Your Ultimate Guide To UK Ethical Socks Brands
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On the lookout for ethical socks? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide to the best sustainable and ethical socks in the UK to keep your toes cosy.
I write lots of ethical guides. From ethical underwear to ethical pyjamas, right the way through to UK-based ethical clothing brands. And today I wanted to turn my attention to socks.
As a permanently cold-footed person, I’m never without a pair of socks. Inc ase you are too, I’ve rounded up my favourite ethical socks for men and women. I’ve also thrown in some ethical tights for good measure, too.
And not only ethical but more affordable too. In my hunt, I’ve come across ethical socks that are £20+ a pair. And even some at an eye-watering £40! I don’t know about you, but I personally would never dream of spending upwards of £20 on one pair of socks.
Thankfully, you don’t have to stretch to that price for a pair of ethical socks. There are heaps of ethical options out there that won’t stretch your bank balance. As such, here are my top more affordable yet ethical picks – starting from £6.95.
The Best Ethical Socks In The UK For Cosy Toes
There’s something here for just about every kind of sustainable sock preference – whether you like to keep things simple with something plain or prefer something a bit more fun and patterned. You’ll also find socks spun from bamboo, organic cotton, hemp, and a few other planet-friendly fibres too:
Silverstick
- Made from organic cotton or natural wool
- Caters for men and women
- Made in the UK
- Prices start at £12 per pair
Silverstick’s cosy socks – available at Ethical Superstore – are made in Britain by craftsmen using traditional methods and natural wool yarns of the highest standard.
The wool – sourced from sheep that graze on the Pennines – is dyed using azo and chlorine-free clothing dye, under Oeko-Tex Standards that ensure the socks contain no harmful substances. This ensures your socks tread lightly on the planet, whilst keeping your feet warm.
Its organic cotton socks, meanwhile, are also made in Britain using the highest quality Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton yarns.
Seasalt
- Made from bamboo, organic cotton, or recycled polyester, depending on the style
- Most are vegan-friendly, but do check the description of each pair as a few styles do contain wool
- Caters for men and women
- Made in China
- Priced from £7.95 a pair, and most socks are available in a 3 for 2 offer
Seasalt may be a high-street name, but this doesn’t mean that it shares the same values as many other high-street brands. In fact, Seasalt was the very first fashion company to achieve Soil Association organic certification back in 2005, due to its commitment to the use of organic cotton.
Now, it’s recently been awarded B-Corp status. This means that Seasalt has been independently verified as meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Its sock collection is second to none. Find a whole host of colours, patterns, fabrics, and styles for men and women – whether it’s something lightweight or something a bit cosier. I’ve been buying Seasalt socks for YEARS now, and I love their softness and durability.
Thought
- Made from organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men and women
- Made in China
- Priced from £7.95 a pair
Thought (available at Ethical Superstore) has a great selection of men’s and women’s sustainable and ethical socks.
Ethically made from organic cotton, recycled polyester and super soft bamboo, or hemp, these come in a wide selection of funky prints, patterns, and styles – from crew socks to ankle and trainer socks, to no-show socks. So much so that there’s a pair of vegan-friendly socks to suit everyone.
As well as its commitment to sustainable fabrics, Thought is also committed to achieving the best for its workers. As such, Thought’s garments are increasingly GOTS and Fairtrade Certified.
Doris & Dude
- Made from bamboo, organic cotton, and recycled polyester
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men and women
- Made in Portugal
- Priced from £6.95 a pair
Doris & Dude (available at Ethical Superstore) are on a mission to make socks fun to wear, whilst also treading lightly on the planet. As such, its beautifully printed Fairtrade socks are made using sustainable, organic cotton, bamboo, and recycled fibres. They are also packaged with recyclability in mind.
BAM
- Made from bamboo
- Most socks are vegan-friendly. However, check the product description as a few socks in its range are blended with mulesing-free merino wool.
- Caters for men and women
- Made In Turkey, Portugal, and China
- Prices start from £12 – with 20% off when you buy 2 or more pairs of socks.
BAM – the sustainable activewear specialist – makes ethically made socks from sustainably sourced bamboo. Here you can find classic socks, as well as trainer, walking, running, and ski socks – all in a variety of colours and patterns.
To make its socks last, BAM reinforces the toe and heel areas with a looped terry knit. This makes them stronger and brings a touch of extra cushioning to these key areas.
