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Eco-Friendly Underwear: 20+ Sustainable Brands for Your Intimates
Updated: 7 days ago
What we wear underneath our clothes has just as much impact on our planet as all our other clothes. Underwear is not immune to fast fashion. Victoria’s Secret, one of the biggest brands in lingerie, is also a fast fashion brand. Even though they may not be cheap, their business model is very similar to other fast fashion brands. This fast fashion brand was reported to dump hundreds of new bras in the trash when one of its stores was closing. Instead of donating their goods to women in need, they decided to add them to a landfill. This was not the first time Victoria's Secret was shamed because in 2009 a Bloomberg report revealed was using cotton from forced child labor. And let's never forget the charges of sexual harassment in their corporate headquarters. So even though they make beautiful lingerie, they are not ethical and definitely not a sustainable underwear brand.
Luckily there are lots of brands nowadays that do much better. They make underwear that is safe for your skin as well as the environment and they treat their employees with respect. Below you can find over 20 sustainable underwear brands to feel good about yourself.
What to look for in eco-friendly lingerie
Natural Fabrics
Natural fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp are not only better for the environment but they are also better to wear directly against your skin. Natural fabrics are breathable, odor-fighting, and can be composted at the end of their lifecycle.
Recycled materials
Synthetic fabrics are often used in underwear for their stretch and longevity. In lingerie, they are used to create lace and shine that is affordable as silk is pretty expensive (and not vegan).
If synthetics are used, check if they are using recycled materials. A major drawback of synthetic fabrics (recycled or virgin) is that when we wash these, microscopic pieces of synthetic fiber break off and increase our problem with microplastics.
Use a guppyfriend microwaste washing bag to collect microplastic in your washing machine.
Non-toxic
Lingerie is worn close to the skin, which is a very good reason to avoid toxic materials. Your skin is very absorbent so it is best to avoid harmful chemicals. To ensure you have a safe garment, look for certification labels of OEKO-TEX and GOTS.
Labor Practices
Fair Trade is one of the few certifications to ensure fair labor practices for the people sewing your clothes. GOTS ensure organic cotton but they also require safe and healthy labor practices.
Manufacturing Practices
The process of creating textiles is often very demanding on the environment. It requires lots of water, chemicals, and energy, and it leaves behind a lot of waste. Check for brands that are using more sustainable processes that reduce their impact.
Sustainable packaging
Go for brands that use packaging made out of recyclable or biodegradable materials.
To help you find lingerie you can feel good about wearing, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite sustainable and ethical lingerie brands.
Sustainable Underwear Brands
Pact
Price: $12 - $50
Material: Organic Cotton
Bra sizes: XS - XXL
Underwear sizes: XS - XXL
At Pact, they don't just claim sustainability, they certify it. They are certified Fair Trade, Organic, and SimpliZero to ensure their clothing, and their processes, support both people and the planet. SimpliZero helps them measure the impact of every single product, and offset it through reforestation, renewable energy, and community projects that neutralize carbon from the atmosphere.
Organic Basics
Price: $25 - $65
Material: Tencel Lyocell, Organic Cotton, Recycled Cotton, Recycled Nylon
Bra sizes: XS - XL
Underwear sizes: XS - XL
Discover Organic Basics, the game-changing underwear brand committed to sustainability and comfort. Crafted from ethically sourced organic cotton, their undergarments are unbelievably soft and leave a minimal carbon footprint. With a focus on reducing water waste and utilizing renewable energy, every purchase supports their eco-friendly mission. From timeless essentials to odor-fighting SilverTech options, Organic Basics offers quality and style that aligns with your values. Join the movement today and experience the comfort, style, and sustainability of Organic Basics.
Tentree
Price: $18 - $40
Material: Tencel Lyocell, Organic Cotton
Bra sizes: XS - XXL
Underwear sizes: XS - XL
TenTree is a climate-neutral certified company that tracks the impact of the garments they make. They keep an eye on their wastewater management, carbon footprint, and waste saved compared to the industry standards. They are using GreenStep to keep track of their current impact so they know the impact of new designs before they are produced.
Under protection
Price: $50 - $130
Material: Tencel Lyocell, Recycled Lace
Bra sizes: XS - XL
Underwear sizes: XS - XL
Underprotection is an eco-luxe lingerie brand that proves that a green closet does not have to be dull and that sustainability can be fun and beautiful. Their elegant matching sets to silky loungewear and flattering swimwear are made from upcycled and recycled materials, natural fibers, and ocean-bound plastic.
Proclaim
Price: $29 - $59
Material: Tencel Lyocell, Spandex
Bra sizes: A-DDD
Underwear sizes: S - XXXL
Proclaim was developed on the belief that fashion should represent all humans and be made in a way that benefits the planet and the people. They use eco-friendly fabrics to redefine "nude" with their inclusive line of ethical lingerie. Made with silky soft Tencel lyocell, a fabric that is created out of wood pulp from sustainably harvested trees.
WAMA Underwear
Price: $24 - $44
Material: Hemp
Bra sizes: XS - 4XL
Underwear sizes: XS - 4XL
WAMA’s mission is to pioneer the hemp underwear industry by making the best hemp lingerie in the world. They aim to constantly improve fit, function, and design. During this process, they hope to bring more awareness to hemp as an option for clothing, especially sustainable underwear.
Nette Rose
Price: $30 - $75
Material: Cotton
Bra sizes: 30 AA - 40 DD
Underwear sizes: XS - L
This South African lingerie brand produces limited edition intimates for body confidence which are ethically handmade with lots of love in Cape Town.
