Attempting to buy pure cotton underwear or knickers throughout the UK? I’ve rounded up my favourite sustainable women’s producers that present underwear that’s kinder to your pores and pores and skin and the planet.
Normal cotton is usually grown using synthetic fertilisers and harmful pesticides that aren’t good for people, wildlife or soil nicely being. Pure cotton, alternatively, is grown with out the utilization of those synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. This makes it gentler and further hypoallergenic, along with being increased for the planet.
For many who’re attempting to inexperienced your wardrobe by switching to pure cotton, a easy place to start is your underwear drawer.
For many who’re obtainable out there to change any worn-out underwear with new pure and sustainable underwear, I’ve highlighted 9 of the right pure cotton producers throughout the UK for girls that blend kind, sustainability, and frequently comfort. First up, I’ll inform you the pure labelling schemes to know, so that you simply’re completely educated, sooner than displaying you my favourite producers.
Pure Cotton Certification Schemes
Sooner than we check out the producers I consider it’s useful to know in regards to the utterly completely different pure cotton certification schemes, along with the labelling that you simply should be cautious of. It is as a result of it’s very easy to fall foul of greenwashing.
Your best option for pure cotton is Worldwide Pure Textile Commonplace (GOTS). This neutral certification ensures textiles are literally pure, as a result of it covers every stage of the supply chain. This ensures the cotton was grown using sustainable farming practices, processed using protected dyes, and produced beneath truthful working circumstances.
Completely different pure cotton certification schemes embrace:
- Pure Content material materials Commonplace (OCS) – This regular verifies the presence and amount of pure supplies in textiles. Nonetheless, in distinction to GOTS, it doesn’t check out how the cotton was processed or how sustainable the manufacturing methods are.
- USDA Pure – A standard that applies to US-grown cotton, this regular ensures that the cotton was grown using strict pure farming methods.
- OEKO-Tex Pure Cotton – A model new regular, launched in April 2023, this label certifies that garments is product of 100% pure cotton. Watch out though. The ”Pure Cotton Blended’ label certifies garments that’s product of not lower than 70% pure cotton.
Be cautious of one thing labelled as BCI Cotton. Additionally known as Larger Cotton Initiative, this cotton won’t be pure. BCI suppliers are allowed to utilize pesticides and synthetic fertilisers, so it’s not an incredible different in case you’re looking for pure cotton underwear. Uncover out additional in my BCI Cotton explainer.
The Pure Cotton Underwear & Knickers Producers In The UK
Now that we’re up to the mark on labelling, let me share with you my excessive UK producers making sustainable and pure cotton knickers for girls. Use the quick hyperlinks to leap to a particular mannequin, or protect scrolling to study the full put up.
Rabanui
- Caters for UK sizes 6 – 16
- Prices start from £6.50
Sustainable garments mannequin Rabanuibased on the Isle of Wight, is worth for cheap and budget-friendly pure cotton underwear. Proper right here you should buy underwear that’s free from pesticides and completely different toxic chemical substances, and nonetheless get change from £10.
Rapanui’s assortment accommodates comfortable knickers and non-underwired bralettes, in quite a lot of colours. These are all produced from GOTS-certified pure cotton, and ethically made in factories powered by renewable energy.
What I moreover love is that Rapanui takes a spherical methodology to development. What this means is that every merchandise it produces and sells is designed to be despatched once more for recycling when worn out – along with its underwear.
So when your underwear are worn out, ship them once more with out price, and Rapanui will each remake them into new cotton merchandise or responsibly recycle them. You’ll even get £5 retailer credit score rating each time you come again a parcel.
Beaumont Pure
- Caters for UK sizes 8 – 16
- Prices start from £24
Beaumont Pure is one different best option for non-toxic underwear. Every merchandise throughout the British mannequin’s underwear assortment is created from pure cotton.
Ethically produced in Portugal in factories devoted to paying a residing wage, Beaumont Pure’s assortment accommodates underwire-free bras, high-waisted briefs and bikini briefs in timeless colours.
Along with a dedication to pure and pure fibres and ethical manufacturing, Beaumont Pure goes further. It affords free repairs on all Beaumont Pure garments that may help you extend your garment’s lifespan and in the reduction of textile waste.
Rozenbroek
- Caters for UK sizes 6 – 16
- Prices start from £12 per merchandise
Rozenbroek (on the market at Veo) is a excessive mannequin to check out for vegan-friendly pure cotton underwear. Uncover bras and quite a lot of knickers – along with thongs and full briefs in quite a lot of numerous colours.
This wholly vegan mannequin shuns wool, silk and completely different animal-derived provides. As a substitute, it solely makes use of pure supplies which will be sourced as domestically as doable, with the majority offered from Europe.
