For the sustainably curious men who’d like to shop better but don’t know where to start, consider this your beginner’s guide to brands who are committed to making their menswear mindfully.
When it comes to shopping, consciously adding pieces to your closet is not only the better approach, but also a great way to make more carefully considered clothing choices. Choices that you’ll keep coming back to, the kinds that never seem to go out of style, are high-quality — and ideally — have a lower impact on the environment. If that sounds about right, then look no further, we’ve put together a curation of the best sustainable clothing brands for men that tick most of the eco-friendly boxes and help you elevate your style for the long haul.
From organic loungewear to business casuals that’ll have you rethinking the assumption that anything eco-friendly is frumpy, discover 20 ethical men’s clothing brands that will make you feel good about where you’re spending your hard-earned money.
Where to Find Men’s Sustainable Clothing Brands:
Transparency note: this guide contains affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you choose to shop through these links which helps us continue this site. As always we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability that we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Harvest & Mill
If you ask us, sustainability starts with everyday essentials. Right from the pajamas you wear, to the tees you have on rotation, knowing that your day-to-day basics were made responsibly, locally, and can be composted at the end of their life will bring you a level of eco-ease. That’s the sort of confidence you can have in the organic cotton essentials from Harvest & Mill.
All of their pieces are crafted from natural, dye-free organic cotton, some of which are made from heirloom variety cotton that naturally grows in shades of brown, green, and red.
What you’ll find: everyday casual wear and loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
2. Patagonia
Your next outdoor adventure will feel all the more relaxing when you know your clothes and gear were made with the pristine nature around you in mind.
A company that recently made headlines after founder Yvon Chouinard gave the business away to fight the climate crisis, sporting Patagonia gear is also about standing for a better way to do business.
Expect to find high-performance gear and clothing made from the most mindful materials and recycled fibers that are making a difference. For used Patagonia apparel and gear, check out their Worn Wear site.
What you’ll find: outdoor clothing, casual wear, loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
3. Asket
Curating a lasting wardrobe is not too dissimilar to building a retirement portfolio. Just like valuable assets, your clothes should be in it for the long haul and offer a higher return on investment. But every portfolio needs an advisor, and there’s no brand that offers high-quality wardrobe perennials like Asket.
Their permanent collection is chock full of everyday essentials that’ll outlive passing trends and seamlessly transition from season to season and is crafted from materials like organic cotton, TENCEL Lyocell, reclaimed wool, and recycled cashmere.
What you’ll find: business casuals, casual wear, intimates, and other everyday essentials
Price: $$-$$$
4. Toad&Co
A mission-driven brand that started out by offering outdoor gear, Toad&Co now creates ethically made men’s clothing items that work for everyday adventures like comfortable activewear, cozy loungewear, smart casuals, and snuggle-worthy outerwear crafted in the best eco-friendly materials.
The brand also partners with a warehouse that employs and trains individuals for disabilities, while facilitating outdoor adventures for them, for some of whom, these trips have been the first adventures they’ve ever had.
What you’ll find: casuals, activewear, outdoor clothing, and loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
5. Grailed
A secondhand online marketplace with no shortage of menswear, Grailed is a great place to explore the coolest streetwear finds, along with designer pieces from the likes of Balenciaga, Dior, Gucci, and many more in near-mint condition if you’re in the market for a budgeted luxury buy.
All of their big-ticket designer items have been authenticated using a combination of human and machine moderation to help ensure everything you buy is legit.
What you’ll find: casual wear, loungewear, and business casuals
Price: $$-$$$$
6. No Nasties
No Nasties is an Indian sustainable clothing brand that creates everyday essentials for men in organic materials using no nasty processes, just as its namesake so aptly suggests.
With “emit less, balance the rest” as its mantra, the brand offsets the carbon footprint of every product they make, while also eliminating waste, and upcycling its overstock fabrics into new styles.
What you’ll find: casual wear, loungewear
Price: $$
7. unspun
Ever dreamed of owning a pair of well-fitted denim jeans that don’t require a belt to stay in place? The denim makers at unspun are here to make those dreams come true.
Unspun creates customized jeans on a made-to-order basis using a 3D scan of your body to offer you the best fit ever. Their denim is crafted from organic cotton material and processed with low-impact dyes using water that’s recycled and fed back into the system.
The bonus: If you’re dissatisfied with the fit, they’ll alter it for you free of charge!
Intrigued to know more? We broke down the steps on how you can get a custom-made pair from them online in this guide.
Price: $$$
8. Story mfg.
