Soft Knit Vest

Verified claims

Eco-credentials

EU Ecolabel-certified, traceable, and exclusive to Simons' Canadian-designed Le 31 line.

Price comparison

At $50 CAD, it's about $4 less than a comparable recycled-polyester vest.

Sizing

Available in S to XXL; Le 31 sizing consistent; size up for layering; 6'170 lbs wears M.

Fit

Close fit with tight armholes; best for thin layers; hem may flare; ideal under blazers.

Hand feel

Smooth, soft hand with stretch that feels lightweight and close-fitting; some buyers size up.

Drape and finish

Fluid, non-starchy drape with subtle lustre and deep color; holds shape under a blazer without bulk.

Layering

Layers cleanly under a blazer without sleeve bunching, fitting business casual and smart-casual looks.

Care

Wash cold, press water out, flat dry, and steam to keep shape.

Design

V-neck pullover works for business casual and layering under blazers.

Fiber sustainability

LENZING ECOVERO viscose is EU Ecolabel certified and traceable via fiber marker.

Brand reliability

Fit is consistent across Le 31 tops, and the vest is a frequent gift purchase for style-conscious relatives.

Dye quality

The 82% LENZING ECOVERO viscose blend yields deep, even color with subtle lustre and integral fade resistance with proper care.

Traceability

ECOVERO fiber marker verifies eco-friendly dye chain.

Gift appeal

Buyers give this vest as a gift for its softness and classic style.

Visual anchor

Solid black V-neck acts as a visual anchor that adds contrast to layered outfits.

Positioning

Fine-knit V-neck vest embodies GQ's definition of business casual.

Comfort

Buyers report the vest is so comfortable that they purchase it in multiple colors.

Softness

The LENZING ECOVERO knit is smooth and soft, avoiding wool's itch, and buyers say its softness makes it a go-to gift.

Product record

Title

Soft Knit Vest

Brand

Le 31

Price

50 CAD

Availability

In stock

The story behind Le 31 at Simons

• The Globalnews spotlight on Simons emphasizes its commitment to 'shop consciously' and offering 'accessible, high-quality pieces' — for Le 31, this means the use of LENZING ECOVERO viscose is not a one-off green claim but part of a retailer-wide ethos that consistently prioritizes quality materials and responsible sourcing even at entry-level price points.
• The explicit 'exclusive designed in Canada' tag — visible on Le 31 items across retailers like Lyst — means this vest is not a generic import but a Simons-owned creative expression; for buyers in Canada or those valuing domestic design, that adds a layer of distinctiveness without the markup of a standalone designer label.
• Le 31 is housed under Simons, a retailer founded in 1840 that has since become a Canadian style institution — the brand is not a pop-up label but part of a 180+ year retail lineage that has built a reputation for curated, accessible quality and promoting Canadian design, which means the $50 vest is underpinned by a long-standing retail perspective rather than a trend-driven launch.
• Across the brand, Le 31 calls out specific fabrications like LENZING ECOVERO and European cotton from Sidogras — for a knit vest at $50, this signals that the brand's design process includes intentional fibre selection rather than anonymous commodity textiles, and that the vest's soft hand is a result of that curation.

Finding your size and the knit's stretch

• Le 31 is Simons' in-house men's label with classic North American cuts and low fit variation across tops, so the size Medium you wear in other Le 31 sweaters or tees translates directly to this vest — there is no need to second-guess sizing between pieces.

Care that keeps the vest soft

• Gently pressing out excess water between clean towels instead of wringing avoids tearing the delicate wet viscose fibers — wringing when saturated can permanently distort the knit’s shape, cause micro-tears, and lead to irreversible wrinkling, so using a pressing motion preserves the garment’s structure for longer.
• Washing the vest at 30°C or below on a delicate or handwash cycle prevents the fiber swelling and up to 5% shrinkage that viscose experiences when heated or agitated; LENZING ECOVERO viscose temporarily tightens when wet but returns to its original softness and shape if handled gently, so a cool, short wash without heavy co-wash items preserves the fine knit's integrity.
• Laying the vest flat on a towel and gently reshaping it while damp avoids the stretching and distortion that hanging would cause when the fibers are saturated and weakest — air drying away from direct sunlight or radiators also prevents the heat-induced shrinkage that can permanently set wrinkles in viscose.
• Because LENZING ECOVERO fabric contracts during washing and drying, steaming or ironing on low heat inside out relaxes the fibers and restores the supple drape — without this post-dry step, the vest can feel stiff and appear puckered, so a quick steam or press after every wash maintains its fluid, luxurious feel.
• Turning the vest inside out and placing it in a mesh laundry bag for machine washing shields the fine knit from abrasion and pilling — viscose is especially prone to friction damage when wet, and this simple routine keeps the outer surface smooth and new-looking through repeated washes.
• Using a mild liquid detergent without bleach or fabric softener conserves the viscose’s natural silk-like hand and moisture-wicking breathability — fabric softeners coat the fibers and reduce their ability to absorb moisture, while bleach weakens the already fragile wet fibers, leading to premature thinning and colour loss.

How ECOVERO viscose feels and performs

• Viscose fibers hold color deeply, so the Pine/Bottle Green and Navy/Midnight Blue variants achieve a vibrant, garment-dyed saturation that looks even and substantial — unusual in lightweight knits that can otherwise read as sheer and washed-out.
• ECOVERO viscose fibers have a characteristic smooth hand that feels comfortably soft against bare skin, so the vest operates as a light outer layer over a tee or on its own without the itch common to wool-blend knits.
• The fiber's excellent drape gives the vest a fluid, non-starchy hang that skims the body rather than standing away, so it layers cleanly under a jacket without adding boxiness — meaningful for a piece that will be worn buttoned over a shirt.
• A low-key natural sheen catches light without appearing slick, lending dark colorways like Black and Chocolate an understated depth that elevates the vest above a basic cotton knit — especially in fine, solid-color weaves where the fabric does the visual work.
• LENZING ECOVERO fibers are manufactured with a physical identification marker that allows end-product verification, so the vest’s eco-story isn’t a hollow claim — it’s backed by a chain-of-custody system that can trace the material back to certified wood sources, a level of transparency that goes beyond a standard hangtag.

Price and quality vs other eco-friendly vests

• As a Le 31 by Simons exclusive designed in Canada, the vest carries a local-design identity that generic DTC eco-vest alternatives cannot claim — for a basic layering piece, that domestic creative origin adds a point of distinction and pride for buyers who favour Canadian design over anonymous global sourcing.
• The fine LENZING ECOVERO viscose knit creates a smooth, silky drape that contrasts sharply with the brushed fleece interior and abrasion-resistant armholes of the Quince recycled-polyester vest — the Le 31 wears like a lightweight sweater rather than technical outerwear, sliding under a jacket with zero bulk.
• At $50 CAD (approximately $36 USD), the Le 31 Soft Knit Vest undercuts the $39.90 USD Quince Sweater-Knit Fleece Vest while exchanging recycled polyester for LENZING ECOVERO viscose — a premium, wood-based fiber that brings a softer hand and lower-impact sourcing, making it the more wallet-friendly entry into eco-conscious layering.
• A clean pullover V-neck without zippered pockets or a full-zip front — unlike the Quince vest’s hardware-heavy design — allows the Le 31 to disappear under an open overshirt or blazer without visible zipper lines, making it the more polished choice for indoor smart-casual layering over outdoor-oriented utility.