As soon as autumn hits, it‘s time to break out the sweaters. Nothing beats the comfort of curling up by the fireplace in a soft, cuddly knit. But not all sweaters live up to the hype. Shoddy materials and poor construction can leave you out in the cold—literally.
That‘s why it pays to invest in quality pieces from reputable brands. In this definitive guide, we‘ll count down the 15 best sweater brands on the market. From boutique luxury labels to accessible everyday staples, these companies set the standard for style, comfort, and ethical production.
Let‘s dive in to find your new favorite sweater!
How We Chose the Best Sweater Brands
Selecting the top sweater brands involved careful evaluation across several categories:
- Materials: We favored brands using premium natural fibers like merino wool and cashmere. Synthetic blends got the boot.
- Construction quality: Every brand produces durable, well-crafted designs made to last for years.
- Style versatility: The best sweaters pair effortlessly with endless outfits in your closet.
- Ethical and sustainable practices: From safe working conditions to eco-friendly materials, these brands make ethical production a priority.
- Value and price transparency: You get what you pay for with fair prices tied directly to production costs.
- Consistent rave reviews: Happy customers confirm the exceptional quality across the board.
If a brand met these standards, it made the cut to be one of the best sweater producers on the market right now.
15 Best Sweater Brands for Every Style and Budget
From luxury legacy labels to emerging sustainable brands, we present our picks for the absolute best sweater brands across all categories.
1. Khaite
Recognized as a celebrity and fashion editor darling, Khaite brings dramatic luxury to everyday knitwear. Creative director Catherine Holstein honed her craft at labels like Helmut Lang and Gap. In 2016, she launched Khaite with a tight edit of rich, versatile essentials.
The brand‘s artfully oversized crewnecks and cardigans come in neutral, earthy tones fit for both rugged countryside and sleek city life. Luxe, heavyweight constructions of cashmere, extrafine merino, and alpaca yarn encapsulate you in decadent softness.
With quality to match the design ingenuity, Khaite sweaters retail from $880 to $2,400. Treat yourself or a loved one to these heirloom pieces made to last a lifetime.
2. Alex Mill
Alex Mill co-founder and designer Somsack Sikhounmuong honed his minimalist vision through roles at iconic labels like J.Crew and Madewell. Launched in 2012, Alex Mill translates Sikhounmuong‘s sharp, unfussy eye into a collection of updated classics—especially when it comes to knits.
Alex Mill‘s merino sweaters come in versatile crewneck, v-neck, half-zip, and vest iterations that seamlessly transition from mountain trails to city streets. Cashmere and cotton styles add luxe softness without sacrificing the easygoing versatility. With quality to stand the test of time, Alex Mill‘s sweaters retail from $98 to $248.
3. Everlane
Everlane‘s radical price transparency has made it the ultimate destination for elevated basics, sweaters included. Launched originally as a digitally native vertical brand in 2010, Everlane brings luxury quality to everyday wardrobe heroes.
Known for their oversized crewnecks, v-necks, and cardigans, Everlane sweaters come in custom-developed extrafine merino, organic cotton, and Grade-A cashmere. They deliver unparalleled softness wash after wash while holding their shape. With fair labor commitments matching sustainable materials, Everlane proves ethically produced doesn‘t have to carry luxury price tags.
Sweaters here retail from $50 to $225 based directly on cost breakdowns shared with customers.
4. Barefoot Dreams
Since its launch in 1994, Barefoot Dreams built a cult following around ultra-cozy knits practically woven from clouds. Founder Stan Cook launched the brand as an homage to his wife‘s glowingly warm personality. The California-based company donates a portion of proceeds to charitable organizations like the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.
Barefoot Dreams leans on proprietary CozyChic® fabrication across its loungewear and knits. A brushed microfiber polyester mimics the indulgent softness of cashmere at a fraction of the price. Signature cardigans, pullovers, cowls, and shawls promise fireside snuggles wherever you roam.
With exceptional quality bearing Oprah’s official seal of approval, Barefoot Dreams sweaters retail from $116 to $178.
