Sustainable underwear made from organic cotton
Organic cotton underwear is the best thing right now, for you and the planet. Underwear is the first thing you put on, in the morning, and the last thing you take off before you take a shower and go to bed. In general, we are very careful as to what we expose our bodies to. And yet, underwear does not get the attention and respect it deserves.
Aiming to lead a healthier lifestyle, we count the calories in our food and analyse the ingredients in our skincare routine. But skin does not stop with the face; there’s skin in our underwear as well – if you know what I mean.
Organic cotton basics are free of heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic dyes – critical to your health as your undergarments rest around your private parts for at least 8-12 hours every day. Above all, organic cotton underwear is not just cleaner and safer (for your skin) than conventional cotton, but also far more comfortable and breathable.
Without further ado, these are the top 25 best organic underwear brands right now, in 2021.
1. Pact
Growing cotton organically saves vast amounts of water and uses no toxic chemicals. That’s one of the main reasons Pact makes organic cotton underwear only from GOTS certified organic cotton. For every item of organic cotton lingerie, the brand saves almost 4 gallons of water, compared to traditional cotton.
The brand partners with ‘Fair Trade Certified‘ factories across the world, aiming to provide safe working conditions and environmentally-friendly practices. Fair Trade factories provide safe working conditions, empower and uplift local communities, and protect the environment.
Pact’s organic cotton underwear is very comfortable, has a soft touch, and above all, the brand has a timeless design. Moreover, Pact is a certified B Corporation that goes to great lengths to make sure its entire supply chain.
From the growing and harvesting of organic cotton to the final sewing and all the processes in between, everything is as responsible and sustainable as possible. From all organic cotton underwear brands on this list, Pact is the go-to underwear and basics brand for my whole family!
2. Knickey
I like Knickey a lot, as the founders care about putting people’s health first. Taking note of the infections millions of women suffer from the synthetic fabrics and harmful toxins found in undies, Knickey uses only certified organic cotton. Knickey’s fair-trade cotton underwear is breathable and free from chemicals and carcinogens.
Simply put, this is an underwear brand for undies free from anything unkind to your body, be that pesticides, toxins, or synthetic fabrics. Also, the brand’s underwear is coloured with Oeko-Tex certified, non-toxic dyes.
Knickey’s organic cotton underwear comes in a variety of styles to fit your preferences. Also, you can buy starter sets to test out multiple fits before committing. The brand stocks a wide range of XXS–XL range of thongs, hipsters, bikinis, and briefs (at low-, mid-and high-rise lengths).
Knickey will also happily take your garments back once ready to be retired to be recycled safely and turned into new materials (like insulation). Finally, when it’s time to replace your underwear, Knickey makes it easy with a recycling program that collects and recycles discarded underwear.
3. Organic Basics
Organic Basics is a Danish brand that puts sustainable thinking at the centre of everything, The brand is all about ethical and organic underwear (the clue is in the name), and only uses environment-friendly textiles. The brand offers high-quality sustainable clothing for men and women, mostly in organic cotton.
Moreover, the brand has recently launched its first sustainable denim collection. Most underwear by Organic Basics is made with GOTS certified organic cotton. The brand uses only ethical factories and is very transparent about how and where every piece of underwear is made.
Organic Basics underwear and apparel are available in all sizes, from XS to XL. Moreover, by weaving silver into the organic cotton, Organic Basics’ SilverTech pieces are antibacterial and heat regulating (it means your basics will need fewer washes than usually).
The brand even offers multi-packs of the most-loved sets and pieces, so that you can make the switch to a more sustainable fashion underwear wardrobe with ease. Whenever I wear Organic Basics undergarments under my squat-proof leggings, the gym session turns out safe and clean, if you know what I mean.
And even after several washes, my OB underwear and bras are still in excellent condition, soft and comfy as ever.
4. Brook There
Brook There makes some of the most elegant organic cotton sustainable lingerie pieces I’ve ever tried. The brand also blends natural ahimsa silk in its designs, with a focus on beautiful, long-lasting, soft, and comfortable fits.
