Recycled Fleece Favourites

Cosy winter fleeces now come in eco-friendly and sustainable recycled versions. Check out this lineup of cosy recycled fleeces that will keep you toasty all autumn and winter long!

After years of hating fleeces, I’ve only gone and bought one. I took inspiration from Chris Packham in BBC Earth, a program I recommend to anyone interested in how the Earth was formed. It’s got the same vibe as a David Attenborough series. Anyway, the star of the show was the Chris Packham outfits.

The Chris Packham yellow fleece is from Mountain Equipment. However, I’ve found several more brands selling recycled polyester fleece. A favourite of mine is Passenger. The website is packed with bright and fun fleeces and jumpers that are great for hiking as the weather cools. I bought the Rappel Recycled Fleece Oversized Shirt in shade faded denim. It’s a really warm overshirt/jacket with a boxy fit. I’m wearing it on top of an oversized dress in the images. I like the silhouette of the two oversized garments. But it needs the extra height from the boot.

I intend to wear it with the dogs on autumn hikes in the countryside. It’s warm but easy to wrap around my waist if it gets too hot. If we succumb to the rain, I can fit a waterproof jacket over the top. For coat recommendations, see puffy coats and coats for men.

I also intend to wear the fleece on dog walks around the neighbourhood. It’s nice to throw on something cosy over my regular clothes that isn’t a colossal coat or jacket. At the moment, the weather is perfect for it. I’ll bring it to the dog park with my coffee and almond croissant as the dogs run around.

Passenger has a few other fleeces that I have my eye on. I love the retro feel of the Alexander Polar Hooded Fleece, and the Clover reminds me of cute cabins in the woods. Marshmallows on the fire, anyone?

What is fleece?

It’s a brushed polyester fabric. Recycled fleece is used plastic, including plastic bottles and rubbish collected from the sea, broken down and spun to create a wearable fabric.

What is recycled fleece?

Recycled fleece is a brushed polyester fabric from old plastic transformed into a new material. If you are buying a fleece, check the label or product description; it should state the percentage of recycled products in the garment.

Is recycled fleece vegan?

Yes, fleece is always vegan if made from polyester or recycled polyester. However, if it contains wool, it isn’t vegan. If this is the case, it will be stated on the label or the product description if you buy online.

Is there an eco-friendly fleece?

Recycled polyester fleece is eco-friendly. There are more recommendations for recycled fleece further down this post. Use a guppy bag to prevent any polyester particles from getting washed into the environment. Fleece can also be eco-friendly if made from wool, which is biodegradable.

Is fleece warmer than wool?

Wool is warmer than fleece, but it’s a great idea to layer them together on cold days. Fleeces are great for wearing over other clothing instead of a jacket or coat, and they can also be layered underneath a coat to make it warm and cosy. For woolly recommendations, try sustainable wool scarves, cosy sustainable winter hats, yak wool sweaters and British wool jumpers.

Recycled Fleece Picks

Another brand that makes a great recycled fleece is BAM. The 73 Zero Half Zip Borg Fleece is available in two colours. I love the oxblood. It looks so cosy. The Circular Textiles Foundation certifies it as recyclable, ensuring you can recycle it properly without any part ending up in a landfill. (For more circular brands, see the end of this post.) Send it back after the jacket has reached the end of its life, and BAM will recycle it for free.

BAM also sells a guppy bag for washing polyester clothes. It prevents synthetic debris from entering the water system, thus protecting the environment from plastic pollution.

This longline fleece jacket from Arket is an excellent colour for layering. Surely everyone could use recycled fleece at this point? The recycled bottle dark green fleece pairs well with shorts and looks perfect for throwing on for a yoga class or running errands. It even has a hood, although I’m unsure if that’s more style over substance. I often wear a hood in cold and windy weather. I also love the longline fleecy shacket from BAM.

More Cosy Recycled Fleece

The 73 Zero Boxy Fleece Gilet from BAM is one of my favourite pics of the season. The oaty fleece resembles a cosy sheepskin slipper. It’s a great layering piece; there are so many different outfit options to wear it. It would look great with the dress I’m wearing in these images, along with something longsleeved to keep the cosy feel. It would also work with a jacket over the top. I also like how they styled it on the website images.

Northface has also cottoned onto the recycled fleece trend with this cute fleecy jumper. The boysenberry colour is lovely for autumn, and the Cragmont fleece mittens are perfect for early morning dog walks. And if you love fleecy feet, the Seasalt Starry Eyed Fleece Slippers are ideal for a cosy night in—definite clouds on feet.

Patagonia offers some adorable retro-style fleeces made from recycled polyester. I’m fond of the dark yellow colour, though “nest brown” is a rather unappealing name! Patagonia’s synchilla fleece was one of the first fleecy fabrics, resembling synthetic chinchilla. Additionally, Patagonia is committed to sustainability; their clothing can be returned for recycling once you’re done with it.

Vintage Fleece

Etsy vintage fleeces are great, too. I love this vintage ski scene fleece, the 90s oversized fleece, the oaty sherpa fleece, and the vintage teddy jacket fleece.

More sustainable fashion

100 Ways to Embrace Sustainable Fashion

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