The cold weather is almost here, and that means it’s time to bundle up! I brought you some recommendations for the best natural and organic sweaters, scarves, gloves, and sweats made out of healthier, non-toxic materials… and now it’s time to talk about hats and beanies for keeping your head warm this winter.
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Featured Image Credit: Organic Basics
Why Choose Natural & Organic Materials for Your Winter Accessories?
A lot of winter hats and beanies are knit with acrylic yarn, which of course is a synthetic material. These synthetic materials are typically not great for human health or the environment in the long run. They’re petroleum-based and can contain chemicals that are potentially toxic to human and environmental health.
Although natural and organic clothing and accessories aren’t always guaranteed to be safer (they can, and often do, still have chemicals added to them), they are less likely to contain toxicants—especially when purchased from brands that have sustainability, chemical management, and worker-welfare policies in place.
That’s one of the reasons why many people are opting for natural materials instead, when possible.
Wool is an incredibly warm and durable material that’s also non-toxic and biodegradable at the end of its life (as long as it’s not treated with toxic dyes or finishes.) Plus, when done responsibly, wool does not require that any harm comes to the animals from which it’s sourced.
Look for brands using Climate Beneficial Wool, which has been verified as regenerative by Fibershed, and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) wool, which ensures a “standard that addresses the welfare of sheep and the land they graze on.”
Organic cotton is another great option. It’s vegan and it’s more tolerable for some people who may get itchy from wool. It’s better for the overall ecosystem since it’s grown and harvested without the use of toxic pesticides.
Types of Wool
Different types of wool have varying pros and cons. Merino wool, which comes from a specific kind of sheep, is softer and lighter weight than most other types of sheep’s wool.
Cashmere comes from the undercoat of a certain kind of goat that lives in the Himalayas. It’s softer, finer, and more luxurious compared to most other types of wool, but also tends to be more expensive and less durable.
Alpaca wool is the best of both worlds: it’s soft and lightweight, but also very durable and temperature-regulating. It’s also relatively rare, so it can be more expensive.
Yak wool has a lot of the same benefits as alpaca, but at a more affordable price point.
Lastly, recycled wool of various types is a great option because it keeps materials out of landfills and reduces the amount of virgin material needed to be sourced from animals.
10 Brands for Wool & Organic Cotton Winter Hats and Beanies for Winter 2023/24
Here are some of my favorite eco-conscious brands for cozy, high-quality winter hats that are made out of natural and organic materials:
Happy Earth
Price: $28
Happy Earth carries both beanies and baseball caps that are ethically made out of GOTS certified organic cotton. These unisex winter hats come in a couple of different colors.
Happy Earth has sustainable initiatives woven throughout its entire manufacturing process, from the way it prioritizes organic and plastic-free materials and non-toxic dyes, to the fact that it’s a certified B Corp and member of 1% for the Planet!
Organic Basics
Price: $55
Organic Basics is one of my favorite brands for organic underwear and activewear. Their beanies are ethically made, lightweight, and gender-neutral. They’re made from recycled cashmere, so not only are they made from super soft natural fibers, but they keep materials out of landfills, too.
They come in several different colors, including Charcoal, Dusty Rose, Light Blue, Olive, and Brick Red. Grab yourself a matching scarf, too! This set is super easy to dress up or down, whether you’re going into the office, out on the town, or even heading out for a hike.
Cottonique
Price: $25
Cottonique is one of the best places to get hypoallergenic clothing and accessories that are suitable for people with sensitive skin, eczema, and chemical sensitivities.
And their organic cotton beanies are no different! These lightweight yet warm winter hats are made of 100% cotton and are free from any latex, spandex, rubber, bleach, dyes, and synthetic chemicals. They’re available in two sizes (S/M and L/XL) and two colors (Natural and Melange Blue).
Use the code THEFILTERY10 for 10% off your order.
Naadam
Price: $85
Nadaam’s ethically made gender-neutral beanies are made from natural and responsibly sourced cashmere that come in a wide variety of gorgeous solid colors.
These eco-friendly winter hats are sooo soft!
Colored Organics
Price: $10
A great option for the little ones, Colored Organics carries a variety of baby beanies that will keep your kids’ heads warm throughout the cold winter months. A lot of their hats are made out of 100% organic cotton, but they do carry some acrylic ones too, so just make sure to check the product description before buying.
The one pictured above comes in a wide variety of solid colors and is made out of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. It’s hypoallergenic and free from toxicants like like azo dyes. It comes in three sizes: NB (0-3M ), XS/S (3-6M), and M/L (6-12M).
And it’s got a super cute little top-knot on it!
Terra Thread
Price: $25
Terra Thread offers a lot of practical, gender-neutral accessories—including beanies!
Available in eight different solid colors, these beanies are Fair Trade Certified and made out of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. They’re machine washable, too!
Everlane
Price: $60-75
Everlane’s gender-neutral winter beanies are made using cashmere, alpaca, and merino wool, combined with a little bit of synthetic for stretch. (They’re not 100% natural, though, unfortunately!)
They’re available in some really pretty solid colors. They have matching scarves, too!
Tentree
Price: $25-40
This Canada-based ethical brand makes beanies and toques out of 100% RSW-certified wool as well as other natural materials like organic cotton.
They have a variety of different styles and colors, including a couple of options for kids.
Quince
Price: $25-50
Quince’s beanies are made from Grade A Mongolian cashmere and come in a variety of different styles—including a pom pom one, a baseball cap, a beret, and a winter headband.
Peruvian Connection
Price: $30-360
This brand has been around since 1976! “Rarer than cashmere and warmer than wool,” Peruvian Connection sources their luxurious alpaca wool from the Peruvian Andes (where alpacas are virtually never raised for their fur). They’re committed to working with traditional Alpaca farmers in order to make sure the entire process is ethical and sustainable for everyone involved.
Unfortunately, a lot of their hats are blended with synthetics like nylon or polyamide, but their collection has the largest variety of styles of all the brands on our list!
Rustek
Price: $35
Rustek carries a collection of plastic-free, gender-neutral beanies made in the USA out of 100% organic cotton. (Some of their options also use Merino wool, too.)
This is also a good if you happen to be looking for customized organic hats for corporate swag or something like that!
Looking for more winter gear? Check out our guides to sweaters, scarves, and gloves made using non-toxic, natural, and organic materials.