All Rozenbroek garments are sustainably and ethically made by hand in its private solar-powered manufacturing unit in East Yorkshire. Each product is made to order or in small batches to stay away from overproduction and pointless use of provides. And nil-waste manufacturing practices are adhered to. Any offcuts are repurposed into completely different devices harking back to tote baggage, scrunchies and face masks.
Sprout Pure
- Caters for UK sizes 4 – 28
- Prices start from £14
For many who’re looking for pure underwear with daring prints and pleasurable designs, then head straight to Sprout Pure (on the market at Etsy). This size-inclusive neutral British mannequin proves that pure doesn’t have to be boring with its vibrant and vibrant assortment.
Offering quite a lot of brightly coloured and patterned pants – along with unisex boxer shorts, high-waisted pants, and bikini short-term kind knickers – these are all created from great snug and breathable GOTS-certified pure cotton.
All of its knickers are ethically made throughout the Sprout Pure workshop in East Sussex. And Spout Pure strives to be as close to zero waste as doable. All materials scraps are repurposed or recycled, and all parcels are despatched out in completely recyclable packaging.
Get 10% off everytime you buy three or additional pairs, by together with the code THREEPANTS on the checkout.
Bedstraw & Madder
- Caters for sizes XS – XXL
- Prices start from £14.50
Bedstraw & Madder (on the market at Veo) takes a novel methodology by pairing GOTS-certified pure cotton with plant-based dyes, creating naturally coloured underwear that’s every kind to the planet and your pores and pores and skin.
The mannequin produces its private regenerative, pure cotton in India. It leases a piece of land and grows the pure cotton, from seed to plant. The cotton is planted and cared for by native farmers and is then traditionally hand-woven and dyed with vegetable pigments sooner than the knickers are fairly produced in Sri Lanka.
Nudea
- Caters for UK sizes 6 – 20
- Prices start from £24.99
For many who’re looking for pure cotton requirements which may be worn all day, on every day foundation, then try Nudea (on the market at John Lewis).
This licensed BCorp – a enterprise that balances people and the planet alongside income – combines practicality and sustainability – makes comfortable and supportive women’s underwear from pure and recycled provides. Its pure cotton underwear assortment accommodates bras, briefs, and thongs for frequently placed on.
And everytime you’re carried out, you presumably can ship your underwear once more to Nudea for recycling. In return, you’ll get 20% off your subsequent order.
Merri Intimates
- Caters for UK sizes 6 – 18
- Prices start from £29
Merri Intimates (on the market at Veo) creates gorgeous pure cotton lingerie with an emphasis on sustainability.
All of its knickers are made with a 100% GOTS-certified pure cotton gusset – making it a healthful and hypoallergenic different in your intimate house. The physique is created from a cushty and stretchy 93% pure cotton and 7% elastane combine. Within the meantime, the lace facet panels are created from deadstock lace – surplus or leftover lace leftover from greater producers which can each go to waste or end up in a landfill.
Each pair is made in Latvia, the place Merri Intimates say it ensures truthful working circumstances. The manufacturing unit it makes use of is 100% women-founded, owned, and run, emphasising sustainability and empowerment, and Merri Intimates says it visits the manufacturing unit often.
YOU Underwear
- Caters for
- Prices start from £14
YOU Underwear (on the market at Social Grocery retailer) is a mannequin with a mission, engaged on a buy-one-give-two model to donate underwear to those in need. For every pair of knickers you buy, YOU donate two pairs to Smalls for All, a charity that distributes underwear to people who need it in Africa and the UK.
Along with giving once more, YOU moreover prioritise the setting. Every bit is ethically made in India from Fairtrade, PETA-approved vegan and 100% GOTS-Licensed pure cotton.
Their pure cotton fluctuate accommodates bralettes, low-rise bikini bottoms, boy shorts, thongs, and further.
Brother
- Caters for UK sizes 8 – 16
- Prices start from £30
Lastly, you may not affiliate the British heritage mannequin Brother with sustainable underwear, nevertheless it absolutely’s properly worth a look within the occasion you’re after one factor specific on your self or a favored one. Its knickers are so pretty and feminine, and an precise cope with to placed on.
Each season Brora choose quite a lot of inserting Liberty supplies to make fantastically snug 100% pure cotton knickers. These are made in England, and the manufacturing unit it makes use of recycles all materials waste and affords experience and training to the world individuals so that they may transfer on British manufacturing experience to the next expertise.
There are 4 utterly completely different patterns to pick out from – the hardest half is deciding on your favourite pattern!
Brora will be an incredible different within the occasion you’re looking for elastane-free knickers. Most cotton underwear are blended with elastane to allow the fabric to stretch. Brora’s knickers are pure cotton – so actually really feel crisp nevertheless comfortable, with only a few elastic throughout the waist and leg openings so that they sustain.
What To Do With Your Earlier Underwear
For many who’re clearing out your underwear drawer, and questioning what to do collectively together with your earlier underwear, don’t concern. I’ve acquired loads of ideas to recycle and repurpose your earlier stuff: