• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Modest Man

  • .
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • About
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Free Stuff
Home / Blog / Product Reviews

Pact Review: Sustainable and Stylish Wardrobe Staples

Published on February 27, 2023 by Graham · Product Reviews May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

In this hands-on review, I’ll share my experience with Pact’s clothing to help you decide if you should purchase from them.

Table of Contents

  • Quick Take
  • Discount Code for Our Readers
  • About Pact
  • My Build
  • The Products I Tried
  • FAQs
  • Here’s The Rundown
Pact Review

Pact first caught my eye when I saw their clothing at Whole Foods. Their stuff looked nice, and the tagline “Earth’s Favorite Clothing Company” caught my eye. I thought maybe they were the sustainable basics brand I had been searching for.

Fast forward a few months since I first started wearing their clothes and, to be honest, they lived up to my hype.

Quick Take

Pact makes sustainable and stylish clothing basics that I heartily recommend. Just keep these pros and cons in mind.

Pros

  • Their products are Fair Trade Certified and use organic cotton
  • There are lots of color options for most items
  • The prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the products

Cons

  • Their Off Duty Shorts contain elastane. That’s very normal for a lot of clothing, just keep it in mind if you’re trying to be completely plastic-free
  • The products are prone to shrinkage in the dryer (this could be a pro or con depending on your needs)

Click here to check out Pact, or read on for the full review.

Discount Code for Our Readers

This is not a sponsored article, but Pact is offering an exclusive discount code to our readers!

Use the code MODESTMAN15 to get 15% off your first order. Please note, the code cannot be combined with other offers or sale items.

About Pact

Admittedly, it’s difficult to find information about how Pact got started. They seem like a large company, but their website is surprisingly opaque when it comes to information about their origins.

The website is, however, ripe with information about their sustainable and ethical practices. Their whole mission appears to be providing high-quality clothing that’s made by people who are treated and paid fairly (i.e., not sweatshop workers).

You can rest assured knowing that all our clothing is manufactured in safe facilities and is always sweatshop-free and child-labor-free.

from Pact’s FAQ page

While Pact doesn’t have the same level of radical transparency as Everlane, they’re open and appear to be honest about where their products are made and what they’re made of.

My understanding is that everything they make is Fair Trade Certified, they offset their carbon, and they always use organic cotton. (It actually looks like every product they make contains cotton).

I recommend reading their FAQ and Sustainability pages for more info.

My Build

For reference, I’m 6’1″ and 170lbs. I have a 37″ chest and usually wear Large tops. My ideal pants size is 32×32.

The Products I Tried

I tried a few noteworthy products from Pact’s lineup:

  • The Downtime Relaxed Sweatshirt (size L, Trekking Green)
  • Double Knit Waffle Sweater (size L, Charcoal Heather)
  • Off Duty Short (size M, Grape Leaf Heather)

The Downtime Relaxed Sweatshirt

The Downtime Relaxed Sweatshirt has become a huge wardrobe staple for me. It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect it to be from its name.

It’s a 100% organic cotton sweatshirt that’s both comfortable and minimal. I chose the Trekking Green color and I’m very satisfied with it. It’s not a very subdued color, but it’s not too bright either.

Pact Downtime Relaxed Sweatshirt in trekking green
Pact Downtime Relaxed Sweatshirt

There’s nothing particularly extraordinary to say about this sweatshirt — it’s just really solid. If you’re looking for a sweatshirt to have in your normal rotation, I recommend this one.

I will note that while it says it’s a “relaxed” fit, it’s not extremely baggy. Note how the sleeves are long and the shoulders are wide. It’s definitely not a slim fit, but I think it sits in a nice place of being relaxed and comfortable without being trendy or comically baggy.

If you’re going to buy one, my advice is to get your normal size and it’s too big, shrink it in the dryer using medium or high heat. If you want a more slim fit, size down.

I learned a valuable lesson with Pact’s clothing when it comes to shrinkage. Their products say to tumble dry on low. In typical man fashion, I dried them with my normal laundry.

What setting was the dryer on? Uh, I don’t know. The regular one? High heat? Who knows these kinds of things? I don’t.

What I do know is that this sweatshirt, along with the Double Knit Waffle Sweater shrank more than I expected them to. This is not a flaw with the products at all, but it’s something to be mindful of when laundering Pact clothing. Remember to follow the care instructions!

Double Knit Waffle Sweater

Just like the Downtime Sweatshirt, the Double Knit Waffle Sweater is 100% cotton.

Pact waffle knit sweater texture

It’s served me well as a base layer this winter. It’s cotton, not wool, so it’s not super insulated, but it’s a nice piece to wear on its own or under a jacket on chilly days.

