14 Ethical and Sustainable Underwear Brands To Love
Sometimes, to get him in the mood, I whisper in my husband’s ear “my underwear is ethically made”. This trick doesn’t do much, but at least I have a giggle.
Jokes aside, knowing that the people who made your underwear were paid a fair wage is really important. Living life in underwear that is made from sustainable materials is essential for the planet and your body too.
Together, with my sister, we’ve put together a list of the best ethical and sustainable underwear brands we think you’ll love.
Please note: we acknowledge these brands are imperfect. But they’re trying, really hard. We applaud transparency over perfection (mainly because perfection doesn’t exist).
“Kate’s Review” : Some of these brands sit in my underwear draw (some I bought, some where gifted). To help you navigate your sustainable underwear decisions, I’ve written a short review below the ones I have trialled. All ethical underwear I don’t love is not featured on here (because you don’t deserve horrible underwear).
Organic Basics
It’s all in the name. From bras to socks, they’ll cover you head to toe. Transparency is key for Organic Basics, with their Certified B Corp factories spread across Europe. All information about the conditions of the workers is available and Organic Basics are even carbon neutral!
Kate’s review: I have just one pair of Organic Basics but I know I’ll invest in more. They’re SO FREAKING COMFORTABLE and go seamlessly under all my clothes.
Organic Basics
$60 - $150
Organic Cotton & TENCEL
International Shipping
Code ETHICALLYKATE for 10% off
Dea
Designed and handmade in small batches Aotearoa New Zealand, Dea is the definition of thoughtful. They literally dye their garments with locally foraged walnut husks and pomegranate skins! Because of this, they have three simple colour ways: avocado, walnut and pomegranate. The ethos behind Dea exudes in everything they do.
Kate’s Review: I reach for these undies often, particularly when I am needing a hug. They’re soft, comfortable, and great colours for wearing under beige clothes. A key favourite in my underwear drawer.
Dea
$19.99 - $119.99
Organic cotton, handmade in Aotearoa, natural dyes
New Zealand shipping only
Code KATE15 for 15% off
Nisa
Nisa is a social enterprise, employing women from refugee backgrounds in their beautiful Wellington studio. For the Nisa team, a job is about so much more than a pay cheque - it's about making friends, practising English and feeling like a valued member of a team.
Kate’s Review: I’m lucky enough to have visited the Nisa workroom many times and have bought Nisa undies since they began. Simple colours, basic designs, and the Quinn Low Full Brief avoids underwear lines when you wear jeans FYI - I reckon the most sustainable underwear is the stuff we can wear under ANYTHING.
Nisa
$36-$100
Organic cotton
International shipping
AWWA
AWWA’s period underwear is a game-changer for eco-conscious people who menstruate. Made from recycled nylon, AWWA’s underwear is both sustainable and practical, providing confidence and comfort during your period. Their commitment to reducing waste and supporting people during their cycle makes them a standout choice for those who want to save money on disposable period products and be more comfortable during menstruation.
AWWA
$10 - $100
Recycled nylon, elastane, some polyester blends
Code ETHICALLYKATE for 15% off
Nico
Tees, briefs, bras - Nico has the lot! Australian founded, Nico celebrates the philosophy of “minimalism and understated luxury” and they do it so well. The colours stand out, while the soft organic fabrics fit in. Both for people and the environment, Nico uses chemical free dyes and guarantees fair and ethical treatment for all of their workers spread across Australia, India, and Bangladesh.
Nico
$30-90
Organic cotton, silk, merino & TENCEL
International Shipping
Boody
Boody is your go-to for eco-friendly basics that feel as good as they look. Boody is all about comfort and sustainability with their range of organic bamboo underwear. They champion a minimalist style, using super-soft bamboo fabric that's kind to both your skin and the planet. Boody’s commitment to ethical practices includes fair labor and low environmental impact, making every piece a choice you can feel great about.
Boody
$9 - $69.90
Bamboo
International Shipping
Thunder Pants
Thunderpants are a small, family-owned and operated company based in New Zealand. They focus on transparency and have fun with their bright, unique fabrics. The Thunderpants team have a culture of ‘people over profits’ and have been a New Zealand staple since 1995.
Kate’s Review: These are my cosy/comfort underpants that I put on in the winter or when I’m feeling sick. They cover the most surface area out of all of my ethical underwear, and they are favourites of my Mum and Mum-In-Law. Now that I think about it, my husband and my dad wear Thunderpants too.
