Winters, especially for those of us in Canada, require a on trend toque as a wardrobe staple.We need to stay warm while looking our best! For those of you who are sick of paying for plastic woven hats or can’t seem to find the right balance between fashionable and functional while also sustainable, we’ve curated a list of the best toques out there that care for people and the planet.
Love your Melon
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For: Women and kids Made in: USA Price: $25-$55 Materials: Knit products made using 100% cotton Why they’re awesome: Starting with the desire to give each child in America battling cancer a hat, two university students started Love Your Melon. To date Love Your Melon has donated 230,000 hats and has donated $9.6 million to pediatric cancer research. |
United by Blue
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For: Men and Women Made in: All over the world in their partner manufacturing facilities. Most hats are made in China Price: $10-$42 Materials: Organic cotton, polyester, wool, spandex Why they’re awesome: I’m personally impressed by United by Blue’s Impact section of their website, it’s easy to find and offers a lot of information about their operations. With the aim to be transparent, the brand specifically calls out their manufacturing partners and provides details about their certifications and how they work together. 100% of their suppliers a compliant with United by Blue’s Supplier Code of Conduct which is also very prominently shared. |
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Toques from the Heart
| For: Unisex Made in: Canada Price: $30-$55 Materials: Merino wool or recycled materials Why they’re awesome: Started by three Canadian university students who saw the devastating situation of homelessness in the Greater Toronto Area, Toques from the Heart began as a vehicle to distribute warm toques to the homeless. Even better than that compassionate mission is that some of their hats are made with 100% recycled materials! |
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Organic Basics
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For: Unisex Made in: Europe Price: $55-$75 Materials: Recycled wool and cashmere Why they’re awesome: Head over the Organic Basics website and you’ll find a six page report outlining their commitment to the environment, ethical sourcing and farming practices. They even have a whole page dedicated to their f**k ups, a company openly sharing where they messed up and should do better! And can we talk about the material, 85% recycled cashmere, soooo soft! |
Pokoloko
| For: Unisex Made in: Peru Price: $50 Materials: 100% Peruvian alpaca Why they’re awesome: Pokoloko’s Fisherman hat comes in eleven different colours for you to chose from. Made with 100% alpaca wool, how divine and great for four seasons. Pokoloko works directly with artisan partners for manufacturing and you can read more about where their products come from. |
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Will and Bear
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For: Unisex Made in: Mongolia and China with specific manufacturing partners Price: $50-$55 Materials: Australian wool Why they’re awesome: “We exist to create a culture that cares for our planet” is Will and Bear’s mission. Their brand and their partners are rooted in this grounding principle. Their products are made from materials that won’t cost the planet later and they ensure the way materials are produced and harvested have low impact on climate. If you’re in the market for a laidback look, you’ll want to start with his company! |