Hoods Up for Sustainability: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Wholesale Hooded Sweatshirts for Fall and Winter

Eco-conscious apparel is no longer a niche market in the USA. We have more retailers buying planet-friendly blank apparel from YouApparel than ever, as consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable options. The challenge is in keeping up with the demand with just the right kind of products. Considering that Fall is picking up, hoodies are a must-have. So the eyes will turn to sustainable hoodies that don’t compromise on quality and comfort.

This guide offers some of our top sustainable wholesale hooded sweatshirts recommendations to warm up your inventory (and your conscience) this fall.

But first, an overview is in order.

Before we get to the good stuff, let's break down what makes eco-friendly apparel so special. Two big players in the textile production game now are recycled cotton fibers and renewable fibers. 

Recycled Cotton Fibers: Picture this - those old jeans you donated last year? They might just end up in your next favorite hoodie! Recycled cotton, also known as regenerated cotton or reclaimed cotton, takes textile manufacturing leftovers or post-consumer cotton products donated for recycling, and gives them new life. The idea is to reduce landfill buildup and overuse of natural resources. The recycling facility generally divides the scraps by shade of color and the fabric’s composition while removing components that can’t be recycled. This sorting also significantly reduces the need for re-dyeing the yarn. They are then turned back into fibers, before blending with other fibers to create yarns that are strong enough to be woven or knit into fabrics.

Renewable Fibers: These fibers come from sources that grow back quickly, mostly from plants that can be cultivated sustainably and quickly. The overall impact on the environment is really really low. Plus, they often need less water and pesticides to grow. Lyocell, bamboo and hemp are a few examples of such fibers.

These hoodie brands in YouApparel are making waves in the wholesale market offering amazing quality apparel, with eco-friendly manufacturing practices or made of sustainable fabrics.

• Threadfast Apparel: Known for their ultra-soft cotton-recycled polyester blends and tri-blends, Threadfast is threading the needle between flawless comfort and conscience.
• Jerzees: This classic brand was one of the first deliverers of eco-friendly options that don’t take a toll on your budget.
• Alternative: True to their name, Alternative offers... well, alternatives to traditional manufacturing, with a focus on low-impact dyes and recycled materials.
• Lane Seven: Synonymous with “premium”, Lane Seven is turning heads with its commitment to ethical manufacturing and dreamy styles.
• Comfort Colors: Don't let the name lead you to conclusions - they're not just about hues. Comfort Colors is coloring outside the lines with its sustainability initiatives.
• Gildan: This industry giant is proving that big brands can make big changes, offering a growing line of eco-friendly options that are extremely budget-friendly; something the brand’s known for.

These blank sweatshirts and hoodies will impress your customers.

Gildan G180 Heavy Blend™ Fleece Crew - A consistent best-seller in our blank crewneck sweatshirts collection, the G180 is now made of 50% sustainably and fairly grown USA cotton blended with polyester. It remains the most popular unisex pullover also for its incredibly soft feel.

Threadfast Apparel 320Z Ultimate Fleece Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt - The 320Z and its pullover counterpart 320H from Threadfast Apparel has been getting a lot of love lately from YouApparel’s customers. Made of an extremely soft cotton-poly blend with 25% recycled polyester, the 320Z full-zip is an absolute bang for the buck. It offers a retail fit, comes with a three-panel two-ply hood, print-friendly zipper, pouch pockets, and even a phone pocket. Everything one would need in a hoodie for Fall.

Jerzees 993 8 oz. NuBlend® Fleece Full-Zip Hood- Yet another full-zip made of 50% sustainably sourced USA-grown cotton, this one is for those who prefer more cotton on their eco-friendly, budget-friendly hoodies. The brand’s NuBlend® trademark assures virtually pill-free and smooth printing canvas with a high-stitch density. Great for customization if that’s your angle.

Hanes F170 9.7 oz. Ultimate Cotton® 90/10 Pullover Hood- One of the best options for you if you believe superb quality can be really affordable too. The F170 is an iconic hoodie, once again made of the finest quality US-grown cotton. Sustainably sourced, of course. Hence why they call it “Ultimate Cotton”.  Mostly made of a cotton-poly blend with 90% cotton, except for the Light Steel (85% cotton) and Charcoal Heather (65% cotton) hues. It received an "A-" list status from CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) and the brand has been an Energy Star Partner of the Year for 14 consecutive years. To top it all off, every piece of Hanes apparel purchased contributes to Hanes4Education.

Fruit of the Loom 82130 Adult 12 oz. Supercotton™ Pullover Hood- There is Ultimate Cotton, and then there is the Supercotton from Fruit of the Loom. A cotton-poly blend so astonishingly cozy that you’d find excuses to keep wearing it, totally befitting its “Supercotton” title. Yet another USA-grown cotton product, this is one of our best blank heavyweight hoodies, and is in a league of its own.

Gildan G195 Unisex Hammer Maxweight Hooded Sweatshirt - Gildan outdid themselves with the brand’s new, classic fit G195 hoodie. With an awesome fabric blend featuring 75% US cotton and 25% recycled polyester, this one will turn heads once it drops this Fall into our inventory. The Hammer Maxweight 2-end heavyweight fleece truly delivers style and functionality. Its 100% cotton face also makes it a great pick for decorations. Check back in later once we stock it up.

Jerzees 700MR Eco™ Premium Blend Fleece Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt - If you seek a buttery soft, super comfy hoodie in all the perfect Fall colors, the Jerzees 700MR won’t disappoint at all. Made of 57% US-grown combed ringspun cotton and 43% recycled polyester for that extra softness, the hoodie is quarter-turned to eliminate center crease. Its shoulder-to-shoulder taping brings it closer to high-end pieces, adding to the comfort and making it aesthetically more pleasing but at a really reasonable price.

Russell Athletic 695HBM Unisex Dri-Power® Hooded Sweatshirt- Not many know that Russell Athletic has a cult following for their sweatshirts and hoodies. The 695HBM is one of the brand’s finest, made of sustainably sourced USA cotton available in every trending Fall color. 

Hanes P180 EcoSmart® Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt - It wouldn’t be fair not to mention the P180 full-zip. This offering from Hanes boasts a patented, low-pill, high-stitch density PrintPro® XP fabric made of 50% US-grown cotton sustainably sourced and 50% polyester. It’s just your everyday hoodie but better.

Feel-Good Fashion: Shoppers can strut their stuff knowing they're wearing something that didn’t force the planet to pay.

Quality Assured: These aren't your average fast-fashion duds. Sustainable materials often mean more durable goods of exceptional quality. Some of the more mid-range offerings can stay fresh for years.

Conversation Starters: Nothing breaks the ice like a cool hoodie that was once a soda bottle.

Versatility: From crewneck sweatshirts to a vast full zip hoodies wholesale collection, YouApparel offers you an eco-friendly option for every customer preferences.

While the chill of autumn is setting in, the demand for sustainable apparel keeps going up. By stocking up on these options, you can tap into a rapidly growing niche market and give something back to the planet in the process.

There's an eco-friendly option waiting to be discovered in YouApparel that could make a world of difference for your store. 

If you wish to explore the latest wholesale hooded sweatshirts trends this Fall, click the following link to a recent blog of ours that you will find interesting.