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We usually take precautions as to what we expose our bodies to.
We eat healthily. We exercise. We analyze the ingredients in our skincare products.
Despite all the methods we take to lead a healthy life, can we say that we take the same precautions when choosing our underwear?
Our underwear need to be comfortable and breathable, but most of all free of any toxins and harsh chemicals.
To help you find your favorite pair of organic underwear, we’ve collected some of the best brands on the market making organic underwear using materials like organic cotton, bamboo, and other eco-friendly, and skin-friendly textiles.
What material is best for underwear?
You may have heard your mom saying that natural fibers like cotton are the best material for underwear because it’s breathable – and she’s right.
When choosing underwear, it’s essential you select breathable materials, as synthetic fabrics like nylon and spandex trap moisture and don’t allow your private areas to breathe, which can cause problems such as bacterial or yeast infections…yikes!
But the problem with cotton is that it is grown using toxic pesticides and fertilizers, meaning that conventional cotton isn’t as ‘natural’ as you’d think.
Organic cotton is, therefore, the best material for underwear, as it’s grown without pesticides or harmful chemicals, meaning its natural, non-toxic, and safe for your skin.
Other natural and organic fibers like bamboo or hemp are also great for underwear, as they’re moisture-wicking and breathable, like organic cotton.
Along with being nontoxic, organic cotton saves up to 91% water compared to conventional cotton. With organic cotton requiring only 180 cubic meters of blue water (fresh groundwater and surface water from boreholes, rivers, and lakes) per tonne of organic cotton compared to 2,120 cubic meters required per tonne of conventional cotton.
Ecothes Editor’s Favorites
Best Organic Cotton Underwear – Subset
Our Favorite Affordable Organic Underwear – Pact
Best Bamboo Underwear – Boody
Let’s jump in.
If you’re here, you might also be interested in our guides to period panties, sustainable lingerie, and eco-friendly bras.
The Best Ethical and Organic Underwear
1. Subset
What we love: Women-led brand, organic materials, fair-trade, free from pesticides and artificial materials, recycling program for old underwear
Sizes: XXS – XL
Price: $$
Ships to: US & International
Subset (formerly Knickey) is a female-founded organic women’s underwear brand focused completely on creating high-quality sustainable, organic cotton underwear. They use all organic, fair-trade materials so every item is free from anything unkind to our bodies – pesticides, toxins, or synthetic fabrics.
The underwear is colored with non-toxic dyes which are Oeko-Tex certified.
When it’s time to replace your underwear, Subset make it easy with a recycling program that helps underwear avoid landfill and be recycled.
Their underwear comes in a variety of styles to fit your preferences, and you can buy a starter sets to test out multiple fits before committing.
They’ve also released a range of organic cotton bras and bralettes, which you can check out here.
Ecothes reviewed: I’ve tested almost all of Subset’s organic panties and two of their bras! I love the super soft material, and the elastic isn’t too tight, making the pants super comfortable. I definitely prefer the thong style, and the bon bon color is my absolute favorite!” – Bethany
2. Pact
What we love: Organic Cotton, save 3.9 gallons of water per pair, Fair Trade Certified™
Sizes: XS – XXL
Ecothes Rating: 4.2/5
Price: $
Ships to: US & International
Pact are a sustainable clothing brand, who make all of their clothing – including their selection of ethical underwear – using Organic Cotton. For every item of clothing they make they save almost 4 gallons of water compared to using traditional cotton.
There are no toxic chemicals in their clothes, and they partner with Fair Trade Certified™ factories that provide safe working conditions and have environmentally friendly practices.
Pact also offer a ‘Give Back Box’, which you can receive in your order. You fill it with old clothes, and they get donated to handpicked non-profits to be re-used, or recycled.
You can also select to offset the carbon footprint of your shipment when you order. All in all, you can’t go wrong with Pact’s underwear.
I’ve tested the Pact organic cotton briefs and love how soft they are on my skin. Plus, they last through multiple washes and are still silky soft.
