It’s knitwear season! The question is, are you wearing sustainable knitwear? Wool is possibly my favourite fabric to wear, in terms of it being a natural fibre, biodegradable, warm and comfortable. But what sets apart wool from sustainable wool – and are there any other sustainable knitwear fabric alternatives too?
Here’s my snappy guide to sussing out fair places to find your winter knits, susty woollens, and some brilliant second-hand options too.
The First Step In Sustainable Wool: Consider The Sheep
There is much debate over wool and whether it can ever be considered an ethical or sustainable textile. Wool is obviously an animal byproduct, making it a non-vegan material from the get-go. PETA produced an exposé (warning: graphic) showing certain UK sheep farms mistreating their animals. It does raise the question over all wool: how do you know how the animals have been treated?
For sheep’s wool, the real issue comes from the treatment of the sheep. I stopped eating meat due to the wide-spread poor treatment of animals, and I also avoid first-hand leather because I don’t want to support the meat industry. I don’t have as much issue with wool, because shearing doesn’t normally harm or kill sheep, goats, or alpacas.
However, I’m of the opinion that sustainable wool is only sourced from farms who treat their sheep well, and that the farmers are paid fairly too. To be able to meet this criteria, fashion brands need to be transparent about where they source their wool, and state which farms they work with. One quick way to check this is to see if the wool is certified organic. The organic certification of wool covers feed, land, and animal welfare.
Next Steps: Consider Other Woolen Fibres & Production
Up to this point, I’ve only referred to sheep’s wool, but wool can come from many different breeds and animals. Do you know where alpaca, angora, cashmere, lambswool, merino, and mohair all come from? Add to that the range of pros and cons for each, and you have an ethical conundrum on your hands.
And, as sustainable fashion journalist Lucy Siegle reports, there’s only one spinning mill in the whole of the UK, meaning the production of UK-only wool is severely limited. Right now, we need to look further afield – and it’s the Americas and Australasia that produce 90% of the world’s wool.
7 Sustainable Knitwear Credentials To Look For
To help cut through the difficulties of sussing out every woollen fibre on the planet and their pro’s and cons, I’ve compiled a list of the best credentials to look for in sustainable knitwear. The majority of these focus on fabric. Filtering by fabric is a great way to feel more confident in your clothing choices, and also helps avoid synthetic fibres too (including polyester blends, which are a nightmare for clothes recycling). Knitwear and wool are pretty synonymous, but there are a lot of different fashion fibres that work well in knitwear, with many of them being lighter on the planet than wool.
Here’s a run down of seven sustainable knitwear credentials to look for, covering fibres and certifications:
- Organic Wool: Did you know, wool can be certified organic? This means animals eat organic feed and graze on organic land, and animal welfare is closely monitored.
- Recycled Wool: Wool recycling technology has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years and it’s now a fixture in many winter collections. So if you’re still looking for a ‘new’ garment, go for one that’s circular.
- Cotton: As a vegan-friendly wool alternative, cotton has a lot of wool-like aspects when spun into fibres suitable for knitwear. It’s warm, soft, and easier to wash too! For sustainable cotton knitwear, look for organic, cradle-to-cradle, or less water intensive options.
- Linen: Did you know, linen can be made into knitwear? This was a new discovery for me too, but the strong plant-based textile is versatile enough to be woven into wool-like thread.
- Possum Fibre: The brushtail possum is New Zealand’s biggest ecological threat, and New Zealand-based brands like Untouched World use possum fibre blended into their knitwear as it’s both soft, warm, and supports the protection of native flora and fauna.
- Made In UK: While this isn’t exactly a fibre, knowing a garment has been made in the UK helps to support a fairer and more local economy. One great example is Ted & Bessie, who specialise in alpaca knitwear, coming from their very own alpacas living in the UK!
- Second-hand: Finally, if you’re still unsure, choose second-hand knitwear. I wrote a whole guide to finding good quality second-hand knitwear and still go by this when thrifting.
My Sustainable Knitwear Collection
Dilling Organic Merino Wool Knit
For woollens made right and priced fairly, look no further than Dilling. This Danish family-owned knitwear brand has been making high quality base layers and knitwear from organic merino wool for more than three generations.
In early 2025 I was gifted a few pieces from Dilling to try, and can attest to their quality and comfort too. This knitted merino blouse has been on rotation in my wardrobe ever since (and can even go in the washing machine!)
OUBAS Donegal Wool Jumper
Two years ago I had the pleasure of adding this Donegal Merino Wool Sweater by OUBAS into my wardrobe. It’s a soft woollen knit in a traditional Donegal fleck, with the wool being spun and dyed in Donegal, Ireland. The jumper itself is made made by OUBAS in Cumbria, England; the brand takes its name from ‘Oubas Hill’, in Ulverston, Cumbria.
