Lingerie shopping can feel stressful when you want ethical, sustainable options. This guide shares the best brands creating intimates responsibly.
Why Sustainable Lingerie Matters
Many big lingerie brands like Victoria’s Secret have issues like workplace harassment, unrealistic beauty standards, and lack of supply chain transparency.
Beyond that, most mainstream lingerie contains synthetic fibers like polyester made from fossil fuels. And we can’t overlook unfair worker treatment and wages.
Truly empowering women means ethical production and inclusive marketing. Eco-friendly lingerie production is part of that.
What is Sustainable Lingerie?
Sustainable lingerie uses eco-conscious materials, ethical working conditions, small production runs, and inclusive sizing. Here’s what to look for:
Eco-Friendly Materials
Sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, recycled lace, and deadstock silk. Not polyester.
Ethical Production
Fair wages, good conditions, local or transparent manufacturing. Not exploitative labor.
Small Batches
Made-to-order or limited productions. Not overproducing and wasting.
Inclusive Sizing
Size diversity for all bodies. Not just small sizes.
Where to Find Sustainable Lingerie
The eco-conscious intimates brands below are keeping secrets. They offer quality sustainable lingerie sans exploitation.
For everyday underwear, see our Organic Underwear Guide.
For sleepwear, check our Sustainable Loungewear Guide.
We only share brands meeting high sustainability standards that we love!
1. Uye Surana
Uye Surana creates bras and underwear ethically in a family-owned Colombian factory with good conditions and wages.
They use efficient low-impact printing and dyeing and produce only what’s needed. For inclusive fits, they have patented tech for precise band and cup sizing.
Bra Sizes: 28A – 44G
Underwear Sizes: XS – 3XL
2. Maylyn & Co.
Maylyn & Co. makes romantic sustainable lingerie and slips from plant-based Persian Lotus SilkTM. The vegan silk alternative comes from Lotus fibers farmed in Persia.
Made in small workshops with fair wages and good conditions. Ships in organic and recycled packaging.
Sizes: M – XL
3. Brook There
Brook There uses soft organic cotton for bras, undies, and slips made ethically in Massachusetts. Lots of inclusive colors and styles.
Their bralettes are so comfy! And they ship in minimal recycled packaging.
Bra Sizes: 32A – 38D
Underwear Sizes: XS-XL
Slip Dress Sizes: XS-XXL
4. Juliemay
Juliemay uses organic cotton and stretch silk for bras and undies with unrivaled comfort. Their intimates are allergy-friendly too.
The brand is accredited for fabrics safe even for sensitive skin. Their organic undies have soft non-itchy tags!
Bra Sizes: 32B – 42DD
Underwear Sizes: 8-18 UK
5. The Very Good Bra
This B Corp certified brand from Australia offers plastic-free bras and undies made of organic cotton and TENCELTM. Their pieces fully biodegrade in worm farms!
Through preorders and small batches, The Very Good Bra ensures responsible production.
Bra Sizes: 30: C – E | 32-36: A – G | 38: A – E
Underwear Sizes: XS – XL
6. Mary Young
Mary Young focuses on ethical, local production in Canada instead of mass production and waste. They work with a Montreal factory paying fair wages.
Bralette Sizes: XS – 2XL (some styles available up to L only)
Underwear Sizes: XS-2XL
7. Savara Intimates
Savara uses surplus lace and eco-friendly materials like TENCELTM for elegant bras ethically made in Latvia and Romania.
For each bra sold, they donate €1 to support refugee mothers and children.
Bra Sizes: S – XXL
Underwear (Slip) Sizes: S – XL
8. Anekdot
Anekdot handcrafts sophisticated lingerie in Berlin using upcycled luxury materials like production leftovers and vintage trims.
Bra Sizes: XS – XL; AA – D cups
Underwear Sizes: XS – XL
9. Aurore Lingerie
Aurore Lingerie makes elegant, comfortable bras and more in London using leftover luxury fabrics like silk and lace.
Bra Sizes: 32B – 38D (70B – 85D in cm)
Underwear Sizes: S – L
10. Underprotection
This B Corp certified Danish brand makes undies and bras from eco-fabrics like organic cotton and recyled nylon lace.
They work with certified ethical European suppliers to ensure responsible production.
Bra Sizes: 30A – 40E
Underwear Sizes: XS – XL
11. Araks
Araks makes colorful, sustainable bralettes and undies in New York from natural fabrics like organic cotton and recycled nylon.
Bralette Sizes: XXS – XL
Underwear Sizes: XXS – XXL]
12. NK IMODE
NK IMODE makes elegant silk lingerie and nightgowns produced responsibly in a Chinese family-owned factory.
Using either rescued or limited run silk, their pieces are made to last and can even double as sultry outerwear.
14. Bum-Cake Vintage
Bum-Cake sells pre-loved vintage lingerie from the 1950s to 1990s. Find quality pieces for much less than new.
The woman-owned online shop offers an array of vintage lace slips, bustiers, camis and more.
Size Range: S – XL
15. Torlowei
Torlowei creates luxurious, long-lasting lingerie using 80% natural fibers from responsible suppliers.
The Black woman-owned brand offers bras, undies, corsets and more. Pieces are designed to last with quality materials.
Bra Sizes: 32B – 36E
Underwear Sizes: US2 – US16 / UK6 – UK20