For the men who enjoy sporting a great print on their clothing, appreciate art, and sartorially enjoy channeling their hippie side, Story mfg. has everything you need. With a high focus on craft and non-toxic clothing processes, the brand even states that they carry out the natural dyeing in a re-planted forest where all of their waste is used to fertilize the gardens right after.
Consider this your one-stop shop for print-happy graphic t-shirts, patchwork jackets, and hand-knitted sweatshirts.
What you’ll find: casual wear and loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
9. Outerknown
Move over coastal grandma, Outerknown has been mastering the laid-back coastal lifestyle look since 2014. Co-founded by surfing legend, Kelly Slater, the brand is known for its après surf style offerings that include cozy blanket shirts to layer up in, crew neck sweaters, relaxed fit denim, and a lot more that are made from conscious materials like organic cotton, hemp blends, along with recycled polyester and nylon for its performance wear, like the high-performance swim trunks that were developed and tested by the pro-surfer himself.
What you’ll find: casuals, activewear, loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
10. Kotn
If you’re searching for timeless pieces that don’t adhere to ever-changing trends and were made to last in a sea of throwaway clothing, then look no further. Kotn’s range of elevated everyday basics comes in minimalist neutrals that can easily work with your existing wardrobe and help you level up your style quotient.
Made from low-impact fibers like linen, lyocell, organic cotton, and other cotton varieties, the brand uses its profits to help fund the education of children in rural Egypt, where some of its cotton is grown.
What you’ll find: casual wear, loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
11. Armedangels
Armedangels is a German brand that’s creating sustainably-minded everyday basics. Think t-shirts, shirts, polos, knitwear, outerwear, and denim, everything that lays the very foundation of your wardrobe, but made better.
With a special focus on creating low-impact denim, their DetoxDenim range is free from the slew of toxic dyes and chemicals that are usually found in the production process of conventional jeans. While their Circular denim is mechanically recycled and consists of 20% recycled organic cotton residues and waste from their own production.
What you’ll find: casual wear, loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
12. De Bonne Facture
Derived from the French expression that describes “a way of doing things well”, De Bonne Facture marries Parisian style with skilled craftsmanship to bring you sophisticated separates made from the finest eco-conscious materials.
With high importance on provenance, each piece comes with a hangtag detailing the name, locality, and history of the atelier that made it, just like fine French wine.
What you’ll find: casual wear, business casuals, loungewear
Price: $$$
13. Ecoalf
Born out of the vision to stop carelessly using natural resources, Ecoalf creates most of its clothing using recycled materials, predominantly ocean plastic. Since 2015, the brand has been collecting plastic waste with help from the fishing industry and transforming it into yarn and fabrics to produce high-quality sustainable clothing for men and women.
From slick streetwear casuals to loungewear essentials and weather-resistant clothing, Ecoalf has everything you need to hit the slopes or streets in style.
What you’ll find: streetwear, activewear, outdoor clothing, and loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
14. Opera Campi
Opera Campi is an Italian made-to-order men’s slow fashion brand that uses hemp as its hero fabric. Full of enduring everyday styles that speak to the minimalist aesthetic, their hemp fabric comes in all-natural and woolen blends to suit your seasonal needs.
We love the fact that they’ve invented a “moon button” from a sustainable metal that gets its namesake from the patinated look it achieves after being buried in microorganism-rich soil for three days.
What you’ll find: casual wear, loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
15. Nudie Jeans Co.
If you’re in the market for a fresh pair of lifetime-quality jeans, then look no further. Nudie Jeans Co. creates its denim material from 100% organic cotton in a wide variety of washes and styles. The brand also repurposes and recycles its used jeans to resell them as secondhand styles.
We love the fact that each one of their fit styles has a quirky name to it instead of the run-of-the-mill straight, slim, or wide leg. Whether you’re leaning towards a Lean Dean, Rad Rufus, Thin Finn, or Gritty Jackson, there’s a fit style to suit every taste.
What you’ll find: denim jeans, along with casual wear and loungewear pieces
Price: $$-$$$
16. Olderbrother
Featuring cool casuals in a color palette defined by nature, Olderbother is a men’s sustainable fashion brand that treats its clothing using nature-derived hues from oak tree barks, gooseberries, turmeric, and other plant sources. The resulting colors feature intentional imperfections and unevenness that will become darker when exposed to the sun and over time.
Primarily crafted from organic cotton, their range of elevated casual wear also features unique blends of wool, woven rice paper, and linen.
What you’ll find: casual wear and loungewear
Price: $$$
17. JCRT
JCRT is a zero waste men’s slow fashion brand that creates all things plaid in polished styles on a made-to-order basis. But, don’t let their love of plaid intimidate you, these tartans come in cool color combinations, while some pieces are remixed with elements like skulls, journal notes, shapes, and symbols to create a unique print that’s processed using low-impact dyes and less water, compared with traditional garment production.
What you’ll find: casual wear and loungewear
Price: $$-$$$
Read More About Conscious Fashion:
About The Author:

Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her. When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers
The post 17 Men’s Sustainable Clothing Brands You Should Have on Your Radar appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
17 Men’s Sustainable Clothing Brands You Should Have on Your Radar
Green Living
The Many Layers of Personal Style
Personal style is a dance between dualities: fashion as art and fashion as function; clothing as self-expression and clothing for our circumstances.
Style is a medium for communication and self-expression, yes. But it’s also shaped by the environments and requirements around us, from workplace dress codes to city cultures, climates, and specific occassions.
In last Saturday’s workshop, where we talked about how to remix what you already have in your closet, attendees shared a common challenge:
How do you balance your personal style expression while dressing for the various situations and environments we operate in?
“I’ve found above all else my style is highly influenced by my environment (my job, my city etc.)—sometimes it becomes about ‘fitting in’ and losing individuality”
“I find I’m too led by my day-to-day lifestyle. I WFH and so often I just don’t get dressed at all.”
“There are too many applications: workout, work, at home, formal occasion.”
Style as Identity vs. Style as Communication
It’s no wonder style and getting dressed can feel so confusing.
In the personal style world, we learn to dress for who we are on the inside. And then we see the style rules in fashion media: here’s how to dress for this season, this dress code, this city.
And in our real lives, we have real dress codes we might have to follow, whether for a workplace or a wedding.
But what if all those sides conflict?
- If my style words are “casual” or “sporty” but I’m in a workplace 40+ hours a week that requires business formal, where does that leave my personal style?
- If I love vibrant and artsy looks, but I live in a city full of neutrals, what do I wear?
It’s no surprise it feels… complicated.
Here’s my take.
We’re Not One-Dimensional — Neither is Our Style
Sometimes I want to disconnect and live in cottage in the mountains, surrounded by more trees than people. Other days I dream of having an apartment in the center of Paris where I see more people in a day than live in my hometown.
I’m light, joyful, maybe even quirky with friends. I’m ambitious, intentional, perhaps more serious in work. There are times I feel it’s best to soften and let it go; other times it feels most aligned to be unapologetically outspoken.
We are human. We’re social creatures. We’re complex and full of contradictions.
Social media has trained us to fit people into neat boxes because “niche” is what performs in the algorithm.
In real life, though, our “authentic” selves aren’t so one-dimensional.
I’m not speaking to new networking contacts the same exact way I talk to my best friend I’ve known for years. That doesn’t mean I’m pretending to be someone else. It just means I’m showing up a bit differently depending on the context.
Similarly, our personal style doesn’t have to be expressed in one singular way.
That’s what’s beautiful about fashion! We have the opportunity to express ourselves a bit differently each and every time we get dressed.
What we wear might ebb and flow with a situation, the season, or our mood. There are common threads, but differentiators too.
Three distinctly different looks can all be authentic.
For me, personal style isn’t about being setting such rigid parameters that we can no longer embrace our multi-dimensional nature.
And there’s undoubtedly the layers of privilege at work here too. Is it safe to dress in alignment with your true identity in that particular situation? Will you be taken seriously? Could there be repercussions?
There’s a lot to untangle when it comes to what we wear.
Making Our Multi-Dimensional Style Practical
As I shared in last week’s workshops, style is many layers. The four I see it through are the vibe, the shapes, the colors & textures, and our lifestyle & values.

