Underwear. Underpants. Undies. Panties. Drawers.
No matter what you call them, most of us wear them on a daily basis. That’s why it’s extremely important to purchase safe fabrics that are good for your health and good for the environment too.
We’ve made a list below of the best organic underwear brands, and we hope you’ll give one (or two) of these a shot!
Keep scrolling down to learn more about why you should choose organic fabrics (especially when it comes to sensitive clothing like underwear).
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I could be compensated if you decide to make a purchase. You can read my full disclosure here.
The Best Organic Underwear
Knickey
Knickey’s organic underwear takes the top spot for us because of the brand’s commitment to quality and sustainability. We also love that they’re focused on educating their customers about the health and environmental concerns associated with conventional cotton.
All of their undies are GOTS-certified, OEKO-Tex Standard 100, and made in fair trade facilities too, so you can feel good about where the products are coming from.
Additionally, they have a recycling program. Not only is their packaging made with recycled materials, but you can go to their website, request a shipping label, and then send in your old underwear. Instead of going to a landfill, your used-up undies will be recycled into something new (like insulation). Plus you’ll get a free pair of Knickey’s organic underwear with every recycled package that you send in.
Unfortunately, they only sell women’s underwear, but they include sizes XXS-XXXL, and the prices are great too.
Pact
If you’ve been interested in organic clothing for long, you’ve probably heard of Pact. Their GOTS-certified organic cotton clothing is high-quality and easy on the wallet too (which is sometimes hard to find). All of their items are made in fair-trade factories too, which means people are paid living wages and they’re able to work in a safe environment.
In addition to organic underwear for both men and women, Pact also sells bras, t-shirts, dresses, and leggings. In fact, their mission is to “build Earth’s Favorite™ Clothing Company,” so I think we’ll continue to see more styles from them.
You may notice that some of their items aren’t 100% organic cotton. That’s because they blend the cotton with elastane to give certain pieces more stretch.
Their organic underwear is fully machine washable though, so it’s easy to care for too!
Hanna Andersson
If you’re looking for great organic underwear for your children, Hanna Andersson is the perfect place to shop. They’re all tested for harmful substances through OEKO-Tex Standard 100, and the fabric is made with 100% organic cotton. There is some elastic, but it’s completely encased and won’t touch your child’s skin (which is great for kids with skin sensitivities).
The kids underwear is machine-washable, which is perfect for busy families, and they’re pre-washed, so there’s very minimal shrinkage.
Hanna Andersson carries both boys and girls underwear.
People Tree
People Tree was founded in 1991 and has since been working to make the most ethical and sustainable clothing possible.
That mission doesn’t stop with their underwear. All of their cotton clothing is GOTS-certied and made in fair trade facilities.
They sell basic underwear, bras, socks, camisoles, and more (for both men and women!), and some of their underwear has lace details to give it a sexier look.
Since they’re a UK company, however, if you’re located outside of Europe or the UK, you do have to pay additional shipping fees.
Organic Basics
You’ll find more GOTS-certified organic cotton underwear for men and women at Organic Basics. This is focused on sustainability and really pay attention to their environmental impact.
Their factories are located in Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Austria, and Scotland, and while they’re not Fair Trade Certified, they’re completely free of child and forced labor, and workers have a safe environment to do their job. Their workers are also paid a fair living wage, so you can rest assured knowing that your new undies are coming from a safe place where people are treated like people.
Though Organic Basics is based in Denmark, they actually offer free U.S. shipping with orders over $150, so add some organic t-shirts, dresses, or leggings to your order!
Brook There
Brook DeLorme was seeking comfortable, eco-friendly, minimalist lingerie that was ethical too, which was a tall order. That’s when she decided to make her own.
She taught herself how to design lingerie and founded Brook There, and she still designs every piece.
The brand uses GOTS-certified organic cotton yarn for their cotton lingerie, and linen and silk pieces are also available.
All of the products are made in the U.S., and they ship their items in sustainable packaging that you can feel good about.
Is Organic Underwear Better?
Yes, organic underwear is better for you (and the environment too). This is because organic cotton is treated with fewer harmful chemicals, uses less water, and often gives safer jobs to people around the world.
Let’s talk more about the differences between conventional and organic cotton.
What is the Difference Between Cotton and Organic Cotton?
There are two major differences between conventional cotton and organic cotton.
The first is that conventional cotton is heavily sprayed with pesticides and insecticides. In fact, it’s one of the most heavily sprayed crops on the planet. While cotton crops only account for 2-3% of the crops in the world, they use 25% (or more) of the world’s pesticides.
Second, conventional cotton actually uses more water. A LOT more water. Just one single t-shirt made with conventional cotton uses over 2,000 gallons of water. Organic cotton t-shirts, on the other hand, use under 200 gallons. That’s because most organic cotton is watered with rainfall instead of irrigation systems.
We talk more about organic cotton in our post about organic crib sheets, if you want to learn more.
Why is Organic Underwear Better?
Aside from the differences in environmental factors listed above, organic underwear is better because it’s often Fair Trade certified and better for your body.
Organic underwear is safer for workers. Most organic cotton (especially GOTS-certified cotton) is also made in fair trade facilities. As we mentioned above, factories that are Fair Trade give their employees a better environment to work in and pay a fair living wage.
Organic underwear is better for your body. Because organic cotton is not treated with harsh chemicals during production, it’s better for your body. Additionally, synthetic materials (like polyester) are not as breathable as cotton, trapping heat and moisture in your underwear. This can lead to vaginal and yeast infections pretty quickly!
Organic underwear is better for the environment. Since organic crops don’t use as many pesticides and insecticides, they’re safer for the environment and water supply around the farmland. (Because those chemicals can seep into the soil and affect everything around them). Synthetic materials create more greenhouse gas emissions than even conventional cotton, so they’re not a good alternative either.
Is Bamboo Underwear Better than Cotton?
We’ve talked a lot about cotton in this post, but what about bamboo? When it comes to sustainability, bamboo underwear is not necessarily better than cotton (conventional or organic). This is because bamboo goes through a lot of chemical processes before it’s turned into fabric. There are some benefits to bamboo though.
What are the Benefits of Bamboo Underwear?
Bamboo fabric has a super soft hand feel, and it’s actually more breathable than cotton. In fact, it’s naturally moisture-wicking and more absorbent than cotton too, so some people prefer to wear it (especially when they’re breaking a sweat). It has some environmental upsides as well because it’s fully biodegradable.
If you’re on the hunt for organic underwear, I hope this post has been helpful to you. We highly recommend checking out the brands listed above!
Are you interested in organic pajamas too? We wrote an entire post about pajamas too! Check it out here.
