I know that I’ve written a lot recently about eco-friendly winter-wear(long underwear, gear, boots), but with winter lasting so long and being so cold (and snowy), you can always use another pair of gloves or socks, an extra hat to keep in the car, or ski pants for outdoor activities. Seeing as it’s January and I have no immediate plans for a warm weather vacation, I’m apt to write about what’s on my mind and what I could use to keep me a little toastier on these chilly evenings and even colder mornings (can you tell I just can’t get warm)!

Keep Warm at Home

Blankets – Each of these DreamSacks Silk Filled Comforters are handmade by 4 women who sit together and hand stretch layer after layer of silk fibers to create the comforters’ silk fillings. According to the company’s website, the silk adjusts to your body’s temperature and provides an extra layer of warmth so you drift off to sleep feeling as if you’re wrapped in a silk cloud. While pricey at $480 a piece, I have to admit that I would buy one of these comforters if I had the extra cash lying around! If you can’t afford one of their comforters, you might consider a Silk Fleece Blanket (starting at $99) instead.

Pajamas – I love that this SheAndMe 100% organic cotton Little Green Riding Hood comes equip with a hoodie – it shows the designers understand what it’s like to live in buildings that lack adequate insulation! Paired with these 100% be organic Everyday Lounge Pants you’re sure to keep warm and look cute to boot! Both items are made in the USA, and are relatively affordable ($95 for the hoodie and $68 for the bottoms).

Sheets – If it’s affordable and organic that you’re looking for, you might want to check out Target’s Organic Sheet Sets. Made from 100% organic cotton, these sheets are available in Sage Green, and range in price from $10.50-$42.00. For slightly more luxourious organic sheets, you might consider West Elm’s Organic Cotton Frayed-Edge Sheet Sets. These sheets have a 230-thread count and can be purchased for between $79 and $119 per set (includes a flat & fitted sheet, plus 2 pillowcases).

Slippers – According to the ‘disclaimer’ on Viva Terra’s website, you shouldn’t try these slippers on first if you’re intending on giving them as a gift – they’re that comfortable! Hand assembled and knit by a group of indigenous people in South America, these Cozy Knit Slipper Booties look to be well-worth their $58 price tag. I also like the looks of these Acorn Cozy Booties – vegan slippers that are made with memory foam mid-soles and weatherproof out-soles so your toes stay dry when you run out to start your car or grab the mail in your slippers!

Notice how limited my world view is when it comes to keeping warm! I haven’t included any hardcore winter athletic gear here, as I’m mostly concerned with finding eco-goods that can keep you warm when you’re not intentionally putting yourself in situations where being cold is part of the plan (i.e. snowshoeing, bike riding, winter surfing and skiing).

Stay tuned – I have 2 more posts planned to help you find great eco-goods that will keep you warm outside (gloves, hats, etc), and at work – because life is too short to be cold all winter long!

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I know that long underwear isn’t the sexiest or most exciting thing out there – but on nights like tonight (it’s about 15 degrees and windy outside, and I’m sitting here watch huge trucks haul snow around my town) – long johns are the greatest product ever made! And since winter here lasts forever (well, not really – I’d rather be here than in Alaska!) – I try to buy several different kinds of long underwear to last me through the season.

The good people who make Icebreaker products sent me an email about their products back in November. I wasn’t ready to write about eco-long johns at the time, and saved the email for future reference. In looking over their product line, I wish now that I’d ordered one of these Delta Scoop long sleeved shirts (to the right). Icebreaker uses all natural merino gathered from 30 New Zealand farmers to make the Nature Ultralight fabric from which their clothing is produced. The company is passionate about the wool they buy to make their clothing, and even discusses how purchasing inferior merino in the past almost put them out of business! Fortunately for us, the company prevailed and is still making their luxurious wool clothing.

If you’re looking for cold-weather athletic gear, consider the Midweight Rapid Leggings for men or women – these leggings enable you to stay warm, dry and comfortable when you’re running, biking or hiking in chilly temperatures, while their articulated knees give you extra freedom of movement. The Bodyfit Active Base Layer for men (below on the right) and the Olympia Crewe for women are the perfect complements to the leggings, and are both rated for cold to very cold conditions.

Icebreaker is committed to manufacturing sustainable products, to the welfare of the animals from which they source their merino, to an ethical manufacturing process, to maintaining a transparent supply chain, and to buying merino from local farmers with whom they have long-term relationships. And if you’re looking for something other than long johns, Icebreaker also makes merino wool socks for all seasons, and as well as athletic gear and accessories for men, women and children.

Cuddl Duds is another eco-retailer that is making sustainable long underwear to keep us warm on chilly nights. If you’re looking for traditional long underwear with an eco-twist, you might like their eco-bamboo Scoop Neck Long Sleeve Shirt. At $28 this shirt is affordable and sustainable, and is finished with a gray stripe and ribbon that add a feminine touch to the practical garment. You can also grab matching Long Pants or a Tank Top to complete your winter wardrobe.

Other excellent sources for environmentally friendly all-weather long underwear and layering garments include gear companies like REI, The North Face, Patagonia and Marmot. Look for all natural merino wool baselayers for men and women on the North Face website, and Marmot Upcycle underwear that’s made from natural, organic, recycled and discarded materials. Even though Upcycle goods are made using materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, there’s no way you could tell when you are wearing midweight crews and midweight bottoms created using this revolutionary technology.

Hopefully you can find something here that’ll help on these frigid winter nights and keep you cozy all season.