By Ela Matters Staff 
Want to fill your warehouse with products that your customers actually care about?
The wholesale apparel industry is shifting rapidly. Buyers are no longer primarily focused on low prices for basic products – now they’re looking for merchandise that they and their customers feel good about. And one of the biggest opportunities in this space is sustainable materials for sweatshirts and hoodies.
Here’s why…
Sustainable Wholesale Sweatshirts and Hoodies: The Facts
The sustainable fashion market size was $8.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $33.1 billion by 2033. This massive growth opportunity will not go unnoticed by wholesale buyers looking for the hottest new merchandise.
In this post, we’ll cover:
- What makes a material sustainable for wholesale apparel?
- The rise of sustainable wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies
- Top 5 sustainable materials to know about
- Why buyers are choosing sustainable over traditional
What Makes Materials Sustainable in Wholesale Apparel?
First, let’s define what we mean by sustainable materials…
Sustainable materials are fabrics and fibers that have a lower environmental impact than traditional options across their full lifecycle. This includes reduced water and chemical usage, lower carbon emissions, and ethical labor practices.
If you think about how traditional cotton is grown using vast amounts of pesticides and water, it becomes clear how sustainable alternatives can make a difference. Organic cotton has 46% lower global warming potential per kg produced compared to conventional cotton.
In the context of wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies, the most popular sustainable materials are:
- Organic cotton – grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
- Recycled polyester – made from recycled plastic bottles or textile waste
- Hemp – requires very little water and no pesticides to grow
- Bamboo – fast-growing with natural antibacterial properties
- Recycled cotton – reclaimed from textile waste or old clothing
These sustainable fabrics are taking the wholesale apparel industry by storm, and buyers are rushing to source products made with them.
The Rise of Eco-Friendly Wholesale Sweatshirts and Hoodies
The stats speak for themselves.
67% of consumers now rank sustainable materials as a very important factor when making clothing and apparel purchases. That’s more than half of your potential customer base who will actively look for eco-friendly options if they don’t come to them.
The apparel segment captured a 45.5% market share of the sustainable fashion market in 2023, with items like sweatshirts and hoodies being key contributors to that share. This is because hoodies are everyday wardrobe staples that consumers reach for time and time again.
Wholesale buyers know this, which is why they’re loading up on sustainable options. Why? For the same reasons consumers buy them:
- Growing customer demand
- Brand loyalty increases 30% for sustainable products
- Premium pricing possible on eco-friendly goods
- Inventory future-proofed against regulation changes
Already major brands like Patagonia, Adidas, and H&M have made public commitments to source more recycled, organic, and natural materials for their clothing and apparel. Smaller, niche retailers are starting to follow their lead as consumers make their preferences known at the checkout.
Top 5 Sustainable Material Options You Need To Know
Let’s take a closer look at the most common sustainable materials for wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies. Each has its own advantages, so it’s good to be familiar with all of them.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is the new cotton.
It’s grown without any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, making it way better for the environment than traditional cotton. Plus, it uses 91% less water during production.
Organic cotton feels just as soft and comfortable against the skin as conventional cotton, so it’s an easy switch for buyers. The only downside? It’s currently slightly more expensive to source due to limited supply.
But customers are happy to pay more for cotton they can feel good about.
Recycled Polyester
Recycled polyester is like hitting two birds with one stone.
Manufactured from plastic bottles and textile waste, recycled polyester not only keeps those materials out of landfills but also creates a durable, moisture-wicking fabric for your products. Brands increased the use of sustainable materials by 40% in the past five years, and recycled polyester was at the forefront of that trend.
Ideal for athletic-style hoodies and moisture-wicking sweatshirts.
Hemp
Hemp is the black sheep of sustainable materials.
It grows quickly, needs almost no water to grow, and actually gets softer with each wash. This makes hemp sweatshirts an incredibly durable choice that will last your customers a long time – and be great for reducing waste.
The only thing standing in its way? A lack of awareness amongst buyers of what hemp is and its benefits.
Bamboo Blends
The good news about bamboo is how quickly it grows.
The more you cut it, the more it regenerates without needing replanting, not to mention it requires no pesticides and naturally resists bacteria. Bamboo-blend hoodies offer a silky-soft texture that customers love in loungewear and everyday casual items.
It’s gaining a lot of traction in the wholesale market right now.
Recycled Cotton
Here’s a fun fact to drop the next time you’re at a cocktail party…
Recycled cotton is sourced from textile waste or old clothing that’s processed and turned back into cotton fiber. It usually makes up 20-30% of the fiber content of a clothing item, but blended with virgin cotton or other fibers to provide durability and strength.
It’s not particularly impressive on its own, but it’s a great way to significantly reduce the environmental impact of your wholesale sweatshirts.
Why Buyers Are Choosing Sustainable Over Traditional
It’s not just about feeling good.
Shifting to sustainable wholesale apparel is a smart business move. Let’s be honest, traditional wholesale buyers are up against:
- Changing consumer preferences and demands for eco-friendly products
- Incoming regulations around textile waste and emissions
- Younger demographics expecting transparency and sustainability
- Competition from brands who’ve already launched sustainable ranges
Sustainable materials allow you to hit back against these trends by offering:
- Higher perceived value with customers
- Better margins on premium-priced sustainable products
- Inventory less likely to become outdated or need discounting
- Marketing hooks that cut through in a noisy market
Buyers who make the switch to stocking sustainable sweatshirts and hoodies now will be in pole position to capitalize as regulations and consumer demand continue to grow in future years.
Making The Switch To Sustainable Materials
Making the transition to sustainable wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process.
You don’t need to flip your entire inventory over night. Start by integrating sustainable products into your current orders and test the response of your customers.
Pay attention to which sustainable materials and styles are moving fastest and adjust your buying strategy accordingly.
Look for suppliers that can offer certified organic cotton (look for GOTS certification), GRS-certified recycled materials, complete supply chain transparency, and fair trade certification.
Sustainability doesn’t mean skimping on quality. Customers expect eco-friendly products to perform as well as they do for the planet.
Final Thoughts On Sustainable Materials For Wholesale Apparel
Sustainable materials for wholesale sweatshirts and hoodies represent the future of apparel.
The market is set to grow at over 20% per year. This isn’t a fad – it’s a fundamental shift in how fashion gets produced and sold.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Sustainable fashion market will reach $33.1 billion by 2033
- 67% of consumers say sustainable materials are important to their clothing and apparel purchases
- Material innovation has increased 40% in the past 5 years
Buy smart, sell better, and choose sustainable.