The description says it’s a relaxed fit, but just like the Downtime Sweatshirt, it’s not extremely relaxed. Do note that the shoulders are quite relaxed, yet the sleeve length is pretty optimal for a standard fit.

Pact Double Knit Waffle Sweater
Pact Double Knit Waffle Sweater

The care instructions say to lay it flat to dry, but that bad boy went into the dryer with my regular clothing. It turned out well for me, but be careful!

You really don’t want to ruin a great piece of clothing by screwing up the fit. If the sweater fits you well, follow the instructions and lay it flat to dry it. If it’s a little oversized, experiment with drying it so it shrinks. Just don’t overdo it.

Off Duty Short

The Off Duty Short is a pair of sweat shorts made of 95% cotton and 5% elastane. They’re made for lounging, and they’re great for that.

I tried a size M, and on my build, they’re a little baggy. A slim fit option would be a great addition to the lineup as it would probably better suit my build (as well as the build of a lot of shorter guys).

Pact Downtime Relaxed Sweatshirt with Off Duty Shorts
Pact Off Duty Shorts

However, if you have particularly big thighs, these will probably be a great fit.

They have a 7″ inseam which will be a comfortable length for most guys.

If you want a comfortable pair of shorts to wear while you’re hanging out at home, these are a good option. Keep in mind, though, that they do contain some elastane (which is plastic) so they’re not a good option if you strive to wear plastic-free clothing.

FAQs

Here are the answers to some common questions about Pact:

Where Can I Buy Pact Clothing?

Pact has three brick-and-mortar locations in New York City, Palo Alto, and San Francisco. Some of their products can also be found at Whole Foods locations across the US. Of course, they sell clothing online too.

Is PACT Clothing Really Ethical?

Yes, it is! Pact backs up all of their claims and doesn’t appear to take any part in greenwashing.

Who Manufactures PACT clothing?

Most (if not all) of their clothing is made in a GOTS Certified and Fair Trade factory in India.

Here’s The Rundown

Pact has my seal of approval. Their products have become wardrobe staples for me. If you’re looking for ethically made clothing for a reasonable price, give Pact a try!

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!

Product Reviews ethical clothing, Pact, shorts, sweaters

Related Posts

Pendleton Sweater Review
Pendleton Wool Sweater Review (Yes, They Make Clothes Too)
Tentree Review
Tentree Review: Comfortable Clothing From a Sustainable Brand
Goodlife Review
Goodlife Review: Ethical but the Fit Isn’t for Everyone
Barbell Apparel Review: Athletic Fit Shirts, Shorts and Jeans

About Graham

Graham is a writer, musician, and the Director of Operations at The Modest Man. He likes creating, managing, and sharing helpful content with the TMM audience.

Background: Graham Romero is originally from the southeastern United States, but he's lived in some different cities while building his career as a remote digital marketer. In his spare time, Graham likes to spend time outside with loved ones, produce music, and build and repair guitars.

Expertise: Graham handles operations for The Modest Man and The Slender Wrist. He likes finding and reviewing high-quality products from ethical brands. Graham has collaborated with brands like Pact, Allbirds, Thursday Boots, Level8, Orbitkey, Darn Tough, and Dr. Squatch.

More Articles by This Author

LinkedIn

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Reader Interactions

Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

Primary Sidebar

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download).

No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Top 5 Favorites for Fall & Winter 2022

  1. Thursday Boots Captain – still the best Goodyear-welted boot under $200 (full review here) 🥾
  2. Matte for Men SPF Lotion – because you should be using moisturizer with SPF
  3. Darn Tough Wool Socks – possibly the best boot socks you can buy 🧦
  4. Hamilton Khaki Mechanical – perfect everyday mechanical watch under $500 (Amazon/Jomashop)
  5. Flint & Tinder Waxed Jacket – great fit, perfect weight for fall 👍🏼

Trending Articles

Men over 40 style

How to Dress Well In Your 40s and 50s (and Beyond)

Fashion brands for short men

Where to Buy Clothes for Short Men (2022 Guide)

Seiko 5 SNK805

31 Great Watches For Small Wrists (Updated for 2023)

Best Business Casual Shoes for Men

Top 8 Best Business Casual Shoes for Men (2023 Guide)

Business casual outfits

The Complete Guide to Business Casual Style for Men

Topics

  • Clothing & Style
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Fitness
  • Product Reviews
  • Dating & Confidence
  • Grooming
  • Men of Modest Height
  • Income Reports

Footer

The Modest Man logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Home • Blog • Resources • Contact • Advertise

 

Privacy Policy & Affiliate Disclosure • Terms & Conditions

 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Copyright © 2023 The Modest Man (Registered Trademark)