The aesthetic reflects your vibe, mood or style adjectives.
- For example, my vibe or adjectives are feminine, structured, grounded.
The shapes are the fits, silhouettes, and proportions you love.
- I often wear outfits with a straight silhouette or tailored fit balanced with a relaxed, flowy, or drapey element.
Colors & textures include your preferred palettes, fabrics, and the way materials feel.
- I prefer wearing natural fibers when possible. I like gold jewelry, and I feel more aligned in lower contrast looks. Lighter colors for day. Sometimes darker for evening or certain events.
The lifestyle & values element is the consideration of your actual day-to-day. What situations and environments are you dressing for? What is important to you?
- I work from home so comfort is key most of the time. I value slow fashion practices — rewearing, repairing, and supporting circular practices and sustainably-minded brands.
Once you understand these layers of your style, the next step is figuring out how to apply them in real-life situations.
Applying Your Style to the Situation
In last week’s workshops, I talked about the role of outfit templates here for various situations. What is the foundational blueprint of what you might wear to your office, working from home, in a school setting, at home, running errands, and so on?
There are opportunities to bring in the layers of your personal style in these various situations, but it does require some intentionally on the outset. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into our old patterns or copy what others around us wear. (Even subconsciously, as fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell has shared!)

Here’s one of my work-from-home outfit templates that balances style and situational needs:
- Blouse with feminine detail: I start with the top for Zoom calls!
- Straight-leg bottoms: this could be jeans, colorful pants, or a column skirt
- Slim shoes: the general “slim” descriptor makes it versatile across seasons
- Structured bag: an option to add polish when coworking at a café
By thinking in these various layers (vibe, shapes, colors & textures, and lifestyle & values) you can build outfits that feel authentic to you while fitting the constraints of the external situation.
What About One-Off Unique Situations?
Like this Wednesday evening, I spoke on a “Sustainable Fashion in Action” panel with Chicago Climate Connect during Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago. But the panel was also taking place at the Patagonia x Worn Wear store.
So the vibe was professional meets fashion, but also kinda casual?! And we are still in the Midwest here. I have to say, this one wasn’t easy.
But here’s the step-by-step thought process that helped me balance my style, function, and a unique-to-me context.

- I picked a foundational piece: My navy wide-leg trousers were business casual without being too formal and were practical for train travel.
- And functional accessories:My old Coach bag fits everything and my chunky Veja sneakers matched the vibe I was going for so those were the picks.
- Then a piece that brought it all together:At this point I was mixing high-contrast colors (white with navy & black) and different vibes (trousers vs. sneakers). I felt like I needed a bridge for the outfit, and this navy-striped vest tied it all together.
- Finally, some final touches: Gold jewelry made the look feel more “me”, while this cap from Abbie at The Filtery made it all feel effortless.
In the end, this outfit took a lot longer to create than a typical look.
It took longer to create than my usual outfits, but it felt just right. The combination was practical, suited my style, fit the vibe of the panel, and aligned with the weather.

