Pajamas & Loungewear That Are Non-Toxic, Ethical, Sustainable

Image credit: Not Just Pajama. This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, EcoCult receives a small percentage of the sale price. 

When it comes to pajamas and sleepwear, you’ll want to prioritize organic, natural fabric. Not only do you spend a third of your life in your PJs, but as you sleep, your body performs its most important recovery and healing processes. During this time, our bodies warm, coaxing sweat from our pores which can release dyes and toxic finishes from the fabrics we surround ourselves in at bedtime. This can increase the risk of developing or worsening the severity of conditions such as contact dermatitis and eczema, both of which have been linked to the chemicals in our clothing.

While we would love to offer you a longer list of nontoxic pajama brands, the truth is that most brands simply aren’t making the effort to ensure that their products are safe and free from harmful chemicals, synthetic fabrics, and toxic dyes. Yes, we have a high bar. But we know this is important to folks who have sensitive skin, allergies, chronic illness, cancer, mast cell activation syndrome, or chemical sensitivity.

Whether you’re looking for standard comfy sweats, chic sleepshirts, or spacious, flowy nightgowns, we’ve rounded up the best nontoxic and sustainable pajama and sleepwear brands below.

What to Look for in Eco-Friendly Pajamas and Sleepwear

Natural Fabrics: The brands below use natural, low-impact fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, natural silk, and linen. These natural fibers don’t wreak as much havoc on the environment when they’re washed or thrown out at the end of their life. They’re also more comfortable on your skin, and less likely to contain sensitizing chemicals such as azo disperse dyes.

Non-Toxic: Choose brands that create non-toxic products that are processed and dyed without harmful chemicals. Look for labels like Oeko-Tex, and bluesign. (And learn more about why this is important in Alden Wicker’s book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick – and How to Fight Back.)

Fair labor and transparency: As with everything you buy, check for fair labor practices. Look for brands that prioritize transparency (do they tell you where their apparel is made?) and certifications like Fair Trade and SA8000.

(In the market for skin-friendly undies too? Check out this post.)

Here are our favorite brands making ethical and sustainable pajamas and sleepwear:

What we love: Not Just Pajama is a London-based company with a vision for 100% pure, ethically sourced, biodegradable silk. Its pajamas are made from 100% Oeko-Tex-certified mulberry silk and colored with nontoxic dyes. These pajamas are hypoallergenic, breathable, and soft on the skin. As an added bonus, Not Just Pajama uses its production scraps to craft smaller bedtime accessories like silk scrunchies. 

Price range: $99 to $399

What we love: YesAnd sells eco-friendly, sustainable, and affordable woman’s clothing. Its modern basics are made using 100% organic cotton and low-impact dyes. The brand is also committed to fair wages, empowering female farmers, sustaining their local communities, and no child labor. YesAnd’s pajamas selection ranges from tunics, shorts, and dresses to long-sleeved tops.

Price range: $21 to $75

What we love: Hanna Andersson mostly makes clothing for babies and kids, but it also has a selection of matching family PJs that are just too cute to leave off this list. Its pajama line is made using organic cotton that is Oeko-Tex-certified non-toxic and comes in all kinds of different designs, including collections with your favorite Disney, Pixar, and Marvel heroes.

Price range: $11 to $135

What we love: Women-owned Mate the Label offers much in the line of pajamas that work year-round. Its pajamas are made from primarily natural, ethically-sourced materials and manufactured with sustainability in mind. You can find Tencel, linen, and organic cotton among the pajama selection, as well as a variety of nontoxic dyed colors and styles. These pajamas are free of harmful chemicals including BPA, PFAS, and formaldehyde. Mate the Label is climate-neutral-certified and offers a clothing recycling program to help mitigate pre- and post-consumer waste.

Price range: $19 to $98

What we love: Offering pajamas and robes in a variety of hand-stamped patterns, Mirth uses mixtures of Pima cotton and alpaca fibers to create its handwoven looks. The dyeing process of its unique fabrics uses dyes made from natural elements including mustard, madder, and iron, and are achieved using only hand-printed techniques- no electricity required. Mirth is dedicated to ethical employment in its small-scale factories in Bagru, India. Its selection offers two-piece short and long pajama sets and robes in a variety of floral prints.

Price range: $98 to $255

What we love: It may come as a surprise, but green mattress brand Avocado offers buttery-soft Modal pajamas that are free of azo dyes and toxic materials. This B-Corp-certified brand acknowledges and understands the risks associated with using azobenzene dyes in its Modal, leaving you with gorgeous, low-impact-dyed Modal pajama tops, bottoms, and robes to choose from. 

Watch out for: Some of the brand’s pajamas contain up to 10% elastane, which can be irritating to those with a sensitivity.

Price range: $48 to $148

What we love: Born in Australia, Boody is a basics brand that uses organic bamboo textiles throughout its range of underwear, activewear, and loungewear, including its PJs, which are made from sustainably-sourced natural bamboo with a closed-loop water system and non-toxic solvents. Workers are paid a living wage and garments are sewn in a way that significantly reduces fabric waste. Boody also uses recycled cardboard and vegetable-based ink for its packaging.

Watch out for: Some items in the brand’s pajama line contain elastane, which can be irritating to those with a sensitivity. 

Price range: $11 to $90