3. Boody
What we love: Natural fabrics, Ecocert, SGS ISO, WRAP certifications
Sizes: XS – XL
Price: $-$$
Ships to: US & International
Founded in Sydney, Australia, Boody Eco Wear makes comfortable and breathable sustainable underwear, without harming the environment in the process.
They use natural fabrics derived from bamboo called bamboo viscose and blend it with nylon and spandex to create a soft, breathable, thermo-regulating underwear.
All of their products pass an accredited third-party certification to ensure that their sustainability.
Certifications such as Ecocert, SGS ISO, and WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) ensure that Boody products are meeting environmental standards and esure the quality of the undergarments meet non-toxic, organic standards.
Ecothes Tested: “I own two sets of bamboo underwear from Boody, and they are some of the most comfortable underwear I have. The bamboo fabric is super soft, it barely feels like you’re wearing any!” – Bethany
3. KENT
What we love: 100% ethical and organic cotton underwear that is also 100% compostable.
Sizes: XS-2XL
Price: $-$$
Ships to: US, Canada, UK
KENT is ruthless about only using 100% natural, organic and plant-based materials in their organic cotton panties. As a result, each pair is non-toxic, vegan, and fully compostable within 90 days!
Each pair of KENT’s organic undies are made ethically in California, with every step of the supply chain vetted to ensure production meets KENT’s high sustainable standards.
Their organic underwear is made softer, smoother, and more durable than conventional cotton underwear because it is made purely from GOTS certified organic Pima cotton, which has longer, softer fibers than other cotton varieties.
5. WORON
What we love: Materials from plant-based fibers. Allergy-friendly and PETA vegan approved.
Sizes: XS-L
Price: $$
Ships to: Europe, UK, US, Worldwide
Copenhagen-based underwear brand WORON creates soft, comfortable, organic bras, pants and bodysuits, crafted from plant-based fibers such as GOTS Organic Cotton and Modal.
Woron doesn’t use any harmful dyes in their products, and their products are allergy-friendly and non-toxic.
Their underwear has a sexy Scandinavian design and produces their sustainable underwear lines ethically, in factories across Europe, with safe working practices and fair wages.
Check out our review of the underwear set here.
Ecothes reviewed: “I’ve tried two organic underwear sets from WORON, and I love them both so much. Their Flirt bra is my go-to daily bra, and it’s still in excellent condition even after two years of wearing it daily!” – Bethany
6. Parade
What we love: Super-soft bras and panties from recycled materials and eco-friendly fabrics. Every Item = 1 tree planted.
Sizes: XS – 3XL
Price: $-$$
Ships to: Worldwide
Meet Parade, the new affordable, sustainable underwear brand taking the internet by storm. I’ve even had my friends calling to tell me I need to try their super-soft underwear, and they were right!
Parade creates comfortable size-inclusive underwear from eco-friendly materials, including Tencel, a soft and breathable fabric made from sustainably sourced wood pulp and recycled fabrics.
Parades bra and panties come in a range of playful colors and patterns, perfect for expressing your style and feeling comfortable and confident all day long.
7. Cosabella
What we love: Hand crafted in Italy with traditional techniques and natural dyes
Sizes: A – H
Price Range: $$
Ships to: Worldwide
Every Cosabella item, from thongs, to panties, to lingerie, is handcrafted using Italian artisanal techniques — taking 10 hours per item.
The brand works with Italian suppliers and uses natural dyes, using water that comes straight from the Italian Alps near Camo, Italy.
If you care about the story behind your underwear, we highly recommend Cosabella. They create a wide range of styles, and have sizing options to fit every body.
8. Warp + Weft
What we love: Water-saving production processes, natural materials, donation program
Sizes: XS – L
Price Range: $ – $$
Ships to: US only
Warp + Weft is a three decade old, family-owned company on a mission to create the highest quality organic underwear using sustainable processes.
They first began as a denim company, and today create a range of comfortable and sustainable underwear designed to be worn under your favorite pair of jeans.
The fabric is a modal/spandex blend with naturally breathable properties.