This panel outfit reminded me that style is what we wear to express ourselves, but it’s also a tool to help us navigate our lives. By thinking through these layers of personal style (vibe, shapes, colors, textures, and lifestyle needs) we can balance showing up authentically while honoring the nuances or navigating the constraints of a situation.
For me, that’s the real power of personal style.
One single outfit can’t tell the whole story of who we are. But personal style can be flexible, functional, and expressive of the many sides of our multi-dimensional nature.
So lately, more than asking “does this outfit perfectly express my full self?” I’ve been finding myself asking:
“Does this outfit help me show up in the way I want to? Does it say what I want it to say in this particular moment?“
The post The Many Layers of Personal Style appeared first on .
Green Living
You’re multi-dimensional. So is your style.
Personal style is a dance between dualities: fashion as art and fashion as function; clothing as self-expression and clothing for our circumstances.
Style is a medium for communication and self-expression, yes. But it’s also shaped by the environments and requirements around us, from workplace dress codes to city cultures, climates, and specific occassions.
In last Saturday’s workshop, where we talked about how to remix what you already have in your closet, attendees shared a common challenge:
How do you balance your personal style expression while dressing for the various situations and environments we operate in?
“I’ve found above all else my style is highly influenced by my environment (my job, my city etc.)—sometimes it becomes about ‘fitting in’ and losing individuality”
“I find I’m too led by my day-to-day lifestyle. I WFH and so often I just don’t get dressed at all.”
“There are too many applications: workout, work, at home, formal occasion.”
Style as Identity vs. Style as Communication
It’s no wonder style and getting dressed can feel so confusing.
In the personal style world, we learn to dress for who we are on the inside. And then we see the style rules in fashion media: here’s how to dress for this season, this dress code, this city.
And in our real lives, we have real dress codes we might have to follow, whether for a workplace or a wedding.
But what if all those sides conflict?
- If my style words are “casual” or “sporty” but I’m in a workplace 40+ hours a week that requires business formal, where does that leave my personal style?
- If I love vibrant and artsy looks, but I live in a city full of neutrals, what do I wear?
It’s no surprise it feels… complicated.
Here’s my take.
We’re Not One-Dimensional — Neither is Our Style
Sometimes I want to disconnect and live in cottage in the mountains, surrounded by more trees than people. Other days I dream of having an apartment in the center of Paris where I see more people in a day than live in my hometown.
I’m light, joyful, maybe even quirky with friends. I’m ambitious, intentional, perhaps more serious in work. There are times I feel it’s best to soften and let it go; other times it feels most aligned to be unapologetically outspoken.
We are human. We’re social creatures. We’re complex and full of contradictions.
Social media has trained us to fit people into neat boxes because “niche” is what performs in the algorithm.
In real life, though, our “authentic” selves aren’t so one-dimensional.
I’m not speaking to new networking contacts the same exact way I talk to my best friend I’ve known for years. That doesn’t mean I’m pretending to be someone else. It just means I’m showing up a bit differently depending on the context.
Similarly, our personal style doesn’t have to be expressed in one singular way.
That’s what’s beautiful about fashion! We have the opportunity to express ourselves a bit differently each and every time we get dressed.
What we wear might ebb and flow with a situation, the season, or our mood. There are common threads, but differentiators too.
Three distinctly different looks can all be authentic.
For me, personal style isn’t about being setting such rigid parameters that we can no longer embrace our multi-dimensional nature.
And there’s undoubtedly the layers of privilege at work here too. Is it safe to dress in alignment with your true identity in that particular situation? Will you be taken seriously? Could there be repercussions?
There’s a lot to untangle when it comes to what we wear.
Making Our Multi-Dimensional Style Practical
As I shared in last week’s workshops, style is many layers. The four I see it through are the vibe, the shapes, the colors & textures, and our lifestyle & values.