Brook There lingerie and garments are designed, cut, and sewn on the coast of Maine. Brook DeLorme and Daniel Pepice, couple and brand founders, insist on using organic cotton from the mills of North Carolina and California.
The brand was launched as a minimalist, organic women’s wear clothing line that blended confidence and comfort. Since, the label has evolved to include lingerie, which became its central focus in 2013. Brook There includes simple black and white bras and underwear, as well as more playful options, such as a ’50s-inspired gingham set with high-waisted bottoms.
The brand’s organic ethos reflects the couple’s sustainable lifestyle in Maine, where they have an organic vegetable farm.
Fact: Brook designs by starting with an idea, then a sketch, and a final draft before it shapes up as a pattern at her sewing machine. Once the pattern is perfected, a small, dedicated team of sewers in Massachusetts craft the garments that find their way to your doorstep.
When asked “Why organic? “, Brooke replied: “Part of the reason we choose organic is personal preference; it is healthier and it feels better against the skin. The other, and more urgent reason, is that organic cotton is better for the earth. Conventional cotton uses more pesticides than any other single major crop. By choosing organic, we preserve the health of our communities and ecosystems.“
5. Pico
Pico is a fully vegan British underwear brand known for its beautifully soft organic and fair-trade cotton underwear for both men and women. The brand’s organic cotton undies are Fairtrade International – Small Producers Organisations certified.
The brand’s creations are catalogues in projects:
Project # 1: The label began with the first things to be put on in the morning. That is super soft and simple, everyday aesthetic clothing underwear.
The create the morning underwear collection, the brand worked directly with a small fair trade factory in southern India, using organic cotton sourced from farmers’ cooperatives.
Project # 2: The founders have researched and learned about indigenous organic Indian cotton. Nowadays, the company is working with a cooperative in Gujarat to produce handwoven bath sheets and hand towels.
Nowadays, Pico is engaged in Project #3:
Project # 3: Learning about the British fibre industry and working with British manufacturers of cruelty-free wool.
6. Uye Surana
Uye Surana (pronounced Yoo Sur-ah-nah) is a lingerie brand based out of a studio in NYC, where dreamy things are delicately designed with artistic & modern appeal. Uye Surana organic cotton underwear is extensively fit-tested, made in small batches, and often released in limited editions.
The brand’s bralettes are engineered with patented technology to offer precisely tailored band and cup sizing as well as easy-fit sizing – a proprietary, ultra-adjustable system – to maximize fit and achieved desired support. So, if you’re eyeing a nice pair of underwear on the brand’s website, get it before it’s too late!
Also, if you are looking for inclusive sizing, look no further. With sizes ranging from XS to 3XL, Uye Surana is an inclusive lingerie brand that deserves your attention.
7. Nico
Established in 2012 by Lis Harvey, Nico celebrates minimalism and understated organic luxury lingerie. The brand brings high-quality basics and designer underwear to the Australian fashion landscape. The label features clean lines, luxe organic fabrics, paired with breathtaking styles and colours.
Nico’s factories are signatories to The Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord and are compliant with BSCI and certified with WRAP. At the core of everything we do at Nico is a strong respect for the people we work with, and the environment we work within.
Nico is committed to upholding and cultivating ethical and sustainable transparency in the fashion industry. At the core of everything Nico does is the sustainability of materials for a better ecosystem and style, to ensure that the garments are used and loved.
The brand also pays close attention to the quality of the materials to ensure it stands the test of time. The fibres are knitted at a high gauge and the finished fabrics undergo a bio-wash process, to ensure premium quality underwear, resistant to pilling and shrinkage.
8. Araks
Obsessed with colour and detail, everything Araks makes is intended to let women feel at ease and beautiful. In the founder’s vision, Araks organic underwear is meant to give women something that enhances, not distracts them. The brand offers underwear, sleepwear, swimwear, and resort wear.
