10 Natural and Plastic-Free Men’s Clothing Brands

If you want to support some men’s clothing brands that use natural materials instead of plastic, check out this list.

By now, it’s no secret that the clothing industry — specifically fast fashion — is damaging the environment in all kinds of ways.

Some of these negative aspects (like water pollution and energy consumption) are fairly obvious, but there are others that aren’t as apparent.

One such issue that tends to fly under the radar is the use of microplastics in clothing.

Microplastics are tiny plastic fibers that are released when synthetic materials are manufactured, worn, washed, and dried. That means that any clothes made from non-natural materials are always shedding microplastics.

Because they’re so small, microplastics get everywhere. Today, they can be found in everything from the water we drink to the air we breathe. These particles are so prevalent that they’ve even been seen raining down from the sky.

This poses a big problem for fashion-minded people who care about the environment. How can you reduce your impact in a world where synthetic materials are so commonplace?

There are a few ways to mitigate the effects of microplastics, and in this article, we’ll look at one of those solutions: choosing natural materials over synthetics.

Why You Should Consider Natural Materials

First, let’s get one thing straight: natural materials won’t solve all of the fashion industry’s environmental issues on their own.

The #1 problem with fashion is consumption, which means buying less is arguably the best thing you can do to directly help the environment.

But even if you’re anti-fast fashion, you’ll still need to buy clothes now and then, and that’s where natural fibers offer a better alternative.

The short version is it’s generally best to opt for natural, organically grown materials.

Some good natural materials include:

• Cotton
• Linen
• Wool/cashmere
• Hemp
• Bamboo
• Flax

Of course, that’s not to say that there’s nothing wrong with the ways natural materials are produced. Any clothing, especially clothing made on a larger scale, is going to impact the environment negatively.

But when you opt for natural materials, the overall impact is considerably less.

For one, fibers like organic cotton, linen, and wool don’t pollute ecosystems in the same way that synthetics like polyester and nylon do.

On top of that, since mass-produced synthetic clothing is so cheaply made, it often falls apart in the span of a few months or even weeks, creating waste almost immediately.

With natural materials, you’re guaranteed a higher-quality garment that will last longer. It’s even better if you buy from smaller makers that responsibly source their materials.

Does that mean you should throw out all of your synthetic clothes and fill your wardrobe with natural clothes? Well, no. (After all, that would create more waste).

But it does mean that if you want to take steps to reduce the environmental impact of clothing, you should definitely consider buying less and opting for natural materials when you do buy.

Synthetic Materials to Avoid

If you’re looking to minimize the number of microplastics in your clothing, then here are some key materials to stay away from:

• Polyester
• Nylon
• Acrylic
• Rayon/viscose
• Spandex/Elastane
• Lycra

Is Recycled Plastic Really Sustainable?

One thing you might notice is that many sustainable brands use recycled plastics in their clothing.

Unfortunately, recycled plastic still sheds microfibers, so its end-of-life impact is similar to that of virgin plastic. It can’t really be called purely “sustainable.”

However, from a production standpoint, recycled plastic is definitely more sustainable. Much of this plastic comes from used plastic bottles, textiles, and other waste that would otherwise pollute the environment.

That said, natural materials are still far superior to recycled plastics from an environmental perspective.

There are some types of clothes (e.g., casual winter coats) that are hard to make without some form of plastic-based material. For these items, choose recycled plastic when you can.

But to minimize your environmental footprint the most, stick with natural materials as much as possible.

Plastic-Free Men’s Clothing Brands

Wondering where to get completely plastic-free clothes? We’ve got you covered. These menswear brands all have fantastic plastic-free clothing options.

Here they are in reverse alphabetical order (because why not):

Thought Clothing

UK-based brand Thought has a plethora of plastic-free options that are designed to last, both in terms of materials and aesthetics.

Its men’s lineup is full of minimal and versatile garments that range from basic tees to workplace-ready button-downs.

The company is also transparent about what it uses and how. Take a look at its fabric breakdown, and you’ll see that the majority of its materials are completely natural. (Recycled plastics only account for 7% of total materials.)

In addition, Thought’s packaging is 98% recycled and 100% plastic free.

Tentree

Tentree is one of the more popular sustainable brands on the market right now. That’s in large part due to its namesake initiative — for every item purchased, Tentree plants ten trees.

Of course, Tentree doesn’t stop there. The brand uses natural materials like organic cotton, hemp, and cork, and its regularly updated sustainability report tracks certifications, carbon emissions, and more.

However, it’s worth noting that Tentree often uses recycled polyester, so if you’re wanting to go completely plastic-free, make sure to avoid those items.

You can see our review of Tentree here.

Pact

Pact is another big name in the sustainable clothing space. This carbon-neutral company uses materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and works with Fair Trade-certified factories.

While Pact does use small amounts of plastic-based materials like elastane and recycled nylon, a surprising amount of its offerings are made from 100% organic cotton.

In addition to essentials, Pact offers a wide range of menswear from polos to chambray shirts.

Pact also uses plastic-free, recyclable Vela bags to package its products.

If you want to learn more about the brand, check out our Pact review here.

Outerknown

Outerknown is yet another popular brand that sets a high bar for sustainability and overall eco-friendliness. The company is no stranger to natural materials, and it even tracks the percentage of preferred fibers used.

