Sustainable Organic Underwear (the best brands)

Eczema Clothing is one of the few brands that offers 100% organic cotton undies for women, men and children. Not just for people with eczema, but for anyone who prefers to avoid elastane. The range includes vests, no-elastic box shorts and even organic cotton long johns!

Unless you’re going commando (!), you’ll be wearing underwear. Alas nearly all undies sold in England contain synthetic fibres (even ‘organic cotton’ ones tend to have 5% elastane for stretch).

So, unless you wear 100 percent organic cotton briefs, wash them with a microfiber filter, because it helps keep microplastics from washing out of machines and into the sea.

Synthetic fibres (nylon, polyester) are made from oil. So by choosing brands that are mostly made from cotton, it’s help to avoid supporting the oil industry, which causes pollution and climate change.

Charity shops won’t take used underwear, mainly for hygiene reasons. However, you can still drop old pairs, even torn or worn, into a textile banks. From there, the fabric gets shredded and turned into industrial products.

When buying new undies, measure your waist and fullest part of your hips, to avoid sizes that are too tight and cause chafing (or unflattering bulges!) Avoid irritating tags, and choose nude tones, to prevent ‘visible panty lines’.

To make undies last longer, launder with unscented biodegradable laundry detergent and avoid fabric softener (reduces absorbency) and tumble driers . For stains, use natural oxygen bleach.

Don’t believe the greenwash about M & S undies being the best. Most are made from cheap polyester, meaning they don’t let your skin breathe, and are very expensive for the material used. You’re better off shopping around at budget clothing stores, to find ones made with cotton. 

Y.O.U. (organic cotton underwear)

Y.O.U. Underwear offers comfortable organic cotton underwear for men and women, from neutral colours to bright prints. Designed to fit a wide range of body sizes, you’ll find bikinis, briefs and boxers, with a focus on comfort, rather than fussy extras.

Rapanui (undies made with clean energy)

Rapanui (Isle of Wight) is an outdoor clothing company, which also offers organic cotton underwear (also for men). In many colours, everything is made with clean energy, and sent in zero waste packaging.

Unless you’re going commando (!), you’ll be wearing underwear. Alas nearly all undies sold in England contain synthetic fibres (even ‘organic cotton’ ones tend to have 5% elastane for stretch).

Kent (90-day compostable undies!)

Kent offers fully biodegradable and compostable undies, with the slogan that you can ‘plant your pants!’ Everything is 100% organic cotton, and sent in compostable packaging, with soy inks and tagless labels.

Unless you’re going commando (!), you’ll be wearing underwear. Alas nearly all undies sold in England contain synthetic fibres (even ‘organic cotton’ ones tend to have 5% elastane for stretch).

Community Clothing Undies (sewn in South Wales)

Community Clothing produces locally-made underwear in organic cotton, also for men. Everything is hand-cut and sewn by seamstresses in a South Wales factory.

Thought (soft sustainable Briefs & Boxers)

Thought offers soft and sustainable organic cotton undies, from men’s boxers to women’s briefs. Plus bralettes, vests, slips and camisoles.

Thunderpants (fun cotton undies for all sizes)

Thunderpants is a slightly bonkers company (for people who love bright patterned undies!) that offers UK-stitched and finished undies, made locally to cut transport miles and support local economies.

The wide waistbands and flat seams prevent digging or chafing, and they hold up after each wash. You’ll also find matching vests and leggings.