I have been slowly swapping out my clothes for those made with more natural fibers this past year and that includes my undergarments! The best part is that I have found the best organic cotton underwear brands to share with you.
Most underwear is made with polyester, and I don’t know about you but wearing plastic as underwear just doesn’t sound right. I have found that in making this swap I have become a more conscious consumer all around and aware of what I’m buying and where I’m buying from.
If you have been on the hunt for underwear made with organic fabrics and of the highest quality, check out my favorite sustainable underwear brands below!
*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
What types of fabrics are best for underwear?
If you have ever looked at clothing, you know there are so many options for what type of material underwear can be made of. And, it is so much more than what material is the most comfortable. You also want to consider what is best for your health and even for the environment.
Synthetic materials used to make underwear include:
- Polyester: A type of microplastic derived from petroleum. Studies show that every time a piece of polyester clothing is washed, it sheds small pieces of plastic called microplastics.
- Nylon: A synthetic plastic material that is produced by the chemical reaction from compounds readily available from air, water, and coal or petroleum. First developed in the 1930s, the creation of nylon led to the creation of even more synthetics.
- Spandex: A synthetic polymer made up of 85% polyurethane. Polyurethane is a plastic material found in anything from mattresses, couches, insulation, liquid coatings and paints, and more.
- Lace: While lace used to be made more of natural fibers like silk and linen, it is now more often made from synthetic fibers. Although cotton is used too.
Natural fabrics are not only going to be a better choice environmentally speaking, but you will also notice they have a different feel to them. Natural fibers for underwear include:
- Cotton: A natural material that is soft, durable, breathable, and does not conduct electricity so static is not an issue.
- Silk: Silk fibers are created by the silkworm insect. It is a material that is highly breathable, very soft, and doesn’t pill. Silk has very little stretch to it and is the strongest natural textile in the world.
- Hemp: This is a textile that is made using fibers from the stalks of the Cannabis sativa plant. It offers breathability with some stretch.
- Bamboo: Very breathable, with a lot of stretch and moisture-wicking ability. It is prone to pilling however.
In comparing the synthetic materials to the more natural choices, I know what I would pick when given a choice! The softness, breathability, and eco-friendly materials make it a no-brainer for me to choose more natural fabrics when possible.
Related Content: Best Organic Cotton Pajamas
Is organic cotton the best for underwear?
My short answer is, yes, organic cotton is one of the best fabrics for underwear. Organic cotton underwear is especially best in comparison to synthetic materials. For starters, synthetic fabrics can cause irritation and make temperature control more difficult versus the breathability and softness of a natural material.
And did you know that conventional cotton is one of the world’s dirtiest crops because it is sprayed with so many harmful chemicals?!
Glyphosate is just one of many chemicals used on cotton crops and it is considered a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization. The scariest part is that this isn’t even the worst offender when it comes to chemicals used on cotton crops, but I do believe it is the most well-known by the general public.
Aldicarb is the world’s second-biggest selling cotton pesticide (with $112 million spent). Unfortunately, it is also one of the most toxic chemicals used in agriculture.
So when you see how many chemicals are being used on cotton crops plus how toxic some of these chemicals are…it makes you think twice about clothing in general but especially your undergarments.
To ensure the brand you are purchasing from is doing what they say they are doing, always look for third-party certifications. One of these certifications to look for is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS):
“if a product has the label grade ‘organic’ it must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibres. Organic fibres are natural fibres grown without the use of synthetic pesticides (such as insecticides), or herbicides and GMOs (Genetic Modified Organisms) according to the principles of organic agriculture. Organic agriculture is a production process that sustains the health of ecosystems, soils and people.”
I will say that I think regular cotton underwear (or even underwear made from another natural fiber) are a better choice than those made with synthetic materials. So, if you feel like organic cotton underwear isn’t in the budget, even 100% cotton underwear is an improvement in my opinion.
The Best Organic Cotton Underwear Brands
If you are wanting to become a more conscious consumer like myself, check out my picks for the best organic underwear brands. Once you try out these organic basics, you won’t look back!
Pact
Pact is a truly unique company when it comes to being an organic and sustainable clothing brand. Pact’s cotton basics are made for the whole family, from casual wear to even bed and bath items. From the look of the clothing to the mission of the brand there is literally so much to love.
What I Love About Pact: I love that Pact carries so many styles of organic underwear. From bikini bottoms, to thongs and briefs, to high-waisted. They have really thought of everything. They are at a great price point too. They just feel like a no-nonsense underwear that are great for everyday wear. I really liked their thongs, but I am a thong wearer. I liked their lace waist thong and their regular thong.
Related Content: Pact Organic Clothing Review
What Other Customers Are Saying: With almost 400 reviews, the Pact Women’s Lace-waist thong has been rated a 3.8 out of 5 stars. A few things that are being said are that the underwear are “soft, comfortable and pretty.” They also fit true to size. The one con I kept reading is that due to the lace these need to be hand washed and if put in the washer the lace can come undone. The Classic Cut Bikini, with over 1300 reviews, has been rated a 4.2 out of 5 stars. These are described in the reviews as comfortable and full coverage. Most are saying they fit true to size, but there are some that say they fit loose in the buttock area. You can find reviews on all of the styles of organic underwear right on PACT’s website!
Style Offerings: French Cut Bikini, Classic Cut Bikini, Lace Waist Brief, Boy Short, High Rise Hipster, Thong, Lace Waist Thong and Cheeky Hipster
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price: Start at $14 when bought individually. There are also 6-packs available that start at $48.
Shop Pact here!
Brook There
Brook There was created by Brook who wanted a minimalist lingerie line and realized there were other women just like herself who also wanted a more minimalist approach to lingerie. She measures real women and has trained sewers to create the lingerie. It’s such a thoughtful process overall.
What I Love About Brook There: The line is very soft overall. I was impressed with how smooth the underwear felt on the skin. I loved the high brief that hits just below the belly button. These were especially great for postpartum. The one drawback in my opinion is that they aren’t seamless. The edging on the underwear is a little thicker in my opinion so you can see underwear lines which I don’t love.
Related Content: Brook There: An Organic Cotton Lingerie Brand
What Other Customers Are Saying: No available reviews on their website.
Style Offerings: Bikini, Hipster, Thong, Boy Short
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price: Start at $28 when bought individually. 3 packs available that start at $68
Shop Brook There here!
Knickey
Knickey really thinks of the whole process when it comes to creating their items. From how they’re grown, to how they’re shipped plastic free from their headquarters – they truly do use sustainable practices. I love how they take you through the journey on their website under “Behind the Seams.” It really shows this company’s dedication to ethical production and fair wages to every person in their production process. Side note – I love that they offer maternity underwear too!
What I Love About Knickey: Knickey really creates an exceptional organic underwear. The biggest difference I’ve noticed with Knickey Underwear is that they have a really good fit. Their organic undies don’t feel tight around your waist or thighs. It’s forgiving, which makes them incredibly comfortable, but also great for not showing lines when wearing. They have a nice stretch and feel a little luxurious every time I put them on. I love their thong and their high rise brief.
What Other Customers Are Saying: The reviews are very positive overall. For one of their bestsellers, the high-rise brief there are over 1,754 reviews! The things I kept reading were how soft the fabric was and how the underwear didn’t dig into their skin at all. People also mentioned several times how they didn’t ride up and could hardly feel they were wearing anything. Others said how they loved the coverage and that they didn’t feel like granny panties. Everyone mentioned how they were true to size. The Low-Rise Bikini has over 804 reviews. People loved the cut and how soft they felt and said they wanted to replace all their underwear with Knickey. Many people mentioned how great the quality is overall.
Style Offerings: Low-rise thongs, mid-rise bikinis, low-rise bikinis, high-rise bikinis, mid-rise briefs, high-waist briefs, maternity.
Size Range: XXS-XXXL
Price: Start at $17 when bought individually. 6 packs are available for $97.
Shop Knickey here!
WAMA
These are the first underwear that I tried that was made of mostly hemp, but also organic cotton and spandex. WAMA wanted to use hemp since it’s anti-bacterial, and anti-odor. The material is very breathable and gets softer with each wash. Hemp is also organic and an eco-friendly choice for the planet.
What I Love About WAMA:I love that hemp is breathable, which is great for working out in. They are well made and love the thicker band at the top. It helps to hold them in place. They are a little heavier material overall, but I did find the more I washed them, the softer they got. They aren’t the ones I gravitate towards every day, but more for workouts or for just a lounge type of underwear.
What Other Customers Are Saying: There are a lot of positive reviews on WAMA underwear. I continually see customers remark how soft and breathable they are. Many also comment that although the fabric isn’t ‘thick’ per se, it is definitely made to last. Per the reviews, this also appears to be a great choice of underwear for those with sensitive skin as it caused no skin irritation. I do also see a variety of comments on the fit of the underwear not being quite right, whether it be the loose fit of the leg holes, that there is either too much or too little fabric to cover the buttock, etc. However, positive reviews far outweigh any of the negative reviews.
Style Offerings: Hipsters, Bikinis, Thongs, Boy Shorts, High Waisted
Size Range: XS-4XL
Price: Start at $24 when bought individually. 3, 6, and 10 packs are available starting at $69.
Shop WAMA here!
MATE the Label
MATE the Label started out as a conventional clothing line. However, in 2017 the founder, Kayti, felt pulled to create change in the world. As she learned more about sustainability, toxins that are involved in the clothing industry and even ethical production methods, she decided to pivot her business model. This has included removing synthetics from her line, using organic cotton and even dyes that were ‘low impact.’ And now, just a handful of years later, they continue to make the cleanest product possible from ‘seed to skin.’
What I Love About MATE the Label: If you’ve followed me for a bit then you know my infatuation for MATE The Label runs deep. Their organic clothing line is top notch and so I was excited to try some of their organic underwear! I’m happy to report my predictions were correct. They are just as comfortable and well made as their clothing. I tried their Organic Comfort High Waist Briefs. It feels breathable and slightly sucks everything in creating a smooth silhouette. So comfy working out or just running errands. The seam is not super thick or visible which I love as well. I want to try their Organic Comfort Thong next!
Related Content: MATE the Label Review
What Other Customers Are Saying: There are some reviews on MATE’s organic underwear on their website. More are positive than not. There were lots of comments on the comfort being so good! Color was true to what was expected. Sizing had varying reviews. Some thought the fit was spot on, while others thought the fit was too big or too small. So if you think you may be between sizes, maybe check out the reviews to help you decide. Thankfully it looks like MATE’s customer service stepped in to resolve the issues for those that didn’t get the right size.
Style Offerings: High Waist Brief, Thong
Size Range: XS-3X
Price: $30-$32
Shop MATE the Label here!
Let me know if I missed your favorite organic underwear brand in the comments below!
If you liked this post, check out these past posts:
I wish pact had a style that has the elastic covered. Some of the pact underwear I have has not held up well, but the newer ones seem better quality.
Really, I have had mine for a year now and they’ve held up well. Maybe mine are the newer ones?
All of the brands listed here seem to be mixed organic cotton and some sort of spandex. Not truly organic cotton brands, however they are still better for the environment.
Hi Sher,
Yes, I haven’t found a brand that’s truly made of just cotton. You have to have some spandex in there for support from what I’ve read.