Bamboo Socks: 6 UK Brands With Socks Appeal

Find your sustainable sole mate, with my handy guide to bamboo socks brands in the UK for men, women and children.

Looking for the perfect pair of bamboo socks? As a renewable resource, bamboo is a good fabric to take steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

What makes bamboo so good is that, compared to cotton, bamboo requires minimal amounts of water to grow. It doesn’t need any pesticides. It’s incredibly fast-growing. Unlike wool, bamboo is entirely vegan-friendly. Meanwhile, unlike polyester, bamboo doesn’t require any fossil fuel inputs. And per square metre, bamboo can produce around 10 times more fabric than cotton plants can.

As well as these planet-friendly qualities, bamboo is kind to your feet. One processed into fabric, the bamboo viscose is super soft, comfortable, lightweight, moisture-wicking, and breathable. All the properties you want in a pair of socks.

Bamboo isn’t without its negatives, though. To turn this woody plant into soft fabric, the bamboo has to be chemically processed, making it a semi-synthetic fabric. The chemicals used in this process can be harmful to both factory workers and the environment.

That’s not to say that bamboo socks can’t be eco-friendly. Many responsible brands process their bamboo in a closed-loop facility. This ensures all the liquid is recycled and all solvents are captured and removed to ensure that no toxic chemicals are discharged into waterways. This keeps workers, local communities and the environment safe.

If you’re looking to step up your sock game, then try these eco-friendly UK bamboo sock brands that combine comfort and style with sustainability.

Guide To UK Bamboo Socks

Ready to find your perfect pair? Here are the brands to know:

Thought

• Vegan-friendly
• Caters for men, women and children
• Made in China
• Priced from £7.95 a pair

For ethically made bamboo socks for men, women and children, try Thought (available at Ethical Superstore).

This sustainable clothing brand has a huge variety of vegan-friendly bamboo socks, in fun prints, patterns and colours.

In terms of styles, you aren’t short of choice either. From classic socks to crew socks, ankle and trainer socks, and no-show socks, there’s something for every situation.

Thought’s approach to ethical fashion is one to be commended. The brand uses only certified natural and recycled fibres and fabrics. Its bamboo is also processed in a closed-loop facility.

Seasalt

• Vegan-friendly
• Caters for men and women
• Made in China
• Priced around £7.95 (3 for 2 offers available on socks)

Looking for bamboo socks on the high street? Seasalt is my top choice. I’ve been wearing Seasalt socks for years and love how soft and cosy they are.

Made from breathable bamboo-derived viscose and manufactured using closed-loop systems, these socks are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

All Seasalt suppliers must comply with the standards laid out by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). All of its suppliers are also members of Sedex – an organisation working to improve working conditions with global supply chains.

Bringing sustainability to the High St, Seasalt was the very first fashion company to achieve Soil Association organic certification back in 2005. And in 2024, it was awarded B-Corp status – meaning that it’s a business that balances profitability with looking after people and the planet.

BAM

• Caters for men and women
• Most are vegan-friendly
• Made In Turkey, Portugal and China
• Priced around £10

For bamboo socks that support an active lifestyle, try BAM. This sustainable activewear specialist makes socks from sustainably sourced bamboo. 

Find standard socks, as well as walking, running and ski socks, as well as trainer socks, in a variety of colours and patterns.

For increased durability, BAM has reinforced the toe and heel areas in each of its pairs of socks with a looped terry knit. This makes them stronger and longer-lasting and adds extra cushioning to these high-stress areas.

Most of BAM’s socks are vegan. However, some bamboo socks in its range are blended with mulesing-free merino wool. So if you are specifically looking for vegan-friendly socks, check the description before buying.

As well as selling supremely comfortable socks, what we love about BAM is that it is on a mission to reduce its carbon footprint to the absolute minimum by 2030. In the process, it’s also addressing every impact it has on the planet.

From ensuring every person in its supply chain – right the way back to the growers – is paid fairly to working towards zero waste to landfill and zero wasted water, BAM’s approach is to be commended.

In terms of the processing of its bamboo, BAM only works with bamboo fibre producers who use safe and responsible chemistry and waste treatment practices. BAM say these producers are committed to investing in the technology needed to further improve their practices, processes, and chemistry where necessary.

Sign up for the BAM mailing list and get 10% off your first order.

Swole Panda

• Vegan-friendly
• Caters for men and women
• Not specified where made
• Priced around £9.95 per pair

Swole Panda makes fun socks that feature quirky prints and bright colours, all of which are made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified bamboo. This means the bamboo has been grown responsibly, protecting forests, wildlife, and the rights of the people who manage it.

What’s more, Swole Panda use an FSC-certified closed-loop system to make its bamboo fabric with minimum impact on the environment.

With a reinforced heel and toe to provide strength and durability, as well as hand-linked seams at the toe for added comfort, these comfortable socks are sure to become wardrobe staples.

Each pair of socks comes with a 100% lifetime money-back guarantee. Here, Swole Panda says, “We’re that confident you’ll love our products – or your money back”.

Sustainable packaging is key. Each pair comes packaged in FSC paper and compostable mailing bags.

In terms of production, Swole Panda says it is committed to ethical production. However, there’s not a lot of detail about where its socks are made and who makes them. I’d love it if Swole Panda could share more information.

Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Swole Panda mailing list.

Barekind

• Vegan-friendly
• Caters for men, women and children
• Made in Turkey
• Priced from £9.99 a pair

Want to buy a pair of bamboo socks and support your favourite endangered animal? It might sound like an unlikely task, but Barekind is on it!

With over 40 animal designs to choose from – from walruses to wallabies and sloths to sun bears – there’s a sock to match your favourite animal.

Barekind then donates 10% of the profits from every pair to save the animal on the socks. Each design is linked with a charity partner who is working to help save that specific animal. So your toes look good whilst doing good!

Barekind socks aren’t made entirely from bamboo. Instead, they are made from a blend of bamboo and cotton. These are made ethically in Turkey, whilst the bamboo is processed in a factory that deploys a closed-loop system to reduce chemical waste.

Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Barekind newsletter.

Leiho

• Vegan-friendly
• Caters for men, women and children
• Made in Turkey
• Priced around £14 per pair for adults, and around £6 for kids’ socks.

For other ways to give, try Leiho – available at Social Supermarket – which gives back with every pair you buy.

This women-led social enterprise makes sustainably sourced and vegan-friendly bamboo socks in a range of fun prints and bold colours. 5% of the sale of each pair then helps Leiho fund employment, skill-building and personal development projects to help homeless people gain experience to rebuild their lives, or purchase essentials for the homeless community.

So fa,r Leiho has worked together with over 45 different charities and organisations and counting.

The only thing I couldn’t find out is how Leiho makes its bamboo. I reached out via email to ask in 2024, but I didn’t hear back. I will try again and update here if I get a response.

Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for Social Supermarket’s newsletter.

More Top Bamboo Recommendations

Haven’t found your sole mate? Do also check out my guide to ethical socks for more eco-friendly sock recommendations.

And if you’re looking to incorporate more bamboo into your wardrobe, do check out my guide to the UK bamboo clothing brands. Here you’ll find heaps more bamboo-based brands.