In recognition of its ethical efforts, Araks was selected to participate in the 2018-2019 CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative. As of February 2020, all new pieces are made from organic cotton. The fabric is GOTS certified, OekoTex 100 certified, and is made in Spain.
The mill produces zero wastewater and safe chemical management is used throughout the entire manufacturing process. I like Araks’s underwear as it does make a distinction between “everyday lingerie” and “occasion lingerie” when it comes to materials or craft.
9. People Tree
A pioneer in sustainable and fair trade fashion, the story of People Tree started in 1991. Since then, the company ensures that all garments it makes are kind not only to the environment but also to your skin.
Every garment produced is free of toxic chemicals, and all undies are made with hypoallergenic organic cotton. Contemporary, versatile designs and playful, exclusive prints inspired by the V&A archives create stylish, innovative, and affordable fashion while respecting people and the planet.
Collections featuring organic cotton, Tencel, Lyocell, and responsible wool, are made using traditional artisan skills such as hand weaving, hand knitting, hand embroidery, and hand block printing. The brand only uses GOTS certified organic cotton and partners with factories supporting good practices.
People Tree’s organic underwear comes in a variety of styles, including briefs, high-waist briefs, hipsters, and thongs, always in line with the most current fashion trends. Every undergarment is made to the highest ethical and environmental standards from start to finish.
10. Made Trade
Made Trade’s underwear collection covers a few great brands and a large section of plus-size intimates. At Made Trade you can shop freely, knowing that organic cotton is responsibly sourced, and the craftsmen are paid fair wages. Moreover, every organic cotton underwear pack made here adheres to one (or more) of the brand’s core values:
Fair Trade
– The brand’s underwears are handmade and adhere to international Fair Trade guidelines and labour practices.
Heritage
– Handcrafted undies by artisans around the world using traditional art forms that are in danger of being lost forever.
Diversity
– Partners with businesses and non-profits where 51 per cent or more of the company is owned or run by a black, indigenous, or person(s) of colour.
Sustainable
– Underwear made with earth-friendly materials, responsibly sourced, recycled, or upcycled, and intentionally designed to have a minimal negative environmental impact.
Vegan
– Vegan underwear, 100 per cent free of any animal products or byproducts.
Women-Owned
– Underwear by companies where 51 per cent are identifying as women. Although Made Trade doesn’t have a period panties collection, it offers super comfortable mid-rise undies perfect for one of those days.
I recommend Made Trade for its wide range of organic cotton underwear, for all tastes and budgets.
11. Hanky Panky
If you’re looking for an underwear brand that makes all of its garments in the US, Hanky Panky is the one for you. Maybe some of you remember that 2004 front-page Wall Street Journal article describing Hanky Panky’s thongs as “lace butter”. No surprise there are Hanky Panky garments are made from the best materials.
Components are chosen for specific stretch qualities, softness, and fit. Also, 100 per cent of the fabrics and trims used to make the brand’s signature lace styles are knitted in the US. Even the Supima cotton fibres used to make crotch linings are grown in the US.
Moreover, this is a women-led company, and 100 per cent employee-owned. To top it up, the company runs a ‘Lingercycle’ programme, where you can recycle your old underwear. Highly recommended for comfortable organic cotton thongs, hipsters, briefs, and so much more.
12. Warp Weft
Family-owned Warp Weft has been at the top of the organic denim business for over 30 years. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the brand’s organic cotton underwear line is designed to be undetectable.
Free of sag and back side seams, these anti-pinch bikinis and briefs are lined in 100 per cent organic cotton and made from cellulose reconstituted from beech trees. Ever-inclusive, the collection includes sizes from 00–24, as well as various shades of nude.
The brand also recycles 98 per cent of the water it uses, ultimately saving over 572.4 million gallons since launching in 2017. With undies for every size and body shape, Warp Weft’s undies are breathable and 50 per cent more absorbent than cotton.
I like the label’s ultra-soft and ultra-stretchy underwear collection, as it retains shape even after several washes.