The aesthetic reflects your vibe, mood or style adjectives.
- For example, my vibe or adjectives are feminine, structured, grounded.
The shapes are the fits, silhouettes, and proportions you love.
- I often wear outfits with a straight silhouette or tailored fit balanced with a relaxed, flowy, or drapey element.
Colors & textures include your preferred palettes, fabrics, and the way materials feel.
- I prefer wearing natural fibers when possible. I like gold jewelry, and I feel more aligned in lower contrast looks. Lighter colors for day. Sometimes darker for evening or certain events.
The lifestyle & values element is the consideration of your actual day-to-day. What situations and environments are you dressing for? What is important to you?
- I work from home so comfort is key most of the time. I value slow fashion practices — rewearing, repairing, and supporting circular practices and sustainably-minded brands.
Once you understand these layers of your style, the next step is figuring out how to apply them in real-life situations.
Applying Your Style to the Situation
In last week’s workshops, I talked about the role of outfit templates here for various situations. What is the foundational blueprint of what you might wear to your office, working from home, in a school setting, at home, running errands, and so on?
There are opportunities to bring in the layers of your personal style in these various situations, but it does require some intentionally on the outset. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into our old patterns or copy what others around us wear. (Even subconsciously, as fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell has shared!)

Here’s one of my work-from-home outfit templates that balances style and situational needs:
- Blouse with feminine detail: I start with the top for Zoom calls!
- Straight-leg bottoms: this could be jeans, colorful pants, or a column skirt
- Slim shoes: the general “slim” descriptor makes it versatile across seasons
- Structured bag: an option to add polish when coworking at a café
By thinking in these various layers (vibe, shapes, colors & textures, and lifestyle & values) you can build outfits that feel authentic to you while fitting the constraints of the external situation.
What About One-Off Unique Situations?
Like this Wednesday evening, I spoke on a “Sustainable Fashion in Action” panel with Chicago Climate Connect during Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago. But the panel was also taking place at the Patagonia x Worn Wear store.
So the vibe was professional meets fashion, but also kinda casual?! And we are still in the Midwest here. I have to say, this one wasn’t easy.
But here’s the step-by-step thought process that helped me balance my style, function, and a unique-to-me context.

- I picked a foundational piece: My navy wide-leg trousers were business casual without being too formal and were practical for train travel.
- And functional accessories:My old Coach bag fits everything and my chunky Veja sneakers matched the vibe I was going for so those were the picks.
- Then a piece that brought it all together:At this point I was mixing high-contrast colors (white with navy & black) and different vibes (trousers vs. sneakers). I felt like I needed a bridge for the outfit, and this navy-striped vest tied it all together.
- Finally, some final touches: Gold jewelry made the look feel more “me”, while this cap from Abbie at The Filtery made it all feel effortless.
In the end, this outfit took a lot longer to create than a typical look.
It took longer to create than my usual outfits, but it felt just right. The combination was practical, suited my style, fit the vibe of the panel, and aligned with the weather.

This panel outfit reminded me that style is what we wear to express ourselves, but it’s also a tool to help us navigate our lives. By thinking through these layers of personal style (vibe, shapes, colors, textures, and lifestyle needs) we can balance showing up authentically while honoring the nuances or navigating the constraints of a situation.
For me, that’s the real power of personal style.
One single outfit can’t tell the whole story of who we are. But personal style can be flexible, functional, and expressive of the many sides of our multi-dimensional nature.
So lately, more than asking “does this outfit perfectly express my full self?” I’ve been finding myself asking:
“Does this outfit help me show up in the way I want to? Does it say what I want it to say in this particular moment?“
The post You’re multi-dimensional. So is your style. appeared first on .
Green Living
What Is a Third Place and Why Do They Matter?
Last Updated on October 2, 2025
It’s no secret my greatest love is theatre. From the time I was three years old, I knew I wanted to be an actor.
In an effort to make new friends after moving to Maine, I auditioned for a local production of Shrek. (One of my least favorite shows, but full of some of my soon-to-be favorite people). And you know what it taught me? Third places (theatre being one of them) matter.

