11 Most Affordable Sustainable Sweaters for Fall and Winter

Cute, sustainable, AND attainable sweaters? 

Why yes, you can have it all! 

The ‘ber’ months are here! As temperatures drop, its time to grab a PSL, book a trip to a pumpkin patch, and to start shopping for that perfect, cozy cuddly sweater for fall and winter…If only it were that simple.  For anyone trying to build a sustainable wardrobe, you know that nothing can be more frustrating than struggling to find the perfect sweater – no, ANY sweater – that isn’t made of synthetic, man-made fibers such as polyester or acrylic. What’s worse is that the sweaters we see trending and those readily available in stores and in our price range are generally not made of sustainable materials. And frankly, when you hunt online for sustainable, ethical sweaters, you often find them at prices that hurt the wallet and make them feel unattainable. 

This sounds less cozy and more cuss-worthy. It’s not easy finding the perfect affordable sustainable sweater. 

I’ve got your back with 11 different affordable sustainable sweaters to rock this fall and winter season!

That’s why I’ve done the hard work of finding cute, affordable sustainable sweaters for you! Threadlore’s goal is to make sustainable choices easier, so I’ve gathered a list of my top picks for the season of the best sweaters for the planet and your style. A variety of sweater styles in organic cotton, wool, and recycled materials that are both sustainable and budget-friendly.  

Now you can look good and feel good this fall and winter!

Check out our shop as well – Threadlore supplies organic cotton sweatshirts and tees for the fall and winter seasons. 

Threadlore’s Top Picks for Affordable Sustainable Sweaters:

1. Quince – 100% Organi Cotton Fisherman Crew Sweater
2. Prana – Sonoma Valley Sweater
3. Pact – Classic Fine Knit V-neck
4. Tentree – Highline Crewneck Dress
5. Frank and Oak – The Button-Up Sweater Vest
6. Quince – 100% Organic Cotton Oversized Cardigan
7. Woolovers – Cashmere Merino Deep V-neck
8. Known Supply – Seldom Sweater
9. The Irish Store – Lismore Aran Tunic Sweater
10. Naadam – The Essential $75 Sweater
11. Fair Indigo – Organic Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater

Sweaters you can feel good about, so you can worry less about what your wearing, and focus more on the fall and winter season activities you’re wearing it for. 

Happy ‘ber’ season my friends! 

A quick note about “Affordability” vs “Attainability”…

I prefer the word “attainable” rather than “affordable” because affordability is different for everyone and their unique circumstances. This article includes a variety of sweater styles and prices on the lower end of the spectrum in the hopes it provides a fair range of options that are more attainable for more people than sweaters priced beyond that. I’ve done my best to have a variety of prices and styles to fit many possible reader preferences and budgets. 

Plan your purchases, save up, wait for sales and discount opportunities, or shop second-hand to acquire the pieces you need to build your wardrobe. A sustainable wardrobe does not appear overnight. Take your time to build it and purchase what you can when you can.  

1. Quince – 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Crew Sweater

Photos courtesy of onequince.com

Why we love it:

• Under $50
• 100% Organic Cotton
• Oeko Tex Certified
• Can be dressed up or down
• Multiple color choices
• Over 2800 reviews and 5 star ratings

Simple, classic, cozy, goes with anything. Being cotton, you’ll get a lighter weight feel with this sweater, so if you’re not into super chunky, heavy sweaters this may be up your alley. This sweater can pair with just about anything and comes in a variety of colors. And for being just under $50, it really can’t be beat as a perfect sustainable sweater option. For anyone starting a more sustainable wardrobe, or perhaps slowly building a wardrobe full of long lasting classic pieces, this piece is worth adding.

