Pact Apparel Review: Sweats to Live in All Day Long

Even before shelter in place became the new reality in this coronavirus pandemic, I was already thinking about acquiring some more sweatpants. A few years ago, I began working from home. I’m not going to lie: I spend a lot of time in sweats. But I only had one pair of sweatpants, which made things tricky when I needed to launder them.

Surprisingly, it’s hasn’t been easy to find sweats that meet all my requirements. I want something well made and ethically made, in 100% cotton, and moderately priced. Oh, and of course they should be comfy.

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Happily, I found a winner in Pact, which makes organic cotton clothing, bedding, and bath items. They don’t use any toxic chemicals or dyes and are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified. Manufacturing of their products take place in fair trade certified factories in India, which the company says is home to 74% of the world’s organic cotton. Pact doesn’t make a huge line of products, but they make a bit of everything (including clothing for babies and kids.) I find their prices comparable to Everlane. ($25 for a T-shirt, $45 for high-waisted leggings). Right now, the entire Pact site is on sale for Earth Day. Everything is up to 30% off.  

Pact kindly gave me some store credit to try out their products in exchange for giving them a shout out here. So the items I’m reviewing were acquired through a combination of gifting and my paying for some of it. I ordered three pieces in the same color so that I could mix and match and create different sweatsuits.

Essential Drawstring Short

The first item I put in my cart was the Essential Drawstring Short. These shorts have a relaxed fit with an elastic waistband. It has front pockets as well as cute small pockets on the back. The hem is unfinished, which might bother some people, but I don’t mind the casual vibe. The model above is 5’9″ with a 25 inch waist. She’s wearing a size S. Here’s 5′ 4″ me with a bigger waist wearing the same size. I’m generally a size 4 in pants.

I was concerned that they might be too long since I’m petite or puff out unflatteringly since they’re relaxed, but they fit fine! These are quite comfy for lounging around in.

Essential Zip Hoodie

The description for the shorts say to “pair with the Essential Zip Hoodie for the ultimate lounge set.” That’s exactly what I did. I deliberated between the hoodie and the sweatshirt but felt the hoodie might be more versatile for layering. The hoodie seems well made. The zipper pulls smoothly. It’s a bit long in the body for my petite frame; a couple inches shorter would be perfect for me. The sleeves are also a touch long, but nothing I can’t solve by pushing up the sleeves or folding back the cuff. One nice detail is that in addition to the two outside pockets, there’s an inner pocket.

Essential Sweatpant

Alright, what about the sweatpants, which is the whole reason I started shopping for sweats in the first place? Pact makes sweat joggers for women, but they’re out of stock. So, I hopped on over to the men’s section and found their Essential Sweatpant. I wanted a more old-school-looking kind of sweatpants with a straighter leg, anyway. I picked one up in size small.

Here they are on a 6′ man wearing size M.

And here I am wearing a men’s size S. (Yes, this is the very first time I’m comparing myself to a male model.)

I was worried that they might be way too long on me. While they’re longer than I’d like, they’re also somehow fine! I’m wearing them a little scrunched up at the end here. Not bad. The inseam is 29″ on the S. There’s one pocket on the back.

I’ve only worn these pieces for a couple days so I can’t comment on their durability, but they seem well made. I have no reason to believe that they wouldn’t last a long time. The stitching looks straight and tight. They’re comfy and reasonably soft — not overly plush and fluffy. These are not the type of sweats lined in fleece for winter. They’re classic sweats in breathable organic cotton, suitable for living in all day long.

How Pact Sweats Compare to Other Brands

Before I decided to get these pieces from Pact, I considered other brands. I had my eye on Mate the Label, which makes their organic cotton sweats in Los Angeles. I love their array of earthy colors. But they’re $$$. A pair of jogger sweatpants will set you back $128. The matching sweatshirt: $108. I also looked at Entireworld, where each piece retails for $88, but their sweats have some polyester in them. These brands have a more minimalist aesthetic. I favor the details of their pieces a little more. (For example: a slightly wider neckline on sweatshirts, trouser pockets instead patch pockets, or drawstrings that match the rest of the garment.)

But I can get more for my money at Pact. The combination of ethical manufacturing, organic cotton, and lower price point is a good one for my budget. It’s a great place to pick up basics, like a V-neck T-shirt or a drawstring jumpsuit. (Hey, some of us consider jumpsuits wardrobe staples.) Personally, I am very tempted by these waffle bath towels. I keep reminding myself that I own enough towels. (Five towels for two adults is enough towels, right?)

Pact’s Earth Day sale runs from 4/22 to 4/26. For orders over $50, shipping is free. Free returns too. Use my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 to get 15% off your first order.

UPDATE 5/10/22 – It’s two years later now. I have worn these sweats often throughout the pandemic and they’ve held up great.

UPDATE 11/13/23 – OK, I’ve been wearing these sweats for more than three years now. The ends of the sleeves on the hoodie started fraying sometime this year. The other pieces are fine and don’t show much wear.