Think about it: the most important clothing items, which touch our body for the longest periods, are our lingerie and innerwear. They also are completely intimate with our most private (and vulnerable) parts. We need to make sure they’re safe for us. Which is why this post looks at the best organic and ethical underwear brands.
TL;DR
Want the best organic cotton underwear? Try Pact!More into designer underwear? Go for Between the Sheets!
Read about sustainable bra brands as well, and get to know more ethical brands.
As organic innerwear brand Thundress states, “The Swedish Chemical Agency found approximately 240 textile-related chemicals which pose a serious potential risk to human life. And about 120 which pose a serious risk to the environment. Most of the substances with hazardous properties were found to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or toxic for reproduction.” [PDF] The chemicals then enter your skin.
Our innerwear, or underwear, is the closest to our skin and makes intimate contact with our reproductive areas for long hours every day. The toxins trace a pathway through your skin and into your lymphatic system, then into the blood stream and then into the liver. Toxins, particularly petrochemical fibers, also inhibit normal skin responses, such as the release of toxins (very meta-terrifying) and triggering the onset of disease.
So here’s a simple question: Shouldn’t our underwear be absolutely safe for us?
That was rhetorical; they should be safe, of course, for our bodies, which is why more and more enlightened consumers are asking for organic clothing made of cotton or hemp or bamboo, and more and more enlightened entrepreneurs are providing exactly that. It’s especially important for pregnant women to opt for organic maternity clothing. Plus, of course, one must consider the ethics and sustainability principles of the brand, and how strictly the brand is adhering to them.
Sustainable Underwear Brands (Affordable)
Here is a list of ethical and sustainable underwear brands that are shaking up the fashion industry and belong in your underwear drawer! Plus, they’re among the more affordable options.
1 // Brooke There
Price: From $28
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES
They have lovely designs, but some of their items are made with silk. You can select products on their site by clicking the vegan option in their filter.
2 // // Clare Bare
Price: From $32
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES
The colors are very striking. The founder uses organic dyes and printing techniques for this eco friendly underwear brand that was conceptualized at the Parsons School of Design in NY.
3 // Style Saint
Price: From $54
Style Saint takes a “creator-to-closet” approach to fashion, putting quality, sustainability, and the humanity at the forefront. Their designs are “non-disposable” pieces that last.
4 // Naja
Price: From $52
Actor Gina Rodriguez (from Jane the Virgin) founded Naja, along with Catalina Girald. This ethical lingerie brand aims to always use environmentally friendly materials and processes. They also incorporate fabric from recycled plastic bottles in their designs as much as possible.
5 // Mighty Good Undies
Price: From $18
Mighty Good Undies sounds like a superhero’s name! Which is a good thing if you want to bring ethical fashion into the mainstream. MGU’s underwear collection is not only affordable, but also of great quality – which means you won’t have to replace it for a while.
6 // Majamas Earth Clothing
Price: From $18
Majamas makes ethically designed, sourced & sewn underwear. They have a fabulous line of bras for nursing mothers.
Majamas Earth Clothing Review: “As I entered my second trimester, ME was the best of three brands of bras I tried that could last through the rest of my pregnancy and also be functional for nursing. They’re comfortable, supportive, and made from recycled fabric. Plus, I had never thought of bras as pretty before, but the 4 designs I have inspire me every time I put them on.”
7 // Hanky Panky
Price: From $24
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES
Thongs, panties, bras and fancy lingerie – they have it all, and in all sizes, as well. They have a recycling program where they have partnered with NYC-based FabScrap to recycle and repurpose their textile waste.
8 // Between The Sheets
Price: From $36
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES | B-corp certified
Not only do the items look good, but they use eco-friendly packaging and work to ensure there is minimal waste from their design and manufacturing process and their supply chain.
9 // Boody Eco Wear
Seam-free | bamboo fabric | made in Australia
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES
Sleek, well-fitting designs, all slated to be the most comfortable for your body – since they’re made with organic bamboo.
10 // Hara The Label
11 // NALU
12 // Nukleus
13 // Only Hearts
14 // Uye Surana
15 // WAMA Hemp
16 // Woron
Sustainable Cotton Underwear
1 // Pansy
Price: From $54
Woman-owned | organic cotton
Made as “the ideal underwear,” Pansy items are sturdy and minimal. They are locally made in California. The products are dyed in wonderfully earthy colors, without the use of toxins.
2 // Organic Basics
Price: From $45
Ethically made | TENCEL |
Organic Basics have partnered with European factories to make their durable, long-lasting products. They use sustainable, responsibly sourced materials, and have great options in lovely colors.
Organic Basics has a page on their website where they list out their “Fuck-ups.” Which is cool, and good marketing, yes, but also a welcome move.
3 // Blue Canoe
Price: From $38
anti-allergy | non-toxic chemicals | non-toxic dyes
Blue Canoe makes their products in the United States, and uses not just organic cotton, but also bamboo and hemp. They also use non-toxic sustainable dyes.
Pact Underwear
Women’s Organic Underwear
Price: From $14
organic cotton | fair trade | carbon neutral
PACT is on a mission. They don’t just sell clothing made from organic cotton, they’re also keen on informing customers about the impact of the cotton industry on the environment, on farmers and on workers.
PACT’s ethical underwear options come in different fits, and numerous colors and prints, and are among the most affordable ethical underwear options around!
Pact Underwear Review: “Pact makes my absolute favorite underwear. The seams are so thin and small and do not cut into my skin at all. The cotton is so high quality, durable, long lasting, and breathable.”
Sustainable Underwear Europe
1 // Aikyou | Germany
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES
They use vegan, skin-friendly, fair-trade certified organic cotton for their elegant designs.
2 // Anekdot | Germany
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES
They source their materials from “production leftovers, end of lines, off-cuts, headstock and vintage trimmings,” and transform them into gorgeous intimates, swimsuits, accessories, and more.
3 // Base Range | France
SUSTAINABILITY NOTES
This brand has a line of beautiful basics “with an emphasis on clean lines and easy silhouettes.” Their textiles are sustainably sourced from both natural fibers and recycled materials.
4 // Vatter | Germany
5 // La Fille D’o | France
Ethical Underwear Men’s
We haven’t forgotten the men! Although many of the brands already listed in this post offer ethical underwear for men as well, we’re listing out a few ethical brands that the men can check out here:
1 // Allbirds
2 // ASKET
3 // B3NTH
4 // Cariloha
5 // MeUndies
6 // Mighty Good Basics
7 // Patagonia
8 // TBô
9 // tentree
Disclaimer: I have tried to make a list of organic underwear brands for women. If any of these do not use organic textile, I will remove them from the list. Also, since this post was about non-toxic clothing, I have not defined vegan brands separately (especially since cotton, hemp and bamboo are vegan, and their organic varieties are eco-friendly). These brands do categorically claim to be ethical, so that’s been a plus point in their selection to this list:)
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THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE DETAILS.
Please note: All brand photographs belong to the respective brands.
Thank you for including us in your list. We have beautiful lifestyle shots you are welcome to share. Feel free to contact us and we’ll get them to you. info@majamas.com
PLEASE continue doing your work! We all must lower our impact on the planet and your blogs and information is part of the solution. Thank you!
Thank you!:)
Tizz & Tonic is a cute undie brand based in Bremen, Germany! They make everything there. Fun prints and styles so I would recommend them for the list 🙂
Hi Kati!
Thanks for stopping by and for the recommendation! I will take a look at them:) Always good to know about more sustainable brands.