Every day is a hat day. If it’s sunny, put on a Panama hat. If you’re feeling cold, warm up with a bobble hat. If you’re having a bad hair day, cover up with a bucket hat. The list goes on.
But it’s sustainability that sets apart the true quality of an eco friendly hat compared to fast-fashion produced hats which are environmentally harmful.
Read more: Eco friendly swimwear ethically made for women & men
What makes a hat eco friendly?
The key to choosing a sustainably made hat is to look for;
- A company that uses ethical practices in its supply chain and pays workers a fair living wage.
- Produced in a Fair Trade Certified factory.
- Made using eco-friendly natural fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, sustainably grown straw, bamboo and linen.
- If it’s made using synthetic materials, ensure they have been recycled (e.g. recycled polyester), rather than virgin plastics which add to pollution.
- The fabrics used have third-party certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Global Recycled Standards (GRS).
The 8 best eco-friendly hats
We have extensively researched the companies in the below list of hats to ensure they are truly sustainably made using eco-friendly materials.
This Is Anyo: Canvas Bucket Hat – ‘slow fashion that is sustainably and ethically produced’
With a brand mission to become a pioneer for sustainable, slow fashion, This Is Anyo only uses GOTS and Oeko-Tex certified suppliers.
They are a female-owned business based in Yorkshire, UK, who are passionate about using eco-friendly fabrics such as 100% organic cotton and recycled polyester.
The natural coloured canvas bucket hat is a must have for the on-trend fashionistas.
It’s embroidered with a stylish leaf, which gives off full eco-friendly vibes – and you can wear it knowing it’s been sustainably made!
- Type: Bucket hat, which is one-size-fits-all.
- For: Men and Women (Unisex).
- Materials used: The bucket hat shell is 80% recycled cotton & 20% recycled polyester, and the lining is made using 100% organic cotton.
- Cost: £19 – buy here on Etsy
Vegan Outfitters: Dad cap – ‘destination brand for the plant-based generation’
Possessing a foundational plant-based ethical standard, Vegan Outfitters believe in a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Their passion for veganism focuses on both a love for animals and a desire to have a positive impact on the environment.
Not only does a little over 10% of their profits go towards rescuing farm animals from abuse and slaughter, but it also goes towards increasing their ethical and sustainable practices.
So, in addition to that, you’ll be nabbing yourself a great eco-friendly cap.
- Type: Baseball cap, which is one-size-fits-all.
- For: Men and Women (Unisex).
- Materials used: 100% organic cotton.
- Cost: £20- buy here on VeganOutfitters.com
Beaumont Organic: Planter Hat – ‘contemporary conscious clothing for the modern woman’
Focused on producing premium, ethically made, garments for women, Beaumont Organic uses an array of eco-fabrics.
From GOTS certified organic cotton, to linen, straw, lyocell and more – the materials used all feed into the vision of being a pioneering design driven, organic and ethical brand.
Their Planter Hat is an ideal summer addition to your wardrobe if you’re looking for something that oozes class and sophistication.
It’s handwoven using straw and features a linen trim that comes in three different colours: golden (as below), navy and natural.
- Type: Planter hat, in small to large sizes.
- For: Women.
- Materials used: Handwoven straw hat with linen trim.
- Cost: £67.50 – buy here on BeaumontOrganic.com
Bamboo Clothing: Bobble Hat – ‘the environment is our highest priority’
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources used to make eco-friendly fabrics, which is what drove the UK-based founder to create Bamboo Clothing in 2006.
They ensure everyone in their supply chain is paid fairly and treated with dignity, which highlights its truly ethical company ethos.
The blend of merino wool and bamboo viscose used to make this bobble hat, means it has a super-soft feel whilst being very breathable.
It comes in four different colours from Persian red, yellow harvest marl and chestnut, but we particularly like the moss green look.
- Type: Bobble hat, which is one-size-fits-all.
- For: Men and Women (Unisex).