Olly
Price: $30 - $50
Material: Recycled fiber tulle
Bra sizes: XS - XL
Underwear sizes: XS - XL
Olly Lingerie was created by two young women in 2017. The ethical lingerie they create answers to a simple and essential need: find underwear made with respect for humans and an environment that doesn't look like grandma's panties!
Knickey
Price: $17 - $50
Material: Organic cotton
Bra sizes: XXS - XXXL
Underwear sizes: XXS - XXXL
Knickey was founded as an ethical brand from the start. Seeking the most environmentally responsible processes, low-impact fabrics, and ethical manufacturing. They swap the greenwashing for integrity and accountability. By choosing Knickey, you can be confident that every step of our design, product, and business has been carefully considered.
BAM
Price: $10 - $50
Material: Bamboo
Bra sizes: S - L
Underwear sizes: S - L
Starting from a garage, BAM has grown to a team of over 70 people. Every employee at BAM believes in the difference bamboo clothing makes to our planet. They are challenging themselves to reduce their carbon footprint to zero by 2030. They even ensure that every person in their supply chain – starting with the growers of their bamboo – is paid fairly and treated with respect.
Eco Intimates
Price: $25 - $55
Material: Organic Cotton
Bra sizes: A - DD
Underwear sizes: XS - XXL
Ethical lingerie made from natural fabrics like organic cotton, silk, and lace is what Eco Intimates does. They represent sustainable lingerie and underwear with a conscience as every piece, is ethically handmade using the highest quality textiles.
Naja
Price: $10 - $60
Material: Recycled Nylon
Bra sizes: 32 A - 38 DDD
Underwear sizes: XS - XXL
Naja gives you artistic and handcrafted designs using eco-conscious fabrics. Every item is handmade by single mothers and female heads of households and a portion of their proceeds go towards supporting women in the slums of Columbia. Naja also pays its employees above-market wages, provides health benefits, and supports child education.
The Very Good Bra
Price: $30 - $70
Material: Organic Cotton
Bra sizes: 30 A - 38 E
Underwear sizes: XS - XL
The Very Good Bra provides zero-waste, toxic-free, and ethically created lingerie for all. All their underwear is compostable as no synthetics were used. They use pre-sales to fund their production line. Meaning, they only create lingerie once orders have been placed, which helps to lessen overall waste.
Colieco
Price: $28 - $50
Material: Recycled Polyester
Bra sizes: 28 C - 36 DD
Underwear sizes: XS - XXL
Colieco brings an affordable collection of eco-conscious ethical lingerie. They believe that ethical lingerie should be pretty, and stylish but also be inclusive, durable, and affordable. The collections are produced in Portugal in a safe and comfortable working environment by well-paid, highly skilled workers. Colieco creative designs use sustainable and recycled materials and challenge waste in all areas possible.
Azura Bay
Price: $10 - $90
Material: Organic Cotton
Bra sizes: XS - XL
Underwear sizes: XS - XL
Azura Bay is a fashion brand that also creates super cute underwear. It is made from GOTS-certified cotton giving cotton underwear a whole new meaning. They believe in transparency, quality, sustainability, and honesty. Their workers are paid living wages, and safe and healthy working environments, and the fabrics used are certified organic and free from harmful chemicals.
Uye Surana
Price: - $65
Material: Nylon
Bra sizes: 28 A - 44 G
Underwear sizes: XS - XXXL
Uye Surana is a sustainable lingerie brand producing its undergarments at a small family-owned factory in Colombia and printing each piece in its own New York studio. Uye Surana also uses a special printing technique that minimizes water and dye usage on their textiles.
Pansy
Price: $30 - $55
Material: Organic Cotton, Spandex from recycled PET
Bra sizes: XS - 4XL
Underwear sizes: XS - 5XL
Pansy uses organic cotton for their undergarments. They are based and manufactured ethically in California. The brand is committed to local sourcing and responsible production by getting its cotton from Texas. Dying of the fabrics is done in California and everything is sewn in a factory right by the founder’s home.
LeBuns
Price: $20 - $50
Material: Organic Cotton
Bra sizes: XS - 4XL
Underwear sizes: XS - 4XL
LeBuns is aware of every step in the production process, sourcing Fair Trade organic cotton grown in India and produced ethically in small, family-owned facilities. These facilities utilize green manufacturing practices as they conserve energy and water wherever possible, and work to minimize overall waste.
MeUndies
Price: $15 - $35
Material: Modal
Bra sizes: XS - 4XL
Underwear sizes: XS - 4XL
MeUndies uses Lenzing MicroModal for its undergarments, which is a natural fabric made from sustainably sourced beechwood trees. The brand audits and visits the factories they partner with multiple times per year, to ensure safe work spaces and transparency.
JulieMay
Price: $10 - $85
Material: Organic Cotton, Silk
Bra sizes: 32 B - 42 DD
Underwear sizes: XS - XXL
JulieMay’s feminine bras and briefs are synthetic-free and designed for comfort. Almost all pieces are crafted from an all-natural blend of organic Pima cotton and stretch-soft silk. They are accredited by AllergyUK to be safe for those with allergic reactions and skin sensitivities.
Between the Sheets
Price: $36 - $250
Material:
Bra sizes:32 A - 38 D
Underwear sizes: XS - L
Between The Sheets has very feminine eco-friendly lingerie made from eco materials. This New York brand is committed to local production, designing, and manufacturing its pieces. Everything is made within the USA. They are B-Corp certified and became a Benefit Corporation in 2019, which is a legal framework for companies committed to purpose, transparency, and accountability on their products.
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