2. Prana – Sonoma Valley Sweater

Photos courtesy of prana.com

Why we love it:

• Bright, unusual colors
• Unique checkered basketweave knit design
• Organic cotton, recycled polyester, and wool
• Priced at $95

Loving the colors for this sweater, popping with a Spiced Orange and Rich Sapphire purple that you just don’t see every day. Great for fall vibes. Softer and cozier than a 100% cotton sweater thanks to the cotton/wool/polyester blend. This sweater is a great balance of classic and unique. Prana is dedicated to sustainability and ethical apparel.

3. Pact – Classic Fine Knit V-Neck Sweater

Photos courtesy of wearpact.com

Why we love it:

• Staple wardrobe piece
• Bold color options
• 100% organic cotton
• Fair Trade Factory made
• Priced at $88

That perfect v-neck, lightweight, classic sweater that’s excellent for capsule wardrobes because it pairs with everything. Coming from Pact, you know it checks all the boxes for ethically made. Designed to be a little looser than many traditional v-neck sweaters that are generally more fitted, and this one is available in a great assortment of bold fall colors. Its simply a great option and well priced.

4. Tentree – Highline Crewneck Dress

Photos courtesy of tentree.com

Why we love it:

• 100% organic cotton
• Sweater dress!
• Waffle knit design
• Every order plants trees
• Priced at $98 normally, but several colors are on steep discount!

Love this piece. It’s somewhere between a mini dress and a long tunic, perfect to pair with leggings and boots. Comfy and casual, you get your cozy sweater vibes and favorite dress all in one. Tentree is certainly a Threadlore approved brand that is steadily expanding its offerings, and right now has a huge variety of sweaters to choose from. Many are priced just over our $100 self-imposed budget for this post, but many still fall under the budget and are priced affordably. Tentree is a good option for those just starting out on the sustainable wardrobe journey.

5. Frank and Oak – The Button-Up Sweater Vest

Photos courtesy of frankandoak.com

Why we love it:

• 100% Organic Cotton
• Sweater Vest style!
• Priced at $99.50

Sweater vests are not for everyone, but you cannot deny the fall cozy curl-up-with-a-book vibes, or academia aesthetics. Pair this with denim jeans or a long corduroy skirt and tall boots and you’ve got a killer seasonal ensemble. Sweater vests are also great for those who get too hot in traditional sweaters. I might be biased, but I just love this. It scrapes by onto this list coming in just shy of $100.

6. Quince – 100% Organic Cotton Oversized Cardigan

Photos courtesy of oneQuince.com

Why we love it:

• Just under $50!
• 100% Organic Cotton
• Oeko Tex Certified
• Oversized fit so you don’t actually have to size up
• Multiple color choices
• Over 1200 reviews and 5 star ratings

Yep, another one from Quince. But it had to make the list. I’m obsessed with this cardigan. I have it in black but think I need it in about 3 more colors at least. This is a go-to sweater when you want to feel cozy and cuddly, but still give chic. Smooth, hefty cotton in this one, great for layering. Huge pockets to stash your phone or chilly hands. Quincy is all about sustainable apparel at an affordable price, so highly recommend you check out them out.

7. Woolovers – Cashmere Merino Deep V-neck

Photos courtesy of woolovers.us

Why we love it:

• 90% Merino Wool 10% Cashmere
• Perfect Tunic v-neck style
• Under $100, coming in at $99, but if you catch it on sale you can see prices even lower.
• Multiple color choices
• Oversized style

If you like tunic-style sweaters, this one’s a gem – the only trouble is snagging it while it’s in stock! Sizes seem to sell out fast, especially in popular colors like the dark plum. Simple and elegant, this tunic sweater is an easy fall and winter staple and can be paired with leggings, jeans, or long skirts. Its oversized design allows it to fit comfortably and loose, even for those of us with curvy hips! Woolovers is also committed to ethically sourced cashmere, which adds major bonus points to this great sweater.