When it comes to manufacturing, BAM is on a mission to reduce its carbon footprint to the absolute minimum by 2030. On the way to this, BAM says it is ensuring every person in its supply chain – right the way back to the growers – is paid fairly and treated with dignity.
BAM has also set ambitious goals for zero waste to landfill, zero pollution, and zero wasted water. This applies to every single process. From the growing of the bamboo to the manufacture of its clothing and socks, right through to the way they are recycled.
Sign up for the BAM mailing list and get 10% off your first order.
Socko
- Made from 100% recycled materials
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men and women
- Made in the UK
- Priced £18 a pair
Socko – available at Brothers We Stand – is a UK-based brand that makes luxurious unisex socks from 100% Global Recycle Standard (GRS) certified materials.
Each pair is made in partnership with a family-run manufacturer in Leicester, using recycled cotton, off-cuts of yarn that may have otherwise ended up in landfill, and other recycled fabrics.
What’s also to love about Socko is that every pair comes with a small mending kit, including a swatch of yarn and easy darning instructions, to help re-teach the lost art of darning. This means you can keep your socks in use for longer.
Get 10% off your first order at Brothers We Stand when you sign up for its mailing list.
Peper Harow
- Recycled cotton and organic cotton options
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men and women
- Made in the UK
- Prices range from £12 – £17
Are you looking for recycled cotton or organic cotton socks made right here in the UK? Look no further than Peper Harow.
Peper Harow ethically and responsibly makes the highest quality socks for both men and women, in unique and fashionable designs you’ll want to show off – with many styles made from GOTS-Certified organic cotton or GRS recycled cotton.
Each pair of Peper Harow socks is made without a toe seam – that annoying, thick seam at the end of the socks that can rub on your toes. This gives you the most comfortable fit, regardless of the type of shoe you are wearing or the activity you are taking part in. And this move isn’t just about comfort – removing the toe seam also cleverly improves the lifespan of the socks.
With a one-year guarantee, you can be sure you won’t be wearing these ethical socks out any time soon.
Take 20% off your order when you use the exclusive code MORALLYSTYLISH at the checkout.
Barekind
- Made from a blend of bamboo and cotton
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men, women, and children
- Made in Turkey
- Priced from £9.99 a pair
Are you specifically looking for socks printed with your favourite endangered animal? It might be a very niche market, but Barekind has you covered!
With over 40 animal designs to choose from – from sloths to polar bears, and pangolins to red pandas – there’s a sock to match your favourite animal. My favourites are the cosy ribbed socks, which are super comfortable and cosy.
As well as looking good, Barekind socks do good. It donates 10% of the profits from every pair to save the animal on the socks. Each design is linked with a charity partner who is doing incredible work to help save the animal featured on the socks. So your toes stay cosy whilst helping to protect endangered animals.
All Barekind socks are made ethically in Turkey from a blend of bamboo and cotton. The bamboo is processed in a factory that deploys a closed-loop system to reduce chemical waste.
Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Barekind newsletter.
Stand4Socks
- Made from cotton or bamboo
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men, women and children
- Made in Turkey
- Priced from £9.99 a pair
If you’re looking for socks that support social causes, then try Stand4Socks.
Here, for every pair of socks that you buy from this B-Corp, it donates one pair to a homeless person in need, via the homeless charities it partners with.
As well as a strong social conscience, everything by Stand4Socks is made from sustainably sourced Oeto-Tex-certified yarns. Its socks are also produced in ethical conditions, and your order arrives in fully compostable packaging.
Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for Stand4Socks newsletter.
Komodo
- Made from organic cotton and recycled nylon
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men and women
- No specific manufacturing location is provided, but Komodo makes its clothes in GOTS and Sedex-accredited factories in Kathmandu, Indonesia, Slovakia, India, and China.
- Priced from £10 a pair
Komodo – one of the pioneers of ethical fashion, has been creating sustainable clothing for over 35 years – and that same expertise shines through in its range of socks.
Here you’ll find a fully vegan range for men and women, all made from organic cotton. Each pair is made with a reinforced heel and toe for greater durability. Find ankle socks and classic socks, all in a range of vibrant colours and patterns.
In terms of social sustainability, Komodo works closely with its factories to ensure its garments are produced in a safe working environment and that all workers are guaranteed a fair wage.