13. Nude Label
Nude Label is launched in 2014 by Clara Ropero and Ana Alemany with the aim of creating underwear that would feel like a second skin. Driven to create basic underwear that has the least environmental impact possible, the duo sources organic cotton locally, from Mataro, a town close to Barcelona.
Then, the underwear pieces are put together in a local factory in Valencia, owned by Alemany’s family. Each piece feels soft and stunning, made from organic cotton certified with GOTS and Oeko-Tex 100 Standard – the brand is also a member of the Better Cotton initiative.
The designers use only friends and non-models in lookbooks and media campaigns. That’s to save money for research and ensure customers embrace body inclusivity and self-acceptance.
I like Nude Label’s undies for the extra comfort it confers – there’s no use of pads or underwires in these undies. The brand’s organic cotton underwear is refreshingly simple, with a neutral colour palette, like a triangle mesh bra with a front cut-out.
14. Pansy
Launched in the summer of 2012 by Laura Schoorl and Rachel Corry, Pansy is the perfect women’s underwear: minimal, sturdy, beautiful, and locally-made, this is feel-good underwear. Pansy’s underwear is made entirely of organically grown natural fibres and sewn in California without a sweatshop in sight.
It is then dyed without the use of toxins and made with lots and lots of love. I really like Pansy’s main collection of body-inclusive organic cotton underwear in low-rise and high-rise styles. And, above all, I love Schoorl’s addition of a matching triangle bra in a variety of pastel hues, to the final line.
The designer says she is inspired by the nature and stays grounded by going to the countryside as often as possible. And, you can see that in the brand’s latest organic loungewear; the styles, colours, and cuts all remind me of the countryside and village life.
15. Botanica Workshop
Botanica Workshop is an independent label focusing on underwear and loungewear made of organic cotton and sustainable materials. Established in 2014, the brand was born from a need of producing natural intimates with a designer aesthetic and quality to match.
The name Botanica Workshop comes from a combination of concepts: “Botanica” which represents ecologically-minded use of materials, and “Workshop” representing the experiential nature of designing and producing handcrafted sustainable clothing.
Known for its petite collection, the label partners with local artisans and technicians to create small production runs of well-crafted pieces, a few times a year, in Los Angeles, CA. Some of the brand’s high-profile customers include Natalie Portman, Marisa Tomei, Shailene Woodley, Kirsty Hume, Emma Roberts, Julie Delpy, Karen O, Brit Marling, Elise Crombez, and Linder Sterling.
16. Underprotection
Underprotection was founded in Copenhagen in 2010 with one important vision in mind; to unite sustainability and fashion. The Danish brand is combining ethics and aesthetics in its beautiful underwear made from sustainable materials such as recycled polyester and organic cotton.
Underprotection exists to celebrate women of all kinds, and its goal is to make them feel as beautiful and comfortable as possible. The brand is only using sustainable and certified materials such as organic cotton, Tencel lyocell, recycled polyester, recycled nylon, recycled wool, and even banana fibres.
Most of the brand’s undies are vegan approved, and if not, it is because it is either from recycled wool, or a rescued organic resource that would otherwise be wasted, such as milk. All of its packaging, paper, and polybags are either recycled or biodegradable.
Moreover, the brand only works with certified factories as it believes: “fair working conditions and fair wages are human rights”.
17. Woron
Woron is a Danish couture label specialised in high-quality, long-lasting vegan underwear. The brand uses eco-friendly materials, such as Modal, and is Oeko-Tex certified, meaning there are no toxic chemicals in its undies.
The Copenhagen-based label is the result of a collaboration between two sisters – Arina and Anya Woron, passionate about sustainable underwear and everyday essentials. The duo believes that most things in life can be fixed with a good attitude and some comfy organic underwear that does not compromise style and sexiness.
