When cold weather strikes, a pair of sustainable gloves is about as essential as underwear.
We look for brands that aren’t making the situation worse by using eco-friendly materials (like wool or organic cotton gloves), maintaining ethical supply chains, and implementing conscious business practices.
Adding to these considerations, we are extending our consideration set to include a wider range of sustainability criteria. You can learn more about it here and take a look at our Brand Ratings to find the best of the best. Look out for rated brands below – they’ll start to pop in as we rate more brands.
If you’re looking for gloves sans animal products, head to our guide on vegan gloves.
We’ve shoveled through ALL THE SNOW to find these eco-friendly mitten brands so let’s get to it.
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.
Out Top Picks: Sustainable & Fair Trade Gloves
A big insulated thumbs up to Aura Que’s fingerless wool gloves that will warm your hands and the hearts of the Nepalese communities that each purchase supports.
Arms of Andes keeps your fingers from feeling frosty with fair trade alpaca gloves that support traditional farmers in Peru.
Index: Sustainable Men’s & Women’s Gloves
- Arms Of Andes Jump to brand
- Patagonia Jump to brand
- Fortlandic Jump to brand
- Eileen Fisher Jump to brand
- Aura Que Jump to brand
Arms Of Andes
About Arms of Andes
Price Range: $20–$60
Do you know what it looks like to run on alpaca power?
Arms of Andes does. The sustainable activewear 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.
Choose from simple, solid colorways, including white, grey, green, blue, or black gloves.
Arms of Andes’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials
Arms of Andes’ eco-friendly 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.
Patagonia
About Patagonia
Price Range: $35–$109
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 hats, they have an impressive sustainable 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 everyday Better Sweater™ convertible mittens with finger flaps.
Patagonia’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their glove range incorporates mostly recycled gloves, like the recycled polyester 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 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 co-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”.
Fortlandic
About Fortlandic
Price Range: $33–$37
Handknit “with love and gratitude,” Fortlandic fair trade mittens are fleece lined and cozy.
Check out their convertible glove/mitten hybrids for two hand accessories for the price of one—like the Rainbow Hand Knit Convertible Mittens to bring a splash of color to those grey winter days—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.
Eileen Fisher
About Eileen Fisher
Price Range: $78–$118
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 luxuriously soft and elegant Cotton and Recycled Cashmere Glovelettes. These recycled cashmere fingerless gloves may not ward off frostbite, but their fashion-forward design will definitely ward off fast fashion.
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.
Their best wool gloves of the non-recyceld variety are made of 100% regenerative wool sourced from Argentinian ranchers who utilize ethical animal welfare practices.
They also have a luxury pair of blended silk and non-recycled cashmere gloves but we always recommend opting for cruelty-free and recycled materials when possible.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The gloves are manufactured in either Vietnam, China, 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 the fashion industry 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, EF gives back to a long list of non-profit partners, including Savory Institute, Organic Farming Research Foundation, 350.org, the EWG, and more.
Aura Que
About Aura Que
Price Range: $20–$38
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 wardrobe.
Their sustainable wool gloves are available in several unisex styles, including wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, and convertible gloves.
If you like having full use of your fingers, the Cable Wristwarmer knit gloves are perfect for a chilly walk to see the lovely fall colors.
Aura Que’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Aura Que offers non-mulesed, fair trade merino mittens colored with azo-free dyes.
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.
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.