5. Naadam
Naadam built an empire bringing Mongolian cashmere directly to the Western market. By cutting out middlemen and working closely with nomadic herding cooperatives, Naadam delivers unbeatable value.
Naadam offers an expansive collection of cashmere sweaters for men and women in versatile crewneck, v-neck, turtleneck, cardigan and hoodie options. Oversized silhouettes in neutral, earthy tones work for rugged outdoor adventures or curling up fireside. Using Grade-A Mongolian and Chinese cashmere, Naadam sweaters retail between $75 and $250.
With radical transparency allowing customers to trace garments back to their exact sheep herds, Naadam removes all doubts over ethical production.
6. Gentle Herd
Launched in 2015, Gentle Herd‘s direct-to-consumer model allows unprecedented value for Mongolian cashmere. Founder Tim Allori established tight relationships with nomadic herding cooperatives in Mongolia to cut costs.
The brand‘s understated wardrobe staples carry versatility from rugged trails to city streets. Crewneck, v-neck, and quarter-zip sweater options come in neutral, earthy palettes designed to pair with any closet. Gentle Herd uses 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere across all knits for unbeatable softness.
With wool ethically sourced from sheep tended through traditional, sustainable practices, Gentle Herd prices cashmere sweaters from $125 to $295.
7. Ganni
Since its launch in 2000 by husband-and-wife duo Nicolaj and Ditte Reffstrup, Ganni won global acclaim for its playful Scandinavian spirit. Ganni sweaters capture the brand‘s maximalist femininity through recycled cashmere and wool knits exploding with eclectic prints.
Oversized crewnecks, polos and cardigans allow you to swaddle yourself in Ganni‘s singular aesthetic. The brand offsets indulgent silhouettes by using at least 50% recycled or repurposed fibers. For the ultimate eco-luxury, Ganni‘s warm, ethical sweaters retail between $315 to $625.
8. La Ligne
Founded in 2016 by three fashion industry veterans, La Ligne translates Parisian polish to multitasked modern essentials. Known for its signature stripes, the brand approaches knits with a similar eye for sophisticated versatility.
Effortless merino crewnecks, polos, cardigans and more balance fitted and oversized shapes for seasons of wear. La Ligne‘s considered color palette sticks to wearable neutrals punctuated by its signature stripes. With a commitment to ethical factories, these investment pieces retail from $195 to $395.
9. Uniqlo
Since its 1984 launch, Japan‘s Uniqlo built a global empire bringing elevated basics to the masses. Uniqlo‘s LifeWear philosophy distills the brand‘s focus on well-made, functional designs that slot seamlessly into life.
Uniqlo sweater options run the gamut from merino crews and polos to cotton cardigans and v necks. Core basics maximize versatile wearability, while special capsules add flair with iconic anime collabs and limited heat-tech styles. Prices stay accessible for all budgets, running between $30 and $70.
10. L.L. Bean
L.L.Bean knows more than a thing or two about keeping folks cozy after over 100 years outfitting New England outdoorsmen. After Leon Leonwood Bean sold his first pair of hunting boots in 1912, his eponymous brand grew into a one-stop for clothing tailored to rugged Yankee sensibilities.
L.L.Bean‘s signature heritage comes through in its extensive sweater lineup for both men and women. Rustic fisherman knits and Nordic-inspired styles capture the warmth and ease to take on winter adventures. Using wool, cotton, cashmere and more, L.L.Bean sweaters retail from $79 to $279.
With a lifetime guarantee on all products, you know you‘re buying lasting value.
11. Rhode
Founded in 2014 by Phoebe Vickers and Katherine Power, Rhode brings West Coast ease to luxurious knits inspired by childhood memories of tennis whites and pool club style. Effortless cashmere zip ups, tennis sweaters, cropped cuts, and more slot perfectly into Rhode‘s adaptable take on Riviera Country Club chic.
Using only sustainable Grade-A cashmere in dreamy neutrals with pops of citrus, black, and ivory, Rhode sweaters retail from $295 to $350.
