Sustainable Sweater Trends We Love For 2025

These sustainable sweater trends will keep you warm for 2025 and beyond!

By Gina Gambhir

As with any other wardrobe must-have, sustainable sweater trends have undergone several stylistic changes over the years.

Once upon a time, wives would knit thick sweaters to keep their farmer or fisherman husbands warm. The sweater wasn’t really considered all that fashionable. But then, fashion’s fairy godmothers – Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli – transformed knitwear in the 1920s. It was thanks to their delicate, feminine yarns and beautifully designed styles that we saw knitwear transform from its more practical uses to the chic staple we know today.

The 1930’s continued the trend for women’s sweaters, and introduced dreamy bishop sleeves and decorative collars. The 50’s had other plans for this cozy attire. Inspired by Christian Dior’s New Look campaign, the female silhouette was to be accentuated once again with more cropped sweater trends. In fact, the ‘sweater girl’ became a thing – it mainly referred to the look of a tight knit (preferably a twin set) over a voluminous, waist-cinching skirt.

Sweater Trends Go Hippy

During the swinging 60’s and 70’s, knitwear took on a much more hippy vibe, using crochet patchwork techniques and employing synthetic fibres for the first time. We love how the likes of Janis Joplin sported crochet vests over bra tops, and how Mary Quant made sexy, sheer crochet mini dresses!

The 80’s mood was a lot more serious. It was powered up by boxy and broad shoulders, often in neon colours. The 90’s and naughties followed with a more androgynous look. Who could forget Kurt Cobain in his grandpa cardigan on MTV Live?

Which brings us to our current chapter. And what a palette of choice we have! We see stories of the old intertwined with the new in the top sustainable sweater trends for this year. Pick from vintage styles, dancer wraps or recycled yarns to be bang on trend this winter!

Image below from Stella McCartney

Ethical Jumper Trends To Try This Winter

kitten sweater

1. Button Details

This season, it’s all about buttons on your ethical sweater! That could mean anything from a button down cardigan to buttons on your cuffs, or just as a decorative detail.

Try: We love this long-sleeved RMS certified mohair and wool jumper by Sezanne. It features a slightly raised neckline with button placket fastening on the shoulder, and a beaded rib knit.

Price: $150

ethical sweater

2. Recycled Cashmere & Wool Sweaters

Cashmere has always been a luxury, but some people have issues with its ethics. Namely, of course, vegans, who don’t want to exploit animals for their fur or hair. But recycled cashmere (and wool) doesn’t harm animals, and also has a lower carbon footprint. It basically involves the unravelling of existing knits and reusing that yarn to create new pieces. Circular fashion at its most luxurious!

Try: Stella McCartney was one of the first ethical fashion brands to use recycled cashmere and wool. The designer has created some exciting styles for this season, as has Reformation. whose recycled fibre sweaters are seen below.

Price: $245

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Circular fashion lovers.

Sustainable Sweater Trends

3. Patterned

Love your sweaters with a feminine, floral flare? Or perhaps you’re more into big, bold graphics? In either case, you’ll be happy to know that patterned sweaters are going to be huge this winter!

Try: This Lyanna jumper features a floral print with a round neckline. It’s made from RMS certified Mohair.

Price: $160

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for:

floral patterned sweater

4. Retro Styles

Back in the 50s, tight, cropped sweaters were all the rage, and were worn with circle skirts. Today, that knitwear is back with a bang. But instead of going with a skirt, these pair perfectly with high waisted jeans!

Try: Why not be super-sustainable and search for an awesome vintage knit? But if you can’t find an authentic 70s sweater, Simple Retro offers some gorgeous vintage styles of all kinds.

Price: $59

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Rocking something a little bit different.

sustainable sweater trends for 2023

5. Grandpa Cardigans

This is one of those sustainable sweater trends you probably didn’t see coming! Grandpa cardigans are the new jackets. Look for oversized ones with V necks, balloon sleeves and wood buttons to be bang-on-trend.

