42 Top Sustainable Lingerie Brands
By Rachel Kibbe
Pansy's minimalist and colorful underwear has it all: everything they make can be thrown in a compost pile and go back to the earth from whence it came! Sewn in San Leandro, CA from organic cotton that is grown and milled in North Carolina. The elastic is from natural rubber/cotton made in South Carolina. The underwear is garment dyed with fiber-reactive dyes in a factory in Novato, CA. Total transparency is their game and they are winning.
"Your clothing doesn’t need to reshape you into something you are not." Brook There's USA made undies, unpadded and wireless bras, tanks, tees, shorts, and leggings are made using organic cotton and real silk. They choose low environmental impact ways of producing wherever they can.
A favorite of New York Magazine and Marie Claire, Botanica Workshop represents ecologically minded use of materials and handcrafted goods. Mindful of "slow fashion" sustainable design practice, their minimalist designs are as beautiful as they are thoughtful in their production.
This brand is all about individuality, comfort and attention to details. From "flatlock design" seams that lay flat along your skin so they're seamless under your clothes to sustainably sourced materials made in Los Angeles. They also give back, donating underwear to the Good Shepherd Center women’s shelters who give refuge to women in need of a safe place.
The Nude Label is a Spanish ethical underwear brand. They produce all their goods at a family factory in Valencia, Spain.
Naja is an underwear line that breaks the mold. Committed to eco-friendly sublimation dye processes which eliminates water from the dye processes, they also use recycled materials. The brand is also committed to empowering diversity and women. Their Nude collection provides nudes for every shade of skin under the sun. They also give back through their Underwear For Hope program, a program which gives 2% of every purchase to support their female entrepreneurial sewing program.
Pact is serious about organic cotton. Not only is all of their underwear made from organic cotton, they use GOTS certified organic cotton which ensures not just the environmental friendliness of their fabric but also that the workers are paid fairly. Considering the World Bank estimates that around 20% of industrial water pollution in the world comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles, buying PACT apparel is definitely contributing to a positive change.
Blue Stockings is the first underwear maker to take the LGBTQUIA community's unique needs and put them front and center. Privacy packaging, fitting notes for transgender customers and more details make this shopping the Blue Stockings underwear shopping experience all about inclusivity. They are also committed to sustainability using all recycled and biodegradable packaging.
Designed in Great Britain, with all materials sourced from Europe, Harlow & Fox is committed to providing the most luxurious and beautiful locally made lingerie for women with larger breast sizes. They offer a selection of 30-38 DD-G, which is pretty revolutionary considering how hard it is to find lacy, luxe underwear for women who are more fully endowed.
Handcrafted and individually designed to create the least waste possible, Anekdot is committed to fair labor and sustainability. Located between Sweden and Berlin, whether they are using deadstock materials or vintage trimmings, they incorporate upcycling into their design process. Anekdot's design philosophy is creating designs from what they have material-wise and not the other way around.
Based in Denmark and France, Baserange's commitment is to clean and easy undergarments. They have become known for having a finger on the pulse of modern; their design are of the moment. Committed to sustainability, their fabrics are high quality and organic and they focus on minimizing environmental impact.
Araks is one of the first lingerie lines we ever carried on HELPSY. Their commitment to designing and making all their tasteful and modern, luxury lingerie in the USA shows that they are real about maintaining quality and supporting the US economy. They now also have a line of organic cotton sleepwear which is also made in the USA.
Handmade in LA, Style Saint has a fierce commitment to not just sustainability but also measuring and showing environmental impact and labor. Every item on their site shows exactly how many hours of fairly paid labor a garment took to make, how much water is saved through the garment's creation and how much sustainable fabric is used. The fabric is milled in the US, the garments are cut sewn and made in the US, and the items are trendy and fun. The entire operation is impressive.
Handmade with love in California, we love and carry the Elma Lingerie brand because of Elma's commitment to making everything on a made to order basis. She makes and designs all the underwear herself which eliminates over runs in production and therefore an incredible amount of waste. Additionally, each item can be made lined or unlined, with or without pads, all of this eliminates waste because the customer can choose what they really need. Not only that, you can order any item as 'bespoke' or to your exact measurements, ensuring that what you order will actually fit you and you won't have another piece in your drawer that goes unworn!
MeUndies are known for super soft undies in fun prints and their smart subscription model options. But what's lesser know is their commitment to sustainability. The soft fiber MeUndies are famous for is actually Lenzing Modal, a natural and raw fiber extracted from beech trees, which are resistant to pests and environmental threats, so don't require pesticides, artificial irrigation or additional plantings to farm. Next the raw material is processed into fiber in a fully-integrated facility in Austria through a technology that is carbon-dioxide neutral and energy self-sufficient. Finally the undies are made in a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified textile manufacturer.