As such, Outerknown has plenty of plastic-free choices, including its famous Blanket Shirt, which (like many of its clothes) is 100% organic cotton. Other materials like merino wool (both virgin and recycled), linen, and hemp also pop up.

That said, several Outerknown items (mostly outerwear) use either virgin or recycled polyester, so watch out for those if you’re after zero-plastic options.

Organic Basics

With Organic Basics, you get exactly what it says on the tin. These sustainable essentials (including tees, socks, and underwear) can easily find a place in any closet.

Organic Basics is transparent about its material use. Currently, the company uses 75% plant-based materials and 15% recycled, with virgin materials comprising only 9%.

Organic cotton and recycled wool are two of the brand’s most commonly used materials. That said, synthetics like elastane and nylon do show up in some garments.

Olderbrother

If you’re looking for a completely plastic-free clothing brand that bridges the gap between traditional menswear and contemporary looks, then definitely check out Olderbrother.

Olderbrother uses only natural materials like organic Japanese cotton and recycled cashmere to craft its modern yet classic garments. The brand also uses natural dyes like indigo and fermented persimmon fruit.

What’s especially impressive is how Olderbrother handles outerwear. Instead of using recycled polyester or nylon, Olderbrother uses hand-beeswaxed Japanese broadcloth for the outer material and renewable tree filling for the inner stuffing.

While Olderbrother’s approach is squeaky clean, it makes for a costly process, so be prepared to spend a pretty penny.

It’s certainly not for everyone ($135 for a shirt is a little painful), but if you want completely natural clothes that are made to withstand the years, then this brand might be your new favorite.

Kotn

As its name implies, Kotn is all about cotton. This sustainable-leaning company uses mostly conventionally grown cotton but also offers ECOTEC cotton as well as cotton certified by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI).

Many of Kotn’s garments are 100% cotton, often consisting of a blend of different types of sustainable cotton. You’ll also find other natural fibers like linen and merino wool, but synthetics like elastane do show up in small amounts.

Kotn has claimed that it plans to introduce more organic cotton into its lineup, which would be a big plus for the company. Still, its 100% cotton garments are still completely plastic-free, and the brand’s modern styles mean that there’s something for everyone.

Harvest & Mill

Harvest & Mill takes the love of cotton to a new level by using only organic cotton for all of its clothing.

Because of this simple approach, Harvest & Mill excels at sustainability. 100% of its cotton is organic and grown in the USA, and the majority of its clothes are dye-free.

Its lineup consists of basics like tees and socks along with hoodies, joggers, and sweatshirts. Since most of the garments aren’t dyed, they retain the natural look of the type of cotton they were made with, which is a nice touch.

Arms of Andes

Looking for plastic-free, sustainable activewear? Then check out Arms of Andes.

Taking a note from traditional Peruvian culture, Arms of Andes uses royal alpaca wool for all of its apparel. Because alpaca wool is naturally flexible, thermoregulating, and moisture-wicking, no synthetics need to be added to it.

From base layers to jackets, Arms of Andes has all your basic activewear needs covered. These clothes are designed to be durable in outdoor environments, so you can trust them to hold up in the gym or on a hike.

Alex Crane

If you’re looking for a brand that exclusively uses natural materials, look no further than Alex Crane. They have a huge focus on sustainability, and that includes avoiding plastic.

They use natural materials like linen, organic cotton, natural rubber and raw leather.

If you want some stylish and sustainable basics, Alex Crane has you covered. They make everything from t-shirts to button-ups, shorts to linen pants, coats, and more.

Natural and Plastic-Free FAQs

Here are a few common questions about plastic-free clothing:

What Is the Most Eco-friendly Brand?

It’s almost impossible to say that one brand is the most eco-friendly. When looking for eco-friendly brands, look at what materials they use and how they source and process those materials.

What Is Natural Fiber Clothing? Are Natural Fabrics Better?

Natural fiber clothing is clothing made from non-human-made materials. Instead, these fibers come from completely natural sources. Cotton, linen, hemp, and flax are a few examples of natural fibers.

Generally speaking, natural fabrics are better than synthetics because they have a lower overall impact on the environment.

Where Can I Find Organic Clothes?

Organic clothes can only come from brands that use certified organic materials. Make sure you check for these organic certifications (like GOTS for cotton) before buying.

Is The Future Plastic Free?

Plastic is undoubtedly tricky to avoid when shopping for clothes, but unfortunately, that fact doesn’t diminish the material’s negative environmental impacts.

Even though many clothing brands are promising to be more sustainable, most of them are still using synthetic fabrics (whether virgin or recycled), so it’s hard to say how soon the fashion industry will focus on eliminating plastic-based materials.

However, it’s definitely possible for us as consumers to reduce the number of plastics in our wardrobes, and that begins with being aware of plastic-free clothing options.

You don’t have to replace your entire wardrobe overnight. You can make a positive impact by simply buying less and opting for natural materials when you do buy.

This list offers a starting point, but keep in mind that you’re not limited to all-natural brands. Many traditional brands have many plastic-free options, so make sure to take a look at the materials list whenever you’re shopping to know what you’re getting into — literally.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!