Susty Pants: Everyday Underwear That’s Good For The Planet and Your Privates.

Pants! We all wear thongs, boxers, full briefs, Brazilian, whatever your style. Before I quit fast fashion, I was very much a “five thongs for £1.50 at Primark”, and whilst I miss a bargain, I don’t miss the poor quality. Sustainable underwear is the best way to go, and before you get your knickers in a twist, I will explain why!

We may not replace underwear as often as our clothes, but they can still fall into the fast fashion category. They’ll be made in the same factories using exploitative labour and cheap synthetic materials. Acrylic, nylon and polyester are disasters for the environment, releasing harmful chemical pollutants and requiring vast quantities of water to process and dye them. The UK underwear market is worth about £3.4bn and growing. The amount of textiles we throw away is also increasing, with 134 million tonnes expected to hit landfills by 2030 (that includes your pants!). The most sustainable thing to do is wear what you already own, but if you’re adding to your lingerie draw - check out these susty brands for your everyday basics.

STRIPE & STARE

A UK-based brand with plenty of dopamine dressing delights for your undergarments. They also make sleep and loungewear. Stripe & Stare use sustainable and biodegradable materials like Tencel and ships their pants off in sustainable packaging. They also work with sustainable organisations, engage in tree planting programs, and are a certified B Corp company. I was sent a four-pack of knickers from them in 2021, and they are still going very strong to this day! They offer styles such as high rise, hipsters, boxers and thongs.

Pants start from £18
Sizes XS-4XL

Demi’s pick: The High Rise Knicker Four Pack in Neon Candy

stripeandstare.com


NUDEA

Another UK brand, and another B-Corp. I have a set from them, which is one of my favourites. They have an incredible and unique fitting service (virtual bra fitting!) & their special measuring tape, which allowed me to pick one of the best-fitting bras I’ve ever worn (and I never wear bras!). Their undies are soft and comfortable, making a perfect blend of luxurious and everyday comfy underwear. They use Tencel, recycled microfibre, elastane and recycled Nylon in their products.
The accuracy of their fitting minimises returns and re-purchasing due to sizing errors.

Pants from £12, Bras from £32
Sizes: XS-XXL & 32-38 band, B-GG cup

Demi’s pick: The Brazillian Brief & Demi Bra Logo Mesh in Burnt Orange.

nudea.com



LEMONADE DOLLS

A susty underwear brand with unique sizing, a membership AND the cutest designs? We’ve been spoiled. I have a couple of sets from UK brand Lemonade Dolls, which are incredibly comfortable. Their bralettes feel secure without suffocating me, and I am obsessed with the bright matching sets. The founder was a dancer before becoming CEO of “a brand shaking up the entire lingerie industry”. Sustainability is always a work in progress, and LD is tackling that in and outside its packaging. Their elastic is recycled, and their members can recycle old underwear for free with Terracycle. Lemonade Dolls also donate pairs of underwear to female refugees across the globe with the organisation Choose Love. They’ve donated 8,000 pairs and want to make 20,000 by the end of 2023. They’re also very transparent about the factories they use - stating that they’re fully audited, with all employees paid above minimum wage.

Pants from £14, Bras from £24
Sizes: XXS-2L (UK6-24) & 28-44 band, A-FF cup
Demi’s pick: The picot yellow bra set

lemonadedolls.com



YOU UNDERWEAR

You don't need to go any further if you’re looking for the softest underwear on this list. YOU is made from super-soft organic fairtrade cotton, also PETA-approved vegan. They are the highest-scoring B Corp company in the UK, as ethics and sustainability are at the heart of this wonderful company. They have a buy-one-give-two promise, which means they donate two pairs for every underwear they sell. Their pants styles include bikini, boy shorts, thongs, and period pants. They sell some fun, bold styles and classic neutral shades, making you feel like you’re wearing nothing underneath your clothes. You can access full details about their supply chain on their website; they proudly state that they work with two of India’s leading sustainable and ethical manufacturers. Their underwear is coloured with low-impact, fibre-reactive, GOTS-certified dyes. They know they’re not as inclusive as they could be regarding sizing, but they’re working on a new style to combat this as they want to offer the appropriate amount of support and coverage - it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach!

Pants from £12, Bras from £28
Sizing: 6-22, XS-L (8-16) for bralettes, 28-38 band, C-F cup for their supportive bras.
Demi’s pick: Matching bralette & bikini set in light pink.

youunderwear.com


CLOSELY

Closely is a Swedish brand founded in 2019. Their goal was to create underwear & sportswear that felt liberating and sensual to wear but had minimal impact on the planet. Their research showed that the average European woman owns fourteen bras but only uses three of them, as the rest are not comfortable. A waste! What I found most fascinating about Closely was their sizing guide. They invented a Sizefinder, which uses an algorithm to help you choose from the 44 sizes they offer. Closely calculate the carbon footprint for every single garment. On their sustainability page, they show you on the map where their factories are; they only use two, and they’re in the same region to minimise transportation. Closely’s materials are of recycled origin, with 70% being Bluesign-approved. When I received my first Closely set, the first thing I said was, “Beautiful!” and it’s one of my favourite sets to wear. Sustainability does not equate to compromise.

Pants from £22 Bras from £45
Sizing: XS-XXXL (UK2-32), band 30-44, cup A-F
Demi’s pick: The Bird bralette & high-waist pants in lilac
closely-official.com


OTHER BRANDS TO MENTION:

I have not personally tried the following brands, but I felt they should be mentioned on this list!


THOUGHT - wearethought.com
Price range: £11.95-£18.95
Sizing: XS-XL (UK6-20)

BOODY -
boody.co.uk
Price range: £11.95-£21.95
Sizing: S-4XL (UK6-24), C-G cup

MOLKE -
molke.co.uk
Price range: £14-£45
Sizing: XS-5XL (UK4-32), A-MM cup, 26-54 band

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