Boody has all the certifications. And not just any certifications, the top ones. To name just a few: they use ECOCERT® bamboo which is grown organically without fertilizers or pesticides, they are certified by the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 which means their yarns contains no trace chemicals posing health threats. Boody also uses earth friendly packaging and are committed to the labor part of ethical production as well. They are certified by WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) meaning their clothes come from certified factories with anti- child labor and exploitation policies, exceeded minimum wages, regulated work hours and sick/holiday pay.
German lingerie line Aikyou specializes in small bras for small busts—forgoing padding for embracing a more petite frame. They are also focused on sustainability, from organic cotton to eco-shipping and eco-packaging sewn by a local charitable foundation. They are also vegan and choose local suppliers with transparent production conditions.
Hara has a mission and that is to bring change and environmental awareness to the fashion industry through a lead by example philosophy. They make everything on site with the help of an an in-house production team in Bali, Indonesia. Fair working conditions, fair living wages as well as many staff perks are the norm for all HARA staff. Environmental sustainability is also at the core of HARA, choosing bamboo over cotton because bamboo uses no pesticides, hardly any water or land space and can grow up to a foot a day (making it one of the most renewable resources on the planet). They also use natural dyes from fruit trees which go back to nourish surrounding jungles and no plastics in production or packaging.
Made in NYC and B Corp certified, Between The Sheets lingerie was started in 2010 with a commitment to quality and sustainability. B Corp certification means that as a company they meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Their website goes into detail about how every aspect of their business as been considered in terms of sustainability and accountability.
Woron's goal is "super soft and sustainable". They aim to create underwear that's season-less and always in style. Their production methods take into account carbon footprint, a vegan ethos (no silks or wools) and sustainable materials. Woron's primary textiles are organic cotton and modal, made from the raw renewable resource of beech trees. They make all their products locally in Hungry in a factory that is Oeko-Tex certified, with strict working regulations in terms of safety conditions and fair pay. They also work with a small factory in India which is close to where they source some of their fibers and reduces the shipping footprint.
From fabric to finish, San Francisco based Blue Canoe is Made in the USA. Using all American manufacturers, workers and distributors, they not only help the US economy but reduce shipping carbon emissions from not using overseas labor. Blue Canoe also uses cotton and bamboo that have been grown without harmful chemicals or pesticides and they use non-toxic dyes.
Clare Bare is a sustainable lingerie brand that originated as an idea in 2006 in the printmaking department at Parsons School of Design. In 2012 they moved from an apartment in Brooklyn to a design studio in Downtown Los Angeles. Each piece is handmade using eco-friendly, vintage, and salvaged fabrics and trim. All pieces are made by a small team of women. Clare Bare transforms raw materials into unique textiles using organic dyes and original silkscreened artwork. Their pieces are designed to accentuate our bodies in a natural way, using traditional techniques in fashion-forward silhouettes.
Luva Huva's small team in Brighton, Great Britain makes nearly all orders on a made to order basis in their studio. They also will make made to measure items. They are committed to using local suppliers and producers, and deadstock remnants, vintage and end-of-line fabrics and trims to reduce textile waste. Their core collection is made from sustainable textiles such as soy, bamboo, silk and hemp. Their collection celebrates soft feminine whimsy.
Madonna Bain calls their lingerie 'eco-intimates'. Made in Bali, Indonesia and designed in Australia, they chose Bali for production because of the level of craftsmanship and quality. A team of 3-5 seamstresses make the lingerie in their homes, on their own time and in small quantities, about 30 at a time. They rely on surplus fabrics and GOTS certified organic cotton.
Only Hearts lingerie and clothing was started in 1978 by Helena Stuart and is now run by both Helena and her daughter Kayla. Made in NYC, they use eco-friendly fabrics wherever possible. Many of their items are made from deadstock materials, GOTS certified organic pima cotton, and Global Recycle Standard lace made from regenerated fibers left over from the spinning process and spun in a solar energy run mill. These guys are the O.G. green lingerie brand.
Handcrafted in a studio in NYC, Uye Surana specializes in body positive whimsy. They really stand out in the various levels of support for all different body types offered, while also making lingerie with incredible sexiness and beauty. Forgoing underwires, they have a patent pending technique that offers support without the wire discomfort. They also committed sustainability, using a waste reducing fabric cutting process, natural and hand dyes, local fabric suppliers and deadstock materials.
Land of women is pared down luxury for everyday use. They take minimalism very seriously and if you are of the 'capsule wardrobe' persuasion, these guys are for you. Considered, imported Italian materials and made by women for women skilled craftsmanship, their pieces are all cut and stitched locally in New York by a family-owned manufacturer, keeping it all close to home.
A certified B Corporation, VPL has it all going on: edgy yet comfortable designs, maternity and nursing bras, and a serious commitment to women. They use a zero waste design process so that no fabric goes to waste and any leftover remnants are put to use. They have also nixed seasonal collections in favor of evergreen styles that stand the test of time. Additionally, VPL is also committed to funding education initiatives using their cost savings from saving fabric to fund these programs.
