Your Guide to Sustainable Lingerie

Sustainable lingerie is not something we consider when making sustainable decisions in our lives. We tend to eat a more plant-based food or change up our clothes for sustainable options. We also buy eco-friendly household items and avoid travel plans that use fossil fuels. It might be smart and easy to make small changes in our underwear drawers.

It’s not widely known that sustainable lingerie can have a positive impact on the environment and is important. We are here to help you understand sustainable lingerie and to connect you with top ethical lingerie brands you might want to shop from.

What is sustainable lingerie?

Sustainable lingerie can help reduce our environmental impact. However, underwear should be gentle for your skin. Synthetic materials trap moisture which can promote the growth of bacteria and lead to various types of infections.

Synthetic underwear also contains many chemicals that were used in its production. These chemicals, whether they are pesticides used in cotton farming or carcinogens found in dyes, can easily get into your skin’s pores. These chemicals should not come in direct contact with your skin, particularly your private parts.

Consumers are looking for eco-friendly options in their wardrobes, as well as sustainable fashion lines that are becoming more popular. Sustainable bras and panties are now in fashion!

Brands that make underwear products rely heavily on organic fabrics. These fabrics are often certified organic by organizations such as the Global Organic Textile Standard. Organic cotton is an example. It is grown without pesticides or fertilisers, and has a lower environmental impact.

To prevent water contamination, they use sustainable materials that are ethically sourced from the textiles to elastics to eyelets. They also avoid toxic chemicals and dyes. Sustainable Lingerie follows a zero waste policy to reduce the amount of landfills. The leftover materials are often repurposed by sustainable brands.

Although not all sustainable clothing and lingerie are vegan, most will be aware that they are. This basically means that no animal-based products, such as wool, silk, and leather, are used. Sustainable lingerie also employs fair labour practices, aims to provide safe working conditions, and pays its workers fairly.

Is sustainable lingerie more expensive?

Let’s not get into the details about sustainable lingerie, which can be more expensive than regular underwear.

Fast fashion companies often employ low-paid workers to produce lower-quality products as fast as possible. This leaves an unsurprising, but unfortunately, negative environmental footprint through excessive production and long-distance shipping using fossil fuels.

Although five underwear sets for $20 may seem cheap and easy, once they start to wear out, you will be back at the store looking for more. This is basically a cycle of fast fashion.

Sustainable lingerie is also not mass produced. Therefore, ethical lingerie and eco-friendly fabrics are typically more expensive than regular underwear. Other factors that can increase the cost are: There are limited supplies of organic cotton and other materials that can be found. They also use lower-impact dyes that have no negative effects on the environment and skin. It is important to implement an ethical production process and workforce. All of these factors contribute to the higher price of the final product, which is why it will cost more than regular synthetic underwear.

As consumers become more conscious of the importance and benefits of ethical clothing, demand for sustainable lingerie will increase. This will lead to a greater number of brands and companies adhering to the process, which will ultimately result in lower prices for sustainable raw materials. As competition increases, it is possible to get your set of five sustainable undies or eco-friendly bras at a comparable price to their unsustainable counterparts.

The Best Ethical Brands

• Knickey

Knickey’s sustainable brand of lingerie promises comfortable, classic styles in underwear made from soft organic cotton. It is also fair-trade certified. You can also use their virtual changing room to help you choose the right size. They also offer a ‘first-pair guarantee’ which makes online shopping easy and sustainable.

• The Very Good Bra

The Very Good Bra is the first zero-waste bra in the world. All of its components, including labels, elastics and hooks, are derived from natural resources. They are also 100% biodegradable. TVGB makes sure their fabric is supportive and asks all the right questions to ensure you find the perfect fit and eco-friendly bras.

• Organic Basics

Organic Basics offers a minimalist, well-designed line of sustainable lingerie made from organic cotton and Tencel. The ‘invisible’ barrette is made of recycled nylon, and the recycled sports bras are just a few examples of some of these designs. Organic Basics has many sustainability initiatives and certifications.

• Kye Intimates

Kye Intimates guarantees you ethical and sustainable lingerie. They also promise delicate, dainty designs that will make you feel great about yourself and the environment. Kye Intimates makes their sustainable bras and pants using both deadstock fabrics and renewable materials. However, they still offer a stylish look. Everything ships in 100% recycled mailers and packaging.

• Base Range

Base Range’s ethically-minded lingerie is simple in silhouettes and has clean lines. But it’s not boring! Base Range aims to only use organic, natural fibres and recycle materials. They also work predominantly with small family-run companies. Base Range uses a natural dyeing process to create their garments. It also uses collected rainwater.

• Savara

It is often difficult to find a sustainable solution when it comes to stylish and fashionable lingerie. But, Savara has you covered! Savara fills this gap with eco-friendly and elegant bras. Tencel is used in their lingerie, as well as reclaimed and headstock lacing, which are consciously made in a low-waste factory. Savara offers adjustable and flexible back elastics that can be adjusted to fit different sizes and accommodate weight fluctuations.

• No cost label

The longline bras from Free Label are super supportive and comfortable, but they’re also very sustainable. They are versatile because of their reversible design. Many styles can also be worn as crop tops. They ethically make their garments from technical bamboo in Canada.

• Mary Young

This Canadian lingerie brand has a distinctive look: mesh detailing and high-waist, underwear. Mary Young’s organic bamboo rayon has been certified by Oeko-Tex to have a lower environmental impact. Young also pays attention to the packaging of their pastel, sheer lingerie sets. Each piece is carefully wrapped in compostable tissue, and shipped to you in 100% recycled packaging.

• Fruity Booty

Fruity Booty, a U.K.-based sustainable lingerie brand is made up over 80% of its flirty and fun styles from surplus fabrics. This includes the hardware and elastics. Customers will take greater care of their items if they are aware that they are non-replaceable. Fruity Booty also has a zero-use plastic policy and will ensure that your package arrives in recycled packaging.

• Summersalt

Summersalt offers simple, yet cute, sleep underwear silhouettes that can be worn with confidence. Summersalt’s Feel Free line offers a range of underwear from briefs and thongs to bralettes. All are made with recycled plastic bottles.

Conclusion

The sad truth is that around 10% of global carbon emissions come from the fashion industry. Around 60% of fabrics are synthetic and made from fossil fuels. Fabric treatment and dyeing are responsible for 20% of all wastewater in the world. It’s common to throw out the underwear drawers of bras and undies, as they can contribute to the environmental impact. However, it is possible to do so. Sustainability and lingerie go hand in hand. They are not cheap, low-quality, or brittle like fast fashion.

Underwear is an almost universal necessity. So, who’s to deny that ethical lingerie plays a vital role in our efforts towards sustainable living and a better world?