Underwear. They’re a fact of life. And most of us have to purchase them regularly. But most underwear aren’t made of particularly eco-friendly or comfortable materials. So what’s a girl to do when she’s hitting the trail on her next epic adventure, traveling around the world, or just lounging around the house? Fill that underwear drawer with the most comfortable and sustainable underwear for women that she can find, that’s what.
We’ve done the legwork for you and researched and tested some of the best of the best in that department. So read on and, when it’s time to replace your tattered old bra and undies, try these on for size.
Looking for sustainable sports bras? Check out this post.
Comfortable & Sustainable Underwear for Women
Jungmaven
Known for making quality and long-lasting hemp apparel and only hemp apparel, Jungmaven also offers sustainable intimates now, including hemp underwear for women and hemp bras. And just like any other clothing we’ve tested from the brand, it’s well-made and comfortable. Also, because it’s hemorrhaging, natural and breathable. We especially love the new Chennai underwear and Triangle bra, but there are several styles to choose from. All are made of a nice thick hemp-organic cotton blend, are surprisingly stretchy thanks to some added spandex, thick enough to offer privacy (which also indicates they’ll last a long time) and supremely comfy. They do seem to run a bit small, so size up if you’re unsure after checking the size chart. Find the whole lineup HERE.
Bonus: the brand uses no plastic in packaging or hangtags.
Net Positive
This natural material underwear brand is newer to the scene, but no less sustainable and comfortable. Everything they offer is made of organic cotton and/or hemp, often from biodynamic and regenerative farms. I’ve tried a few of their bras and underwear and while the Organic Cotton and Hemp collection feels durable and breathable, even when it’s hot, the new Organic Ribbed cotton collection is my favorite. It’s dyed with botanical, not synthetic, dyes, is super soft and stretchy while stile being moderately supportive (for wire-free, structure-free bras), and is breathable and comfortable, to boot.
Net Positive offers bras (I love the Botanical Dye Scoop Bra), thongs, briefs, even maternity underwear and boxer brief styles for women (which I’m obsessed with for lounging). Find them all here.
Pact
Organic cotton underwear FTW! And of all the cotton undies we’ve tried, these from “Earth’s favorite clothing” brand are some of the lightest and most breathable we’ve tried and come in a number of colors and styles, from bikini to hipster to thong and more. While they may require more tender care than heavier knits (time will tell, but we’ll let you know), the fit and comfort level is high, so we’re ok with that. The bras and crop camisoles are also to die for. The Everyday Classic T-shirt Bra, which is thicker than the underwear, absolutely became my go-to daily bra for comfort and ease (and continues to be over a year later), but there are also other options available.
Oh, and as a bonus, Pact doesn’t use any plastic in their packing materials! Find the underwear here and bras here.
Patagonia
Patagonia is known far and wide as a leader in the outdoor industry when it comes to sustainability. And lucky for us, they make more than outerwear and duffle bags. Their women’s underwear and bras are super soft and vary in style and support from sports bras to loungewear to activewear.
The Active Briefs, for example, are made of moisture-wicking recycled nylon and spandex mesh for high-output adventure activities while the Barely Everyday Bra is made from partially recycled nylon and spandex for supreme comfort. It’s my absolutely favorite for all manner of outdoor activities.
Subset
All Subset does is organic cotton underwear for women (and men). They’re available in classic colors (plus a few vibrant options), come in all your favorite styles, and are soft and oh-so-comfy. They even update their fit guidelines recently to help ensure you get the right size (worked for me!) But our fave thing about the brand? They’ll recycle your old underwear–yes, any brand–and send it off to be turned into insulation! How dope is that? They’ll even provide the shipping label (and reward you with a $15 credit on your next order)!
Order yourself a pair here! Subset also has a whole line of super high quality and super comfy organic cotton bralettes! Our new fave: the Keyhole Bralette. Your boobs need one because they fit like a dream. Find them here. (And check out our Q&A with Subset here.)
WAMA
Hemp and organic cotton underwear FTW! WAMA is all about utilizing sustainable materials and celebrating bodies with their line of sustainable underwear for women AND men. Plus, with just about every style of underwear available, plus two bralettes, you’re guaranteed to find something you like. And when you do, you can buy a whole pack! Most styles only come in one or two colors, but we can attest to the comfort factor. And because hemp is the headlining material, you can expect them to get softer the more you wear them.
Plus, we can attest to the fact that even after over a year of wear, they’ve remained more durable and less stretched out than most of the other options on this list. Find your fave style here.
Royal Robbins
Need a sustainable pair of undies for long trail days? That dry quickly and wick sweat and moisture? The new Ready Dry Essentials from Royal Robbins have you covered (literally). The performance stretch fabric (a totally breathable mesh!) is made from recycled materials, there’s built-in odor control via upcycled coffee grounds, and the undies help keep you cool when it’s hot. Plus the underwear and bras are available in several chill colors. Win.
Note: we recommend ordering a size larger if you’re sometimes between sizes as they seem to run a bit small. Find the whole women’s line here.
Tera Kaia
I have a thing for alpine lakes. And when I say “thing,” I mean I can’t stop myself from jumping in when on a long hike, trail run, or bike ride. If you suffer from a similar condition, you need basewear from Tara Kaia, a small, woman-owned brand that makes bras and underwear that double as swimwear. These sports bras, underwear, and fitted shorts (with pockets!) function just as beautifully for day-to-day workouts and hikes where moisture-wicking and fast-drying are a must as they do in the water.
We think that makes them the perfect for those who like to take the plunge but either don’t like to do so in their skivvies and never bring a spare swimsuit or who just need a comfy pair of undergarments for outdoor activity. The black color is even made of recycled materials. Do pay attention to their size guide as their sizing is unique. Also, those with boobs lower other chest may find the bras ride up too much. Find Basewear HERE.
Sustainable Underwear for Women: Bottom Line (get it? 😅)
Don’t just make do with any ol’ underwear; treat yourself to something more comfortable and the planet to something kinder. Your booty will thank you.
Looking for the men’s underwear version of this article? Check it out here!