Try: This is another one of those sustainable knitwear trends that can be sourced from vintage and thrifting stores, since it harkens back to decades past. But if you can’t find anything thrifted, Everlane is making some awesome cardis, like this one below.

Price: Around $175

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Taking to work.

grandpa cardigan

6. Huge Cowl Necks

They’re big, they’re floppy, and they’re cozy as heck! The cowl neck is more relaxed than the more typical turtleneck (or Polo neck, depending on where you live). And it’s trendier now than ever! To make this look very ‘now,’ ensure your knit is a nice, loose, thick one, preferably in an earthy hue.

Try: The Siro sweater, below, is made from regenerative wool. Not sure what that means? The first definition is “wool created from the recycled wool scraps of reclaimed garments.” The finished product is a fabric made from post-consumer textile waste, with the same quality of style as virgin wool fabric. Regenerative wool can also mean wool that is produced on farms that practice regenerative land management. Both are equally positive.

Price: Around $200

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Avoiding the chills.

Sustainable Sweater Trends We Love For 2025

7. Oversized Knits

His? Hers? Ours! This is one of the easiest sustainable sweater trends to pull off, for both men or women. You can easily find a sweater a few sizes up in a thrift shop – just hit the ‘mens’ section! The best part? This trend is also easy to share with the man in your life, be it your dad, BF, brother, son or husband.

Try: TenTree makes some of the most luxurious androgynous sweaters around. And they use a lot of recycled yarns, including cashmere, to do so. But that’s not all – as implied in the name, they’ll plant ten trees for every purchase!

Price: $79

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Total comfort.

Oversized Knits

8. Sweater Dresses

One of the best ways to stay warm this winter is by literally wrapping yourself up from neck to knees in knits. So this is one of our favourite sustainable sweater trends for this year! We also love how awesome sweater dresses look when paired with tall boots and a belt. Chic!

Try: The Maeve is a long sleeve, recycled cashmere mini dress with a deep V neck. It’s made from 95% recycled, 5% virgin cashmere. It comes in 2 colours, too!

Price: $261

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Pairing with tall boots. Obviously!

Sweater Dresses

9. Collared Sweaters

Don’t like the casual style of sweaters? You may love the budding trend of collared sweaters. They’re giving a formal vibe to the much loved winter essential and they’re super chic. Whether you like them baggy and oversized or fitted, this style suits everything from jeans to vegan leather pants!

Try: Eleven-Six’s Tatum sweater combines a trendy collar with balloon sleeves, making this an ultra-fashionable piece. And did we mention it’s made from super-soft baby alpaca?

Price: $178

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Classic comfort.

Sustainable Sweater Trends We Love For 2023

10. Oversized Sweater Vests

A sweater vest may have you envisioning your grandad, but I promise this style has had a seriously modern overhaul. The sweater vest slipped onto our radar during autumn last year, and it’s a trend that has gotten even hotter. And the sweater vest is as versatile as it is stylish. Whether you want it with a high neck, low neck, splashed with a bold print or oversized in style, the options are plentiful!

Try: Everlane has some gorgeous sweater vests made from regenerative and recycled wool. These vests  are perfect for pairing with oversized shirts for a work-vibe like @christietyler has done below. 

Price: From $83

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: A sporty vibe.

11. Ultra Delicate Knits

Is it a blouse? Or is it a sweater? With ultra delicate knits, it’s actually sometimes hard to tell! We’re talking about fancy, lacy patterns here. Not to mention beautiful little details, like tiny buttons, lacy cuffs or pretty collars.

Try: The OEKO-TEX certified Louis cardigan by Sezanne is simply stunning. It goes with everything from skirts and trousers to jeans.

Price: $130

One of the best sustainable sweater trends for: Winters that aren’t too cold!

sustainable sweater trends for 2023

 

Which is your favourite of these sustainable sweater trends? Let us know in the comments, below!

Main image: Cosac

 

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