You can also made an additional payment on purchase that goes directly to charity:water to provide clean water to people who need it.
9. WAMA Underwear
What we love: Organic hemp underwear, vegan, Green America Certified Business, Oeko-Tex Certified dyes
Sizes: XS – 2XL
Price: $
Ships to: Free US shipping and WAMA ships worldwide
WAMA is a PETA-approved, Green America Certified Business creating a range of organic hemp underwear for men and women.
The dyes used are all Oeko-Tex Certified so you know there’s no toxic chemicals involved.
You’ll love how comfortable their underwear are, and if you want to buy multiple at once, they also come in handy multi-packs.
10. Allbirds
What we love: Silky smooth material, breathable and light, completely carbon-neutral
Sizes: XS – XXL
Price: $- $$
Ships to: Worldwide
Allbirds — the popular sustainable footwear brand — have expanded into apparel. As part of their new range, they make a range of underwear, including briefs, thongs, boyshorts, and a bralette.
The underwear is made from a combination of eucalyptus and merino wool fiber, from renewable sources.
Allbirds also offset all of the carbon emitted in the production process, so they’re completely carbon-neutral underwear!
11. Julie May
What we love: Allergy friendly, non toxic underwear created using organic cotton and silk
Sizes: UK 8-18 | 32B – 48DD
Price: $$
Ships to: the UK & International
Julie May is a UK-based non-toxic underwear brand specializing in allergy friendly underwear created from the softest organic Pima cotton and silk.
Their designs are sophisticated, sexy, and most importantly, comfortable, allowing you to wear them all day without irritation.
The brand creates its ethical underwear in ISO14001 Environmental Management System, and OHSAS 18001 Heath& Safety audited factories, ensuring high ethical and sustainable production standards.
Want to dispose of your old underwear sustainably? Check out our top tips on what to do with old underwear!
12. LÉ BUNS
What we love: Female founded company creating GOTS certified Organic cotton underwear with natural dyes and ethical labor.
Sizes: UK/AU 6-16 / US 0-12
Price: $-$$
Ships to: Australia & International
Australian-based organic intimates brand LÉ BUNS creates relaxed, comfortable underwear from natural dyes and organic fabrics, including GOTS organic cotton and bamboo.
The brand’s organic panties and bralettes compliment your shape and allow you to feel sexy and supported.
By choosing natural dyes for its organic underwear, the brand has eliminated toxic chemicals, making LÉ BUNS underwear safer for you and those involved in the production process.
13. Araks
What we love: Organic hemp underwear, vegan, Green America Certified Business, Oeko-Tex Certified dyes
Sizes: XS – LG D-Cup
Price: $$
Ships to: US, UK & Worldwide
Araks create a range of organic cotton underwear that’s soft, supportive, and easy on the planet.
The cotton is organic and GOTS certified, and Araks work with manufacturers with sustainable credentials.
Their underwear is high-quality, and will last for a while – so no need to regularly buy new ones.
You can choose from individual pairs, or multi-packs.
14. People Tree
What we love: Approved vegan, organic cotton, GOTS Certified, ethical production
Sizes: 8 – 16
Price: $
Ships to: UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
People Tree are a UK-based organic brand with a variety of initatives we like. They’re an approved, cruelty-free Vegan brand, only use GOTS Certified organic cotton, and partner with factories supporting good practices.
You can even see exactly who made every piece of underwear on their website.
Pact’s organic underwear come in a variety of styles, including briefs, high-waist briefs, hipsters, thongs, and more.
15. Hanky Panky
What we love: Made in the USA, sustainably-grown Supima®, non-toxic dyes, recycling program
Sizes: One size
Price: $
Ships to: US only via their US site (for UK orders visit UK site)
If you’re looking for an underwear brand that make all of their garments in the USA, Hanky Panky is the ideal choice. It’s a women-led company, and 100% employee owned.
Their factories are in the state of New York, which has stringent rules around worker protection and working conditions.
The materials they use are all organic or sustainably grown.
They also have a ‘Lingercycle’ program, where you can recycle old underwear. They’ll re-use the materials, and divert old clothes away from landfill.