“When the underpants aren’t riding up and the bra isn’t chafing or trying to suffocate you, when your body says “aaaah, I’m good right now”, that’s the magic of Woron“, said Anya Woron. The brand has a wide range of organic cotton luxurious underwear made with a soft blend of plant-based goodness: natural breathable materials, chosen with women’s comfort in mind.
18. Skin
Skin is a New York-based underwear label that creates perfectly cut tanks, pyjamas, and lingerie, with flattering cuts and elegant styles for everyday use. The brand has a wide collection of versatile, organic pieces that deliver in just about any situation.
Each piece is comfortable enough to wear under clothes and beautiful enough to wear as clothes. I love the brand for its choice of clean and super-fine materials, exhibited as modern silhouettes and celebrations of the environment – and the human body, in its most natural form.
The unique construction of these garments, crafted without visible seams and finishings, eliminates any tightness or digging in, and around the garment’s ends. Inspired by the feminine power and extraordinary natural beauty all women possess, Skin’s capsule collections are designed to uplift and honour the body through simplicity and naturalness.
This brand is a little more pricey than the others on this list, but its organic cotton underwear is by far the best in the business.
19. Tomboyx
Not only does this translate to androgynous, gender-neutral, and size-inclusive underwear up to 6X, but into ethical and eco-friendly underwear that customers love to wear. Tomboyx uses Oeko-Tex 100 Certified organic cotton and provides fair wages to workers in women-owned facilities.
TomboyX was started in the founder’s garage, with the vision that everything you put on your body should make you feel great and help express yourself without constraint. From adaptive underwear to super-soft pyjamas, the brand delivers high-end fit underwear of great feel, style, and colours.
20. Sustain by Kat
Sustain by Kat is built on the three main tenets of slow fashion: making good, clean, and fair clothing. Most of the label’s underwear is made with 100 per cent organic cotton, while the trims are from natural rubber.
The label’s timeless basics last season to season, decreasing environmental impact while protecting your wallet. Unlike conventional and other organic apparel, Sustain’s apparel is free of petroleum-based fabrics and dyes.
By using 100 per cent natural materials, Sustain’s apparel is safe for your skin and the environment. The brand has done so many amazing things when it comes to dyeing fabrics and making sure its garments are sustainable from the bottom up.
Every piece in Sustain’s collection is ethically made, from start to finish. Sustain’s Ayurvedic collection supports small, marginalised communities in India by helping provide fair wages and safe working conditions.
21. Mighty Good Basics
Hailing from Hyderabad, the capital of southern India’s Telangana state, Mighty Good Basics aims to provide quality, affordable, organic, and fair trade underwear, for both men and women. The brand uses GOTs certified cotton from the Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills in Kolkata, India.
The cotton is organically grown by farmers from the cooperative Chetna Organic, headquartered in Hyderabad India. The brand also uses renewable energy throughout its supply chain.
Mighty Good’s ‘Bare for Good’ campaign, now in its fourth year, was created in support of the Fashion Revolution movement to help promote a shift in the way consumers view fashion. Each year, the brand invites change-makers to take part in its portrait series to raise awareness of the shocking reality of ‘Who made my clothes’ and the Rana Plaza accident.
Also, for the fourth year in a row, Mighty Good has achieved an A rating in the highly respected Baptist World Aid Report – Australian Ethical Fashion Guide. Great organic cotton underwear from India, this is a very affordable brand that I highly recommend to those of you on a tight budget, without compromising on your health.
22. Vatter
Vatter is a Munich-based label that creates sustainable and long-lasting organic cotton underwear. Vatter’s underwear is available for women, men, babies, and even toddlers.
The designs range from classic to fancy, in a coherent and, above all, tasteful look and style. Women have the choice between three slip styles and two bra styles.
Each model comes in a simpler basic version and in more playful variants with refined details. Men can choose between loose boxer shorts, classic boxers briefs, or modern trunk shorts. Boxer brief and trunk short are available in classic plain designs and stylishly patterned variants.