12. Lingua Franca
Lingua Franca takes a radically ethical approach to cashmere. Launched in 2016 by Rachelle Hruska McPherson, Lingua Franca works directly with ethical cashmere farms and producers in Mongolia. The brand‘s sweaters retail for $380 to $480, with all profits funding cashmere production wages and community development projects.
Bringing style with substance, Lingua Franca‘s oversized crews and cardigans make political statements with hand-stitched slogans. Each ethically sourced, supersoft cashmere sweater supports economic justice where it starts.
13. Theory
Since launching his eponymous label in 1997, Andrew Rosen disrupted luxury fashion with Theory‘s focus on new classics over trends. Rosen‘s background as a third-generation garmento comes through in Theory‘s Cucinelli-quality cashmere at a fraction of the price.
Theory‘s cashmere crews, cardigans, polos and more blend relaxed and fitted silhouettes. With over 20 years perfecting accessible luxury knits, Theory sweaters retail from $235 to $745.
14. The Elder Statesman
Launched in 2007 by artist Greg Chait, The Elder Statesman brings fine art sensibility to ultra-luxe knits. The brand‘s Ojai, California flagship feels more like an artist‘s studio than retail floor. Hand looms and custom-dyed cashmere reference Chait‘s background sculpting fiber art installations.
Bringing craft to an industrial level without compromising quality, The Elder Statesman offers artisanal sweaters unmatched in depth of color. Custom tie-dyed cashmere sets this star-studded brand apart as sweater as art form with magical, mind-bending depth.
These handcrafted beauties retail from $595 to over $5,000 for true showstopper investment pieces tying ethical production directly with artists‘ livelihoods.
15. Patagonia
Outdoor gear giant Patagonia‘s alway made functionality priority number one. After moving from climbing gear to apparel in the 1970s, Patagonia sweaters carry the same unwavering commitment to quality materials built to handle the harshest environments.
Patagonia‘s tried-and-true fleece pullovers, down sweater jackets, and heavyweight wool crews carry the outdoor brand‘s signature versatility from trails to streets. Ethical, sustainable materials like traceable down and recycled wool promise generations of wear. Starting at $99 and topping out around $299, Patagonia sweaters deliver better value from field to fireside and everywhere between.
How to Choose the Right Sweater Brand For You
Once you know where to find the finest sweaters, next comes matching individual brands to your needs. Keep these factors in mind when deciding on the ideal label for your closet:
Style
Do you prefer rugged outdoor looks from brands like L.L.Bean and Patagonia or luxe, fashion-centric styles of Khaite and Theory? Match brands to the versatility or specificity your wardrobe requires.
Budget
Set realistic price expectations recognizing premium natural fibers and ethical factories cost more. Look to Uniqlo and Patagonia for greater value or Khaite and The Elder Statesman for luxury.
Ethics
Research each brand‘s ethical commitments from safe, fair labor practices to using sustainable materials like recycled and renewable wool. Customers today expect transparency tied directly to higher prices.
Quality
Prioritize brands using Grade-A cashmere, extrafine merino wool, long fiber cotton and more over synthetic blends. Feel fabrics in person when possible and examine stitching, seams and care instructions closely to suss out quality claims.
Versatility
Focus on wearable, neutral staples you‘ll reach for daily over loud statement pieces prone to gathering dust. An ideal sweater should work overtime across casual and elevated looks in your closet.
Specialization
Alternately, lean into novelty if you want sweaters strictly for making an impact. Eyecatching embellishments, bold prints and unconventional shapes grab attention over versatile basics.
Customer Reviews
Vet brands thoroughly through external review sites and social media versus curated images on their own channels. This gives the best third party confirmation of quality and ethical practices meeting expectations over marketing hype.
Invest in Sweaters Built to Last
With so many factors making certain sweaters live up to their cozy hype over others, it pays to approach purchases as investments. Seek out reputable brands pairing top-quality materials with ethical factories for unmatched durability that‘ll keep you literally warm for years.
Rather than wasting money on fast fashion a few seasons from now, choose elevated essentials perfectly distilling value, versatility and ethical production from these best sweater brands in the game. Everyone from celebrities to real deal heritage labels made the cut.
Which brand will knit your new favorite sweater built to last? Let us know in the comments!