They’re known for their comfortable thongs, but you can also find hipsters, briefs, and more.
16. Soul Flower
What we love: GOTS Cerfieid organic cotton, recycled materials, eco-friendly dyes
Sizes: S – XXL
Price Range: $$
Ships to: US
Using GOTS certified organic cotton, recycled plastic, recycled paper, hemp, spandex, and low impact dyes, you can safely wear Soul Flower‘s bras and bralettes with style while staying fresh!
Soul Flower’s products are ethically made and produced in small batches, by small companies or in small factories.
Although Soul Flower’s products are not officially Fair Trade Certified, they share similar practices to other sustainable brands. Unlike other organic underwear competitors in this post, Soul Flower only creates bralettes and sports bras that are free of any annoying underwires and irritants. By removing all the bad stuff from their bras, it leaves you with support perfect for everyday wear, exercise, and yoga!
17. Miakoda
What we love: Size-inclusive organic cotton and bamboo underwear
Sizes: XS – 4XL
Price: $
Ships to: US & International
Miakoda is a slow fashion brand started by two best friends with a passion for inclusion and sustainability.
The brand uses organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes, and bamboo to create organic underwear. In addition, Miakoda creates ethical underwear in its NYC-based design studio, ensuring ethical production.
Miakoda is committed to inclusivity and ensures its bras and panties come in sizes up to 4XL.
18. Made Trade
What we love: Women-owned, ethical and sustainable marketplace featuring the best organic underwear brands
Sizes: XXS-3XL
Price: from $13
Ships to: US & International
Made Trade is an ethical marketplace, showcasing the best sustainable and eco-friendly products worldwide. The company is doing good for people and the planet – all orders are shipped carbon neutral, and it donates 1% of all profits to environmental non-profit organizations.
Made Trades organic underwear selection features a fantastic range of GOTS organic cotton and bamboo underwear in playful designs and vibrant colours for every shape and size.
19. Urban Kissed
What we love: Sustainable and ethical online marketplace, showcasing GOTS organic cotton underwear
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $$
Ships to: Worldwide Vendor Shipping
Urban Kissed is a carefully curated online shopping destination, which features the best up-and-coming sustainable and ethical designers.
The online marketplace showcases GOTS certified organic cotton underwear designs, including Olly Lingerie’s French organic underwear. This unique brand creates beautiful organic cotton underwear with respect for humans and the environment.
Urban Kissed offers free carbon-neutral shipping on all orders.
Organic Underwear FAQs
There are lots of great options out there, but we like Subset, Pact, and Organic Basics in particular as they create 100% organic cotton underwear.
The main key differences between organic cotton vs conventionally grown cotton is the way it is grown and treated.
Conventional cotton uses up to 11 times more water to produce than organic cotton. Up to 80% of organic cotton is watered using rainfall, rather than groundwater irrigation.
Organic cotton is also grown without the use of toxic pesticides and harmful chemicals. These chemicals can leech into the land and cause land and water pollution.
Organic cotton farmers usually use natural pesticides such as insects.
GOTS is the abbreviated term for the Global Organic Textile Standard certification.
A textile product carrying the GOTS label must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibres. Whilst a product with the label grade grade ‘organic’ must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibres.
OEKO-TEX® is an international organization that sets standards to ensure products that carry the label don’t contain harmful levels of chemicals or hazardous substances.
The certification is given by OEKO-TEX® to a textile brand when their product meets the strict testing and certification process. So, as a consumer, when we see the Oeko tex label, we know that a product doesn’t contain high levels of harmful substances or chemicals and is thus safe for humans and the environment.
Wrapping Up: Organic Underwear
Have you tried any of these brands, or can recommend any other organic underwear brands?
We’d love to hear about it!
Leave a comment below with recommendations and we’ll add them to the article if they fit the bill.
If you loved this article, make sure to read our article on the best organic cotton pajamas, and robes. Or, If you’re looking for something a little sexier, check out our sustainable lingerie guide.
