The best sustainable underwear brands that you need to know about
Fabric that is 3 times softer than cotton. Exquisite vintage lace. Bamboo bras that feel barely there. There’s no sacrificing style and comfort when it comes to underwear that is planet-conscious nowadays. Here are 5 of our favourite sustainable underwear brands that you need to know about.
The unsung hero of any fashionable fit has to be comfy, cute underwear. But are our pants polluting the planet?
In 2020, Statista reported that the UK underwear market was worth about £3.4bn, and forecast to reach £4.3bn by 2025. As you can imagine, there’s not much of a market for vintage undies, so most of this underwear ends up in the bin.
It’s not something you may have given much thought to, but undies are the ultimate throw-away fast fashion. Unfortunately, that 5 for £5 packet of tiny thongs probably comes with a rather larger carbon footprint. Most underwear, like other fast fashion, is made using polluting chemical dyes, excessive water and a lot of carbon emissions. How lucky then that there are so many innovative underwear brands coming on to the market.
Stripe & Stare ❀
If you’re in need of new undies, check out Stripe & Stare. We can vouch for the fact that their undies are by far the comfiest we’ve ever tried. They are made from Modal, a fabric three times softer than cotton. Plus, with their 30% off deal and subscription option, you can save a pretty penny too!
Lace Bralette - Cherry Stripe - £35
News just out: bralettes are in and this cherry covered piece is the perfect combination of comfy and cute.
Brazilian Knicker - Hot Pink Block Out - £18
Barbie fever has swept the nation and Stripe and Stare is no exception. This pair will have you feeling like a real Barbie girl.
Lace Cami - White - £30
An every wardrobe needs a cute cami for those hot summer days and Stripe and Stare is ready to serve.
Veo ❀
On the look out for something sexier? We love the underwear options on sustainable shopping platform, Made from recylable materials, lingerie has never felt, looked and been so good.
Liao Recycled Fibre Lace Bra Black - £44.44
You’ve heard of the little black dress but can we introduce the little black bra?
Liao Recycled Lace Panties Pink - £29.91
Lightweight, lacey and planet friendly. Your underwear draw is calling!
Dawa Recycled Lace Bra Red Garnet - £42.74
Red is the new green with this amazing recycled lace bra. Fabulous!
Organic Basics ❀
Say hello to Organic Basics, who are pioneering the comfort revolution. Sustainability is embedded in the ethos of Organic Basics as they use only GOTS certified cotton and natural dyes from herbal industrial waste that would otherwise go to landfill. A Green Salon favourite!
Organic Cotton Briefs
2-Pack - £15
A pack of black briefs is every woman’s wardrobe staple. Organic Basics is here to help.
Invisible Bra - £21
Coming in multiple gorgeous neutrals, this invisible bra will soon become your go-to garment.
Rib-Flex Tank Bra - £21
We love varied textures and fabrics at Green Salon and this ribbed tank does not disappoint.
Swedish Stockings ❀
Tights can be an amazing addition to an outfit but ladders are definitely not. Tired of replacing your tights over and over again? Swedish Stockings produce stockings from recycled yarn, using natural dyes and solar power. Plus, they look gorgeous on!
Tora Shimmery Tights - £32
Get ready to dance the night away in these dazzling, disco tights. Who needs a mirror ball anyway?
Doris Dots Tights - £23
These Doris tights are a simple but effective way to spice up your outfit one polka dot at a time.
Livia Seamless Shaping Shorts - £44
Sometimes we need a little bit of extra support and these seamless shaping shorts come highly recommended.
Knickey ❀
To our dear US customers, we’ve not forgotten you. If you’re looking for extra-comfy knickers then check out Knickey. They use certified organic cotton to create underwear that is breathable, durable and comfortable in classic and varied shades. No frills no fuss. Just a great fit.
The Keyhole - $48
Having different styles of bra for every outfit can now be green with this unique cut out bra from Knickey.
The Low-Rise Thong - $17
Thongs are notorious for being uncomfortable but this low-rise thong is sure to put those rumours to rest.
The Soft Short - $50
Soft, durable, light wear lounge shorts? Check. Added to the basket? Check.
And here’s 4 ways you can make your underwear a better fit for a healthy planet:
Look after your lingerie - We tend to wash underwear more frequently than other clothes, so it pays to treat it right. Check the care label and follow the instructions. Delicate lingerie may need hand-washing and always wash on the gentlest cycle. Don't wring it out too forcefully to avoid stretching, and dry flat. For special, silk items, we recommend Clothes Doctor’s Silk & Delicates Detergent*. Use code GREENSALON for 15% off.
Consider investing in a Guppy-friend washing bag* - this will provide an extra layer of protection as your lovely lingerie spins around in the washing machine. As well added protection, the Guppy-friend washing bag prevents tiny micro-plastics from ending up in our rivers and oceans, harming our planet and health.
Donate and recycle old underwear - rather than throwing your old underwear into the bin to be shipped off to landfill, bundle it all together and take your unwanted undies to your local textiles bin. You can send your old synthetic stockings to be recycled into brand new products at Swedish Stockings. Smalls for All is a UK based charity that collects underwear and bras to be distributed to people in need in both Africa and the UK. They accept men’s, women’s and children’s underwear in all sizes and colours.
Buy better, buy less - putting it simply, saving up and investing in higher quality lingerie will prevent you from burning a hole in your pocket in the longer term. Over time, you’re likely spending more than you think on lots of low-quality, short-lived underwear items so investing in better quality could save you money in the long-term.
So the next time you’re in the market for some new underwear, head to our Directory for all these brands and more green goddess lingerie.
What sustainable laundry detergent is best for you? Take our quiz here to find out your best path to a greener life.
We vet each brand for their commitment to sustainability but we are not a certification body, nor are we auditors, and we have taken the approach that we trust brands to tell the truth about their sustainability policies, practices and plans.
Affiliate disclaimer: ❀/* indicates affiliate links with brands to help fund the Directory so that we can research further sustainable brands. This does not affect the price you pay.