Thunderpants
$28-$70
Organic cotton & spandex
International shipping
PansyCo
An American dream created by two girls hunting for comfy, ethical and quality - PansyCo materials and manufacturing all happens in the US too! These guys keep ‘local’ on the agenda with stunning organic cotton ethical underwear made to last. Simple staples, PansyCo tick so many boxes.
Pansy
$60-$100
Organic USA cotton
International shipping
Olly Lingerie
Based in France, Olly Lingerie manufactures ethically in Europe. Recycled lace seems to hold double the beauty with Olly. Not just ethical, but elegant - Olly knows what we want!
Olly Lingerie
$36-$100
Recycled lace & organic cotton
International shipping
Hara The Label
Vegetable dyes, extensive range of sizes, and comfiness in oodles. Hara The Label are easily one of the most known and well loved sustainable underwear brands in the Southern Hemisphere. All products are naturally dyed, cut, sewn, packaged and shipped in Melbourne, Australia.
Kate’s Review: Super comfortable, hand wash only, the dyes leak a little at the start (wash colours separately), but so worth it. The unique colours they’ve achieved with the vegetable dyes are exceptional- even better in real life than what you see on the website. I know one of the seamstresses personally, and it makes me happy to know they are legit when it comes to staff treatment, living wages, and general respect.
Hara
$45-$60
Bamboo
International shipping
Nette Rose Lingerie
Made ethically in Cape Town, Nette Rose hates waste. They produce a limited amount of items at a time to assure nothing is wasted. Fabric and thread offcuts are a favourite that they reuse to make other beautiful things!
Nette Rose
$50-$110
Cotton, lace & mesh
International shipping
The Very Good Bra
The very good bra is a comfort and waste-free driven staple, made with zero waste ideologies from completely natural fibres. The very good bra is home compostable! This is a world first, and hopefully not a world last.
The Very Good Bra
$50-$100
TENCEL & organic cotton
International shipping
Powerpants
Made with organic cotton and non toxic dyes by certified ethical companies, and shipped to the distributor without unnecessary plastic means it’s easy to buy Powerpants guilt free. These undies quite literally carry inspiration and even better, Powerpants donate $1 of profits to female survivors of violence.
Kate’s Review: I love them. I love the whisper of an empowering message when I put my underpants on, and they are so damn comfy. Even though I don’t have a particularly large bottom to vouch for this, the cut of these ethical underwear should be ideal for those wanting a low cut (so they don’t show over top of jeans), but full butt coverage.
Powerpants
$30 - $82
Organic cotton
Australia & New Zealand only
Le Buns
Le Buns have style with a conscience. Natural dyes and thoughtful production. Enjoy organic cotton basics, alongside recycled nylon that make up a wide range of different pieces.
Lé Buns
$38 - $96
Organic cotton & recycled nylon
International shipping
WAMA
Great for everyone in your home, WAMA underwear are made from hemp and made to last. PETA approved and pioneers of the Hemp Clothing Industry, WAMA are change makers in the ethical underwear space.
Kate’s Review: A little expensive to ship to the Southern Hemisphere, but having put them to the test for over two years, I can confirm they are some of the best quality sustainable underwear I own. Tim (husband) loves his pair too. You can read more about our reviews of WAMA here.
WAMA
$30-50
Hemp & organic cotton
International shipping
Ethical Underwear Q&A
How do I know if an underwear brand is truly sustainable?
To determine if an underwear brand is truly sustainable, look for transparency in their practices. Ethical underwear brands will share details about their supply chain, production processes, and environmental impact. Check for certifications like Fair Trade or GOTS, and ensure they use eco-friendly materials and practices. Brands committed to sustainability often highlight their efforts to minimise waste and support fair labor practices.
What materials are used in sustainable underwear?
Sustainable underwear is typically made from eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, bamboo, or recycled fibres. Ethical underwear brands choose these materials for their lower environmental impact and reduced use of harmful chemicals. These fabrics are not only better for the planet but also offer comfort and durability, ensuring that your choice aligns with both ethical and practical considerations.
Are sustainable underwear brands size-inclusive?
Even though there is still a long way to go for the ethical fashion space to be completely size inclusive, ethical underwear brands are definitely trying to be size-inclusive, offering a wide range of sizes to accommodate diverse body types. Sustainable underwear brands often prioritize inclusivity as part of their commitment to ethical practices, ensuring that everyone can access comfortable and eco-friendly options. When choosing a brand, check their size range and customer feedback to find options that cater to a variety of body sizes and shapes. You can find 19 ethical fashion plus sized companies here too.