- Materials used: 60% Merino Wool, 40% Bamboo Viscose.
- Cost: £21.99 – buy here on BambooClothing.co.uk
Good House London: Bucket hat – ‘love of beautiful, quality design and slow, ethical practices’
Striving to create slow fashion for those who care about how their style impacts planet earth, Good House London has a commitment to ethical practices at its core.
All of their materials, supplies and production are sourced from in the UK which is where the company is based, keeping their environmental impact to a minimum.
Combining style, sun protection and sustainability, this bamboo silk bucket hat is an essential accessory for a day at the park, beach, or simply for wearing to conceal a bad hair day!
Bamboo fabrics are naturally antibacterial, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
- Type: Bucket hat, in small and large sizes.
- For: Men and Women (Unisex).
- Materials used: 100% organic bamboo fibres and Oeko-Tex certified dyes.
- Cost: £35 – buy here on Goodhouseldn.com
Pachacuti: Panama hat – ‘vision to weave a better world for people, our planet, and the future’
Harnessing a deep understanding and relationship with their supply chain which roots back to Ecuador, the UK-based brand, Pachacuti, are pioneers of fair trade.
The cultivation of the Carludovica palmata plant used to create the straw for their Panama hats is organically grown and brings new biodiverse wildlife to the area – showcasing their ability to work with nature, not against it.
If you’re looking for a hat that is truly luxurious and made in a sustainable way, then the Pachacuti Panama hat is for you.
With every Panama hat, Pachacuti encloses an information card detailing how to look after your hat to ensure it has a long life – and they even provide a restoration service if your hat gets damaged.
- Type: panama hat, which comes in sizes from 56cm-63cm.
- For: Men.
- Materials used: sustainably grown toquilla straw.
- Cost: £95 – buy here on Panamas.co.uk
Napapijri: Cap Trient – ‘designing the future of circular fashion’
If you haven’t heard of Napapijri, you’ll most likely have walked past someone wearing it.
Established in 1987 by an Italian manufacturer focused on innovative design and sustainability, they recycle materials to reduce waste in a circular fashion process.
In short, they create products that are ‘made to be made again’.
This is one of their sustainable yet stylish caps, showcasing their Napapijri Geographic logo on the front, and comes in black, blue and beige colours.
It’s made out of 100% recycled polyester which is a great way to divert plastic from landfill.
- Type: 6-panel baseball cap, which is one-size-fits-all.
- For: Men and Women (Unisex).
- Materials used: 100% recycled polyester, with an elastic cord and string stopper.
- Cost: £19.99 – buy here on Amazon
Washein: Wide brim straw hat – ‘Expertly crafted products with high-quality natural materials’
Bringing together South American sass and British class, Washein has a core mission to create beautiful, artisan-made, quality products that have a positive impact on the planet.
Their expertly crafted products use natural materials and give opportunities to under-privilidged communities who care about sustainable fashion.
This uniquely crafted hat features a patterned design that is guaranteed to stand out from the crowd.
It’s crafted by the Wayuu indigenous community in Columbia using eco-friendly sun-baked palm leaves, putting it in a distinct category of eco-fashion individuality.
- Type: Urariyu wide brim straw hat, which comes in small or medium.
- For: Women.
- Materials used: 100% sun baked palm leaves.
- Cost: £59 – buy here on Washein.com
Read More: Best Eco-Friendly Gym Bags That Are Sustainably Made
We hope this has been a helpful guide for you and you’ve been able to find a sustainable hat you’re going to love and wear for many years to come.
It’s key to remember to look out for brands that follow sustainable practices when buying clothing, to help reduce the fast-fashion production cycle.
Making small changes to the way you choose to buy fashion items is a great way to start living a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
It’s always worth checking your local charity shop too, as you can find some great items there, and it gives clothes and accessories a second life.
If you know of a sustainably made hat brand that we haven’t covered, or an environmentally friendly product that you would like us to feature on the site, email us with your details: hello@ecofriendlychange.com