tentree should change its name because it’s more like “fiftymilliontree.” Alright, we suppose ten is still okay because they plant ten trees for every order—well on their way to a billion by 2030.
2. Cuyana
About Cuyana
Price Range: $48–$128
We’ve got more Quechuan language to translate: Cuyana means “love,” and this brand loves people and the planet.
Their love for us is driven by a “fewer, better” mentality, meaning they responsibly design their clothing and accessories to maximize wearability.
The same applies to their ethical and sustainable straw hats, like the earthy and ultra-protective Wide Brim Ecuador Hat that will have you both standing out and fitting in at the farmer’s market.
Cuyana’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Stay elevated and cool in a sustainable Baseball Cap made from OCS-certified organic cotton.
The rest of their Boleros and eco-friendly Panama hats are made from sustainably harvested toquilla straw. These Ecuadorian palm fronds are harvested without harming the main tree.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The straw hats are woven by women using UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity techniques.
All manufacturing partners agree to a Code of Conduct and are regularly visited and audited.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Their products are made to last, and that’s not just a marketing gimmick—a two-year warranty backs them and can be sent back to Cuyana for repair.
They partner with the online second hand store thredUP to encourage reselling, and recently launched their own Revive site.
Cuyana aims to make 100% of its collection from sustainably-certified materials sometime in 2023 and 100% neutral packaging by 2025.
Community & charitable giving:
When you go to sell clothes online from Cuyana with thredUP, you’re helping the planet and getting a Cuyana credit—plus a 15% bonus!
Then, when you make a purchase using your Cuyana credit, a portion of the sale gets donated to HEART (Helping Ease Abuse-Related Trauma).
3. Storied Hats
About Storied Hats
Price Range: $28–$44
Storied Hats produces bright, fun, sustainable baseball hats.
The designs are crafted in Portland and San Francisco offices, where they comb through countless fabrics to find the best sustainable materials.
If you appreciate retro graphics and punny names as much as we do, the Saved by the Bill perfectly CAPtures those carefree Saturday morning in the 90s vibes we all miss so much.
Storied Hats’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Each sustainable hat is made from fabrics like recycled and organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, recycled wool, and ramie.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Storied Hats sources its sustainable materials from the United States, Taiwan, India, and China.
The sustainable custom hats are manufactured in a WRAP-certified facility outside Shanghai.
Community & charitable giving:
Storied Hats is a member of 1% for the Planet and created the Belief Line, a collection of custom eco-friendly hats to spread awareness and raise money for various social issues.
4. prAna
About prAna
Price Range: $16–$49
prAna has you quite literally covered with sustainable bucket hats, beanies, headbands, and other women’s and men’s eco-friendly sun hats from high-quality, sustainable fabrics.
The Fair Trade-certified unisex Kootenai Bucket Hat is a fan favorite, made entirely out of recycled polyester.
prAna’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester make up the bulk of prAna’s fair trade hats.
They also use hemp, recycled cotton, wool, nylon, acrylic, and some elastane/spandex in the headbands.
Supply chain & labor practices:
prAna works with several Fair Trade-certified factories, aiming to make 100% of its sustainable yoga clothes and more in certified factories by 2028.
They partner with facilities in Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam adhere to their Code of Conduct, which follows the FLA and ILO labor standards.
prAna started the Clothing for Positive Change (C4PC) movement to ensure fair wages, living conditions, and workers’ respect across its supply chain.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
prAna is a founding partner of The Renewal Workshop, where discarded clothing and fabrics are turned into renewed products, upcycled materials, or recycling feedstock.
They also have a manufacturing climate goal of a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030 and use packing materials with recycled content and FSC-certified paper.
Community & charitable giving:
prAna makes sustainable hats for a good cause by partnering with organizations like Outdoor Outreach, The Conservation Alliance, and 5 Gyres (fighting microplastic pollution, by the way!).
5. Patagonia
About Patagonia
Price Range: $35–$59
Does Patagonia even need an introduction?
After 50 years of improvements and environmental initiatives, Patagonia has become one of the best sustainable hats brands in the fashion industry.
As with all their sustainable coats, eco-friendly backpacks, and more, their hat range is extensive and includes sustainable sun hats, fair trade trucker hats, beanies, baseball caps, and a range of other adventure-ready hats for men, women, and kiddos.