Thanks to theatre, I fell into a gorgeous community, and these days, I volunteer in (almost) every corner (painting sets, assisting with costumes, and of course performing!). Here’s everything you need to know about what a third place is and why we need more of them.
what is a third place?
A third place is a public spot you can meet and connect with others through a shared interest or skill (like theatres!).
Third places are fantastic for socializing, exchanging ideas, and building community. Basically, a safe space to be yourself and find like-minded people.
Many third places are also entirely free, or low-cost. This is incredibly important because almost everywhere you go nowadays requires payment just to get in or participate. This creates an air of exclusivity and can keep lower income communities away.
But several third place areas are entirely free (like libraries and parks), or accessible due to their affordable pricing.
And beyond being good for our wallets, third places are equally good for our health. That’s because humans are social creatures that enjoy being around other people.
At third places like cafes, you can interact with strangers from various backgrounds and incomes in a positive, safe environment. Because everyone, from all walks of life, are welcome there.

why are third places disappearing?
Third places aren’t necessarily disappearing, but they were impacted by the pandemic when being around groups of people became hazardous.
Specifically, third places like coffee shops, bars, and gyms were hit hardest. However, the opposite was true for parks – everyone became aware just how important our outdoor spaces are.
That said, many third places never fully recovered from the pandemic when certain businesses realized they could function 100% remote. For example, if no one is arriving in person to a business office, a nearby cafe might suffer from less foot traffic. And rising rents don’t help matters.
Last but not least, certain people may find it difficult to locate a third place near them if they live in a rural setting. Third places tend to be easier to locate in cities.
However, third places can also be found through online communities (more on that later). The irony is the internet has also led to the decline of physical third places.
I think it’s important to have both so there’s a balance. Online communities are amazing, but there’s something about meeting people in person that hits different.

how is a third place different from a hangout?
A third place is different from a hangout in the sense you go there to socialize without any specific goal in mind. Or sometimes, you don’t socialize at all – but simply want to be around other like-minded people.
Whereas a hangout is more planned, a third places doesn’t demand any kind of itinerary or interaction if you don’t want to. Sometimes just hearing neighboring gossip or interacting with a barista is enough.
For example, if you go to a gym, you could chat up the person using the machine next to you. Or, you could simply enjoy the presence of others. There’s no right or wrong.
But with a hangout, you go with the intention of socializing and getting to know someone (or multiple someones).
how is a third place different from a club?
A third place is different from a club in the sense that clubs tend to be more exclusive, whereas third places are for everyone.
Typically, third places don’t have memberships (unless they’re gyms). There’s no barrier between you and that place. Everyone is welcome.
For example, if you’re trying to get into a ‘Homeowners Club’ the one requirement would be to be a homeowner. Which many Americans cannot afford, especially considering the cost of living is going up.
There’s no obligation to be at a third place. Nor are there any specific dress codes or strict requirements. Anyone from any class, culture and gender can participate without pulling rank.

why do third places matter?
Third places matter because they offer people another place to relax, unwind, and connect outside of their homes. Without spending aberrant amounts of money.
Third places encourage social connection without any pressure to perform. We choose how much we engage, if at all. And sometimes just being around other people is enough.
During the pandemic when only essential personnel were leaving the house, it was a stark reminder of how important these spaces are. Without human connection, mental health suffers.
On top of this, third places can be wonderful, neutral areas to do work and start projects. Think of your local cafe, bursting with people doodling in sketchbooks, writing in notepads and typing on laptops.
People flock to these locations not just for free WiFi – but to experience a change of scenery. Make light hearted conversation. Savor a cup of coffee made by someone else. Whatever the reason, there’s a clear need for them.

what are examples of third places?
There are several examples of third places, including:
- Libraries
- Parks, playgrounds and dog parks
- Cafes
- Theatres
- Bars and lounges
- State parks and nature reserves
- Gyms and yoga studios
- Recreation or community centers
- Community beautification group
- Community gardens
- Privately owned public spaces (like a plaza)
These are just a few I could think of off the top of my head, but I’m sure there are plenty more third places.
Also, be mindful of online third places as well! For those who don’t have access to any of the above, you may be able to find solace with online communities like Reddit groups, digital book clubs, Instagram group chats, and WhatsApp community groups.
That being said, there’s a charm to visiting a third place in person. So if you’re able, and have access to one, definitely take full advantage!
So, will you be visiting a third place? Let me know in the comments!
The post What Is a Third Place and Why Do They Matter? appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
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