Rapanui
- Made from organic cotton
- Vegan-friendly
- Caters for men and women
- Made in Turkey
- Priced from £7 a pair
Rapanui, the Isle of Wight-based ethical clothing brand, has branched out into ethical socks made from organic cotton. Naturally moisture-wicking, comfy, and breathable, these socks are available in a range of fun patterns.
What I particularly love about Rapanui is that its products are designed from the start to be sent back when it is worn out.
Once your socks reach the end of their life, send them back to Rapanui. Rapanui covers the postage, and it will recover and remanufacture the material into new products. Rapanui will also reward you with a coupon that you can use to save money on your next purchase. Circularity in action!
Colorful Standard
- Made from organic cotton or a blend of recycled Merino wool and organic cotton
- The organic cotton range is vegan-friendly
- Caters for men and women
- Made in Portugal
- £9 – £15 a pair
Finally, Colorful Standard, as the name suggests, makes colourful socks for both men and women in a myriad of different colours – from muted neutrals to rainbow brights.
Available in the UK at Fat Buddha, these cosy and chunky ankle socks are ethically made in Portugal from either vegan-friendly organic cotton or recycled merino wool, depending on your preferences. These are then dyed with environmentally friendly and Oeko-Tex certified dyes, so that your socks tread lightly on the environment.
What About Tights?
The market for ethical tights is oh-so small, but I have found some gems for you. Try my guide to sustainable tights for all my top recommendations.
Another option for tights in autumn and winter, if you’re wearing boots, is to wear leggings with socks. Admittedly, it’s not so attractive when you take off your boots. However, I like wearing leggings in colder weather as they keep your legs cosy and don’t snag or run, as tights do. This makes them a much more durable option.
I personally don’t mind spending a bit more on something that I know is going to last and is as versatile as leggings. Here’s my full guide to ethical leggings if you are looking for my top recommendations.
Recycling Your Old Socks
If you are sorting through your sock drawer and have any socks that are beyond the point of repair, then don’t bin them. Instead, here are my top tips on what to do with your old socks to help keep them out of landfill.
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You recommend Thought but they do Not provide ethical socks. The socks contain 54% VISCOSE DERIVED FROM BAMBOO 22% ORGANIC COTTON 22% RECYCLED POLYESTER 2% ELASTANE. Recycled polyester is still polyester!
Recycled polyester now exists, so it’s got to be better to reuse it. Working out what is truly ethical is a minefield, but it’s getting unrealistically narrow if we rule out recycling for something like socks (which presumably people aren’t buying 2nd hand and using as is).
Hi, this blog looks like a great find. I’ve just committed to a year of ethical fashion and then realised I need to buy new tights. Thanks for the good advice!
Anything called viscose – which includes nearly all so-called ethical bamboo fabrics, are made using a highly toxic process and often in factories in the far east with little or no health & safety policies to protect the employees from the chemicals. Also land being turned over to bamboo production is not necessarily a sustainable practice, nor does it help the pandas who have either left when the original bamboo forests were cut down for other crops and are no longer there, or were never there in the first place.
Beware claims that bamboo is an ethical or ecofriendly product. That claim is based mainly on the fact it does use a lot less water than cotton but it is far from sustainable in the green sense. Organic cotton is better, and hemp is a far better alternative.
One bamboo fabric that IS ecofriendly and is not made by the viscose process is something called bamboo lycocell which doesn’t use harsh chemicals, or TENCEL which is generally made from eucalyptus, but can also be made from bamboo. And these fabrics are generally organic.
You can google these fabric names and you will see why bamboo viscose – the one you’ll see being sold everywhere as ecofriendly bamboo – is not a good idea at all.
Just posted on your ethical women’s clothing page too but Cambridge Baby have excellent ethical socks and tights for kids AND adults! :)
Thank you for this info Jessica
The £24 Sternlain tights are reduced to £3.60!!!
Oh no, I must have missed the sale, they seem to be back up to £24 again!! Did you get some? If so, bargain!!
Great post! I have found that TK Maxx also sell some viscose-based socks, a brand called Green Treat. For those who don’t know, viscose is made from a naturally-occuring cellulose found in plants, so it’s much more eco friendly than synthetic socks. Bamboo socks are also great; love the suggestions above!
I like Seasalt’s sailor socks, they are bamboo too – but are slightly pricier at £6 per pair :)
I’ve never had much joy with tights either, I like your ideas for alternatives!