Two years on, and the jumper is in perfect condition, and is still one of my favourites to wear. Its soft speckled pattern makes it more interesting than a beige jumper, and it has such a classic design that I know I’ll be wearing it for many more years to come.
This jumper represents the preservation of traditional British and Irish textile making. It’s a piece that’s designed to last. It’s also available in sizes XS to XL, making it more inclusive too.
Navygrey Lamb’s Wool Jumper
If you’re looking for knitwear made in the British Isles, Navygrey is the place. I’ve had The Oversize Jumper from Navygrey since being gifted it in 2018. It’s made from 100% Scottish-spun lamb’s wool and was made in the UK.
I take such care when wearing and washing this jumper, as it’s soft and the perfect oversized knit. It often needs a debobbling from time to time too. For investment pieces like these, it’s worth investing in clothing care tools that really will keep them in great shape!
Untouched World Ecopossum Jumper
Have you ever felt a jumper made with possum fibre? From the photo I hope you can tell just how soft and luxurious my Essence Sweater* by Untouched World is! This is made from their special Ecopossum blend: 50% Merino, 40% Possum and 10% Mulberry Silk.
I hadn’t heard of possum fibre until I discovered Untouched World in late 2024. This New Zealand-based brand is advocating for the protection of local flora and fauna by using fibres from brushtail possums in their knitwear. Brushtail possums are an invasive species from Australia and would otherwise be culled with toxic chemicals.
For this, Untouched World has been recognised by the United Nations for sustainability and is a certified B-Corp too.
Naadam Cashmere Jumper
In my outfit pictured on the right, I’m wearing what is reportedly the world’s fairest cashmere! This beautiful ribbed jumper comes from Naadam, who work with nomadic cashmere goat herders in Mongolia, paying them 50% more than the industry average, and then producing their luxury knits themselves so as to reduce the cost to consumer.
My favourite type of wool has to be cashmere, due to its fine, super soft nature. However, cashmere does have a huge carbon impact – much larger than most other woollen fibres – so go for second-hand where you can. Check out Second Cashmere for verified second-hand cashmere knits!
20 Of The Best Sustainable Knitwear Brands In UK
One jumper probably isn’t enough to get through the British winter, so here’s a list of sustainable knitwear brands for you to check out:
Baukjen*: Ethically made knitwear using recycled fibres in a range of classic styles. Get 15% off: BESMA15
Bee & Sons: 100% natural, luxury circular knitwear (including 100% recycled cashmere!)
Cara & The Sky: Colourful vegan knitwear designed and made in the UK.
DILLING: Base layers and knitwear made from organic merino, wool and cotton. Get 20% off: BESMA20
Finisterre: Merino wool from non-mulesed sheep in New Zealand, guaranteed the freedom from thirst, hunger, cold, illness, and manhandling.
Flock by Nature: British and Italian woollens with a complimentary repair service and recyclable packaging.
HERD*: Luxury knitwear made with English wool, respecting artisanal skills and traditions.
Jakob: Luxurious eco-cashmere knits in classic styles, designed to become heirlooms.
Jan ‘n June: Contemporary knitwear made from recycled wool and mohair.
Organic Basics*: A small collection of knitted garments made from recycled wool. Get 10% off: BESMAOB
Oubas: British and Irish lambswool garments, spun at their Scottish mill and made in their Cumbrian studio.
Pangaia: Recycled cashmere clothing in Pangaia’s trademark pastels.
Patagonia: Activewear using slow-washed merino sourced from the grasslands of Patagonia.
Rapanui*: Affordable jumpers and cardigans made from organic cotton.
Second Cashmere: Handpicked second-hand restored cashmere garments. Read my full review →
Sheep Inc.: Carbon-negative woollens, designed and created transparently and ethically.
Stella McCartney*: Re-engineered cashmere, as well as wool from hand-selected, high welfare sheep farms.
Study 34: Responsibly produced high-quality alpaca knitwear made in Arequipa, Peru.
Ted & Bessie: Ethical and sustainable knitwear made with fleece from their herd of UK-bred alpacas.
Toast: Classic knitwear styles made from sustainable fabrics and made to last.
Untouched World*: B-Corp certified sustainable knitwear brand from New Zealand with UK shipping.
P.S. How To Care For Your Knitted Garments
Most knitwear will be made from natural fibres, which is great for warmth and breathability. However, when it comes to washing them, they can be a little fussy. I like to hand-wash my woollens using gentle natural detergents, and lay them flat to dry naturally. Read more of my clothing care tips here.
When you’re finished with your favourite pieces, make sure to pass them down, recycle them where possible, or compost garments made from 100% wool.
What do you think of my guide to sustainable knitwear? Any new discoveries?