The German brand also has a good collection of basic shirts from 100 per cent organic cotton. Think t-shirts, tank tops, and even long sleeves, all available in white, black, grey melange, and navy. The shirts are loosely cut and can be worn as underwear, for sleeping, or even stand alone.
23. Azura Bay
Azura Bay is a highly curated store for ethical, eco, organic, and fair trade lingerie brands. Some of my top favourite brands of organic cotton underwear on Azura Bay are Sokoloff, Organic Basics.
Underwear and lingerie brands carried include Cosabella, Sokoloff, Only Hearts, Organic Basics, White Rabbit NYC, Underprotection, Iris London, Mayana Genevieve. Azura Bay is committed to green practices, and all underwear is shipped in recycled boxes.
Also, when you make a purchase, the company donates a portion of the proceeds to a charitable organisation of your choice. I have purchased from Azura Bay many cute, comfy, and conscious lingerie pieces, even PJs, and loungewear. I’ve known this company for years and they always have beautiful organic underwear pieces!
24. Boody
Founded in Sydney, Australia, Boody makes comfortable and breathable organic cotton underwear, without harming animals or the environment in the process. Boody uses its own natural fabrics derived from a blend of organic cotton with bamboo viscose.
Some other materials in use are nylon and spandex, needed to create soft, breathable, luscious, and thermo-regulating underwear. Boody’s eco underwear supports the trend for all things green and ethical and it comes available in all sizes, from XS to XL.
Boody keeps things ultra-simple with its basic underwear collection, made with organic cotton and organic bamboo. The brand’s affordable and sustainable undergarments are comfortable enough for everyday wear.
Boody also offers squat-proof leggings and sustainable activewear sets at super affordable prices, so you might want to give them a try. You’ll also love the breathability of the fabrics, designed to keep you cool in the summertime and warm in the winter. I guess that’s thanks to bamboo fibre’s thermo-regulating qualities.
All of the brand’s undies pass an accredited third-party certification such as Ecocert, SGS ISO, and WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production).
In this way, Boody undies are meeting environmental standards and ensure the quality of the undergarments meets organic standards.
25. WAMA Underwear
WAMA Underwear is a PETA-approved, Green America Certified underwear brand, famous for its wide range of organic cotton and hemp underwear for men and women. The brand’s mission is to pioneer the organic cotton and hemp underwear market by making the best undies in the world and constantly improving the fit, function, and design.
In the process, the brand hopes to bring more awareness to organic cotton and hemp as the much better and more sustainable options for clothing, in particular, underwear. The brand uses its own unique textile, a mixture of organic cotton with hemp fabric.
Also, the dyes used are all Oeko-Tex certified so you know there are no toxic chemicals involved. I love the brand’s great attention and detail to the final undies, from the stitches, pattern pieces, colours, and overall design.
Conclusion
Most people I know do not wear organic cotton underwear for three reasons:
1. Think organic cotton underwear is expensive.
2. Don’t know which brands are sustainable
3. Don’t know where to buy them from.
To help those of you looking for organic cotton underwear, I’ve put together this ultimate guide to organic cotton underwear for women, men, and even toddlers. Each one of these ethical underwear brands is famous for creating some of the best eco-friendly basics, bras, lingerie, boxers, and briefs. Few things are as personal as what you’re wearing under your everyday outfit.
You start the day with underwear so it should be comfortable, make you feel confident and effortlessly sexy, and it should reflect your ethical and sustainable views. And now more than ever, the number of ethical and sustainable underwear brands that respect both, people and the planet, is growing fast.
Organic cotton is also a great choice if you fight against the climate crisis, pollution, and all waste caused by fast fashion. So whenever you purchase a pair of ethically made organic underwear, you know it keeps you healthy and comfortable, while helping the environment in a big way.
Finally, I hope my article will help you be comfortable, confident, and sexy, all without compromising on your ethical values. Therefore, I hope that my top 25 organic cotton lingerie brands and sustainable swimwear, has helped you find and chose the best undies for you.
This article has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff and is re-published with permission from thevou.com
Comments