Our P-6 Logo Trucker Hat has been a wardrobe staple for years, which we grab whether we’re heading to the beach, on a run, or to the supermarket on a bad hair day.
Patagonia’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
While we especially love their 100% organic fair trade cotton hats, we don’t mind seeing recycled nylon mesh (from fishing nets) in their snapback hats, ethical wool in their winter hats, or recycled polyester components.
Most are bluesign®-approved, meaning they’re produced without harmful chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
At the bottom of every product listing, you’ll see the “Footprint Chronicles”, which include how and where it’s made. Most eco-friendly hats for men and women are produced in a fair trade factory in Shanghai.
Patagonia is a Fair Labor Association founding member with many certified fair trade hats and partners to their arsenal.
They’re still working on ensuring everyone gets a living wage per their Code of Conduct based on ILO core labor standards.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
For happy pockets and planet, Patagonia’s Worn Wear line accepts, sells, and transforms used Patagonia clothes and gear!
Of course, if you don’t want to get rid of your jacket because it ripped, you can also send it back for free repair… FOR LIFE!
More than three-fourths of their line is made with recycled materials, and 100% of their cotton is grown organically.
Community & charitable giving:
Our planet is # 1 for Patagonia, which is why they started (and still participate in) 1% for the Planet, and invest ALL profits into either improving their practices or funding climate-oriented organizations.
Patagonia Action Works connects everyone with grassroots groups in their local communities.
6. Eileen Fisher
About Eileen Fisher
Price Range: $118–$125
If you’re looking for the best winter hats for women, sustainable also means oh-so-comfortable with the cashmere beanies from Eileen Fisher.
While their collection is small, they cover all seasons between these beanies and the delightfully summery Mar Y Sol sustainable floppy hat.
That’s all topping off this slow fashion brand’s catalog of sweaters, cardigans, jackets, pants, jumpsuits, dresses, and other sustainable work clothing essentials.
Eileen Fisher’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Silk Bliss sustainable knit hat is made from cashmere, silk, nylon, and a bit of spandex.
The Mar Y Sol is made from responsibly sourced raffia palm fiber, with an interior cotton band and brim.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As a Certified B Corp, Eileen Fisher adheres to strict standards regarding ethical production and environmental practices.
They’re also a Fair Labor Association and Fair Factories Clearinghouse member, with partners adhering to SA8000 and the ETI ethical manufacturing base standards.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The Waste No More take-back program transforms returned and recycled garments into new products (like upcycled accessories or carpet pads).
The Renew Catalog of previously worn pieces is brought back to a like-new condition and sold for a lower price tag.
EF utilizes renewable energy and carbon offsets and consistently looks for more sustainable production practices and fabrics to further reduce its footprint.
Community & charitable giving:
Among many other charitable initiatives, the Eileen Fisher Foundation funds grants for women entering environmental justice fields.
7. Ninakuru
About Ninakuru
Price Range: $320–$780
Ninakuru’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Ninakuru is easily one of the best sustainable hat companies on our list.
These handcrafted sustainable straw hats are incredibly high-quality, long-lasting, and stylish—like the Nokota, made from 100% cruelty-free virgin wool that delivers quality, durability, and comfort.
Materials:
The primary fabrics Ninakuru in its eco-friendly summer hats are ethically sourced 100% virgin wool and sustainably harvested toquilla straw.
Other materials, like cotton, leather, beads, and various metals are also included.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Each ethical hat is meticulously woven in the Andean highlands of Ecuador by an all-women’s Fair Trade cooperative, ensuring dignified treatment, wages, health benefits, and other resources.
Sustainable wool hats are handcrafted in South America in a family-owned millinery before being shipped to Ninakuru’s studio in Ojai, California for finishing touches.
Community & charitable giving:
Founder and designer Jennifer Moray works closely with their partners to ensure not only heirloom-quality pieces, but long-term, restorative relationships with women’s artisanal collectives.
8. Kin the Label
About Kin the Label
Price Range: $85–$230
If you’re seeking ethical sun hats for your Australia vacation, Kin the Label wanted to fill a gap in the world of sustainable accessories.
They realized that timeless, modern, and sophisticated hats were missing from the market, so they started making their own—in their garage, no less!
Now they have a wide collection of eco-friendly hats for ladies, including straw hats, wool caps, cowboy hats, visors, and packable hats. Some even provide up to UPF 50 sun protection, like this ultra classic Panama Sun Hat that’s both functional and fashionable.