Michi is a perfect cross between functional and cool. This women's activewear is designed by Parsons graduate Michelle Watson. Originally designed in NYC, she brought the whole operation to Canada where it is now designed and manufactured in Toronto. She considers her pieces an ode to super heroines, marrying fashion and sport into female positive pieces for workouts that can transition to everyday wear.
Kansas City based underwear and apparel brand Madi Apparel designs and makes their garments where they are headquartered using imported organic, long-lasting viscose from bamboo fabrics that are imported and produce their laces in the USA. MADI stands for 'Make A Difference Intimates' and make a difference they do, donating underwear to women in need all over the world.
Founded in 2011, Make It Good Underwear are made in what they call a 'micro-factory' in Portland, OR. With fun, handprinted, artistic details, they believe good design is built on great materials and craftsmanship. They handcraft their undies to last, souring all their materials in the USA and relying on organic cotton.
Mighty Good Undies is an Australian fair trade organic cotton brand that doesn't just want to sell you underwear. They see their mission as setting out to prove that ethically produced cotton can be accessible and affordable to everyone, much like organic and fair trade foods. By engaging with a certified organic and fair trade supply chain, Mighty we are turning ethical business practice into a viable business that treats people with respect, actively manages the eco-impact of the production process in the form of comfortable underwear for all body types.
If you want bold fun prints, with AMAZING coverage in your underwear (we're talking wedgie-proof) then Thunderpants are for you. Besides their fun flair and comfort, they are also committed to sustainability. Made from organic cotton grown in India, and woven in New Zealand, the underwear are cut and sewn in Portland, Oregon, where Thunderpants headquarters resides. Their supply chain is 100% traceable and they use water based dyes.
The philosophy of this Australian fashion brand is to shine a light on manufacturing practices, following each piece from organically grown seed, to the cloth that’s made into garments under fair practices in India. From certified organic cotton from India to recycled polyester, ALAS is intimately in touch with their production line.
In 2013, they spent a month in India in search of a new, Fair Trade woven garment producer, and Jaipur is where they landed. By 2015 all of their woven garments were produced in a big-hearted, but small-sized production unit in Jaipur. All garments are made in-house using sweatshop-free, fair labour standards.
Nico underwear is a celebration of minimalism and sustainability. Relying on sustainable materials like recycled cotton, recycled nylon, and modal from the renewable resource, beech trees, they do their part to make their brand eco-friendly. They make their items in Australia, India and Bangladesh; only working with factories that a certified in safety and working conditions that pay workers fair wages. They have intensively vetted the places they produce.
Skin's emphasis is on lingerie, underwear and apparel that could often be any of the three. Night shirts, that could easily double as day shirts, night shorts you could wear to the grocery store. The dual/triple functionality is was dreams are made of and they often use pima organic cotton so they've got their eyes on sustainability too.
Hello Beautiful is named as such as an affirmation; a female positive line of underwear born from the designer's frustration at not being able to find 100% cotton lingerie in the US. Made with pride in New York City, U.S.A. Your purchase supports U.S.A jobs, and preserves the future of U.S.A apparel manufacturing.
An is an 'apres surf' lingerie line, inspired by the colorful Sydney beach culture and sleek downtown NYC aesthetic. It's manufactured in NYC in small quantities.
Noe Garments are designed in the USA. The support ethically aware production and labor practices. They use luxe fabrications, european sewing techniques, premium Japanese elastics, custom designed hardware and a very close eye to every detail. Each collection stems from silhouettes based around a body contouring or creative layering.
Swedish underwear and apparel brand The White Briefs is a boutique darling—stocked all over the world in places like Opening Ceremony NYC and LA, they have lofty language around the goals of their line. But what's most striking is the visual minimalism of their clothes and their commitment to using GOTS certified pima cottons and recycled fabrics.
'Feel good, look good and do something good for the environment' is La Luna Intimate's battle cry. An eco-friendly intimates label based in Australia, their garments are made from organic cotton and hand dyed with botanical dyes to give each a unique look. La Luna Intimates aims to be as sustainable as possible—creating quality, comfortable everyday garments using eco-friendly materials.
When the word 'lingerie' comes to minds, Studio Pia embodies it. This isn't every day, throw on some undies lingerie, but luxe, body sculpting sexy time (with yourself, another or a gaggle, whatevs) but this is lingerie that gets you in the MOOD. It's sexy time mood with a conscience, however. They've 'scoured Europe' to bring together materials of the highest quality, with the lowest environmental cost, and continue to search for replacements for our less-ethical components. Whether they are choosing peace silk over normal silk for their bras, recycled card for their tags, to paying artisans fairly, they're trying to do their part.
What's your favorite sustainable lingerie brand? Tweet it to us @shophelpsy or tag us on Instagram @helpsy_ and we could feature you and the brand in an upcoming post!
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