8. Known Supply – Seldom Sweater

Photos courtesy of knownsupply.com

Why we love it:

• 100% organic cotton
• Fair Trade Certified
• Classic cable knot aesthetic
• Under $100 at $68

This sweater gives off all the classic cable knit vibes for fall. Available in 3 colors, you can pair this with anything and come off chic. This sweater is fitted, but reviews state it looks great sized up for an oversized look. It also has a classic length, coming in at the high hip (as opposed to mid-hip or tunic lengths), making your legs look longer and pairing fabulously over a long dress…I’m now swooning over this very detailed hypothetical holiday outfit now…

9. The Irish Store – Lismore Aran Tunic Sweater

Photos courtesy of theirishstore.com

Why we love it:

•  Authentic Aran Tunic
• 100% merino wool
• Beautiful modern boho vibes with crochet detailing
• Marked down from an original price of $114.95, it scrapes by to land on our list at $99.95 at the time of this writing.

Absolutely loving this modern Aran sweater that feels like an homage to vintage crochet sweaters of the 60’s – with none of the orange wallpaper and all of the chic-but-laid-back vibes. Very feminine and very unique, this fitted sweater oozes classy comfort with a touch of boho beauty. It can definitely be paired with pants or a flowy skirt. As if all that’s not enough, it’s 100% merino wool, meaning its made of natural fibers. The Irish Store has a number of sweaters that are equally as stunning, ranging in styles, colors, and prices under $100. They could do better as a company to ensure ethically sourced wool to its customers, but for consumers looking to start a more sustainable wardrobe, seeking all-natural fibers is a step in the right direction. Wel worth checking them out for this fall/winter season. 

10. Naadam – The Essential $75 Sweater

Photos courtesy of naadam.com

Why we love it:

• Naadam is committed to transparency and sustainability
• A classic crewneck sweater that can dress up or down
• 100% premium sustainable cashmere
• Affordably priced at $75

What’s not to love about this sweater? Coming in a variety of colors, it’s a classic for any wardrobe and simply made that much better being cashmere and backed by a company who’s serious about doing the right thing. This is the kind of sweater that can dress up or down and become a key piece to any capsule wardrobe. For a company where many if not most of its products soar above $100 and beyond, the Essential $75 Sweater is a great introductory product for anyone wanting to make a budget-friendly shift to a more sustainable wardrobe. 

11. Fair Indigo – Organic Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater

Photos courtesy of fairindigo.com

Why we love it:

• 100% organic cotton
• Machine washable
• Fairly made in Lima, Peru
• Earth-friendly and certified safe dyes
• Affordably priced at $89.90

Although not available yet, this boyfriend cardigan is soon to hit Fair Indigo’s racks and you can sign up to be notified once they land in stock. This is your classic long cardigan, wardrobe staple. Simple as that. Perfect when you want something light weight, not too heavy and great for layering and pairing with a scarf. At this price point and with Fair Indigo’s commitments, you can feel great about adding this sweater to your fall/winter rotation. 

Buy Second-Hand

Another great option to find fall sweaters at an attainable price and do the world some good, is to shop second-hand. Sites like ThredUp and Poshmark, second-hand boutiques, clothing swaps are all great ways to find affordable sustainable sweaters for fall. Shopping second-hand also allows you to consider sweaters of synthetic fibers that you can save from the landfill. ThredUp and Poshmark enable you to score designer brands at a fraction of the new retail cost. 

Consider attending a fall clothing swap. A clothing swap allows you to bring clothes you want to dispose of and trade for something from other attendees. Its a great way to support local communities interested in decreasing fashion waste, and to score new-to-you sweaters for the season ahead. 

Don’t be afraid to expand your options for a unique piece by shopping second-hand for affordable sustainable sweaters. 

So there you have it, a go-to list of affordable, not priced out of this world sustainable sweaters that can meet you wherever you are on your journey to a more sustainable wardrobe. Hopefully you’ll find something you love and new brands to enjoy this fall and winter season. Enjoy!

Shop our Fall Collection of Organic Sweatshirts today!