Kin the Label’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their eco-friendly straw hats are made from tightly-woven toquilla straw, paper straw, Japanese straw, palm tree straw, seagrass straw, or raffia straw. The wool hats are made with wool felt.
Accent materials adorn some hats, including vegetable leather, silk ribbon, stone-washed linen, and/or a metal accent.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Handmade using quality materials and century-old techniques, each hat makes its way through 40 steps, 80 hands, and 10 hours of true craftsmanship.
All factory partners are well-vetted.
Their sustainable USA-made hats (AKA most of them) are produced in a 100+ year-old factory located on the East Coast, while the eco-friendly bucket hats are handwoven in Madagascar.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
To reduce their carbon footprint, silk, straw, and wool are processed as close to their sources as possible.
9. Accompany
About Accompany
Price Range: $30–$200
Accompany is on a humanity-focused mission to change our world for the better through accessories like ethical felt hats and straw hats.
Our favorite is the Made In The Shade Hat, which is their only vegan ethical hat available.
Instead of quick fixes and temporary solutions, they’re working to create permanent change in some of the systems and cycles that keep people in poverty.
Accompany’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Straw, cotton, woven palm leaves, vegetable tanned leather, and wool are the materials you’ll find across Accompany’s hats.
Although the Night Reversible sustainable wool hat blends alpaca wool with acrylic, the Paresi Hat contains 100% felted wool.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Accompany is accompanied by two artisan groups who provide sustainable wool hats and straw hats range Artesano and Shupaca.
Artesano is a collective of Ecuadorian artisans who use only eco-friendly materials, empowering their community with education and skills initiatives.
Shupaca uses one of the world’s finest materials (alpaca) to advance social and economic well-being in a community just outside Quito, Ecuador.
All artisans are fairly and directly compensated for their work.
Community & charitable giving:
Some of the brand’s artisan partners are performing philanthropic work of their own.
Accompany works on a larger scale to support these efforts by providing donations, training programs, low-interest loans, and infrastructure for marginalized communities.
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How We Found The Best Sustainable & Fair Trade Hats
Hats are the tippy top of sustainable fashion…literally!
Between the use of cheap plastic-based materials and unethically sourced animal fibers, we’re thrilled to find the market BRIMming with brands making eco-friendly baseball caps in a better way.
But what is an eco hat?
Rather than making a snap-judgment on the most ethical, sustainable snapback hats, we used our sustainable fashion criteria:
Materials:
How do you make an eco-friendly cap?
You start with sustainable fabrics like sustainably-harvested toquilla straw, recycled or ethical wool, organic cotton, hemp, recycled plastic (recycled polyester and recycled nylon), and TENCEL™ lyocell fabric.
- Certifications: Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS), bluesign®
Supply chain & labor practices:
You may want to be hidden from the sun, but we don’t like brands hiding their practices from the light of day. We look for those who fully disclose their supply chain details.
No greenwashing under these fair trade hats.
In addition to strict codes of conduct and manufacturing certifications, we get excited to see partnerships with artisan collectives and family-owned factories/milliners.
- Certifications: International Labour Organizations (ILO), B Corporation (B Corp), Fair Labor Association (FLA), Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), Social Accountability International (SA8000), Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), Fair Trade, Fair Wear Foundation
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Handmade techniques that have been around for hundreds of years don’t just make for higher quality hats but are generally better for the Earth.
Wooden looms requiring zero energy are better than mass-producing machines.
While hats have become associated with the low-quality “freebie” trend in brand promotion, we looked for brands creating quality, durable hats.
Better still if they’re backed with a warranty and options to recycle or repair.
Community & charitable giving:
We tip our hats to the do-good hat brands doing ten gallons of good globally.
This can mean extra support for artisan communities, environmental activism, contributions to non-profit organizations, and other initiatives.
Final Thoughts On Sustainable Caps
Ready for a hat trick?
You can top off just about any outfit from a sustainable clothing brand with an eco-friendly hat, delivering style, sustainability, and skin protection (but still don’t forget the biodegradable sunscreen!).
While these brands are all shade-giving superstars, we recommend only buying a new hat when you need one. Or check out an online thrift store to give some second hand recycled hats a second life.
Regardless of which route you choose, be sure to take care of your new (or new-to-you) sustainable hat properly so that it can take care of you.
Now that your head is in the right space feel free to pass along this list of good hat companies to anyone who can use sustainable sun protection!
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