An Ever Growing List of Ethical Lingerie Retailers

An Ever Growing List of Ethical Lingerie Retailers

A few weeks ago I shared about the one time I shopped at Victoria's Secret and the subsequent guilt I felt as an ethical fashion advocate and simultaneous relief I felt as a consumer upon finding a bra that fit the way I wanted it to. After sharing my story and hearing the (many) responses echoing my feelings, I was a bit saddened by the lack of availability of ethically made lingerie. It's one of the most basic garments, but for many different reasons, finding ethically made bras and lingerie is a struggle for SO many ladies out there (myself included). 

Deep down, I know that a list can't solve all of our problems, (you'll be hard-pressed to convince me that they can't help ;) but I thought that curating my own resource of brands who are, in fact, making ethical and sustainable lingerie, would make the search at least a bit less daunting. 

All of these brands do things a little bit differently — some make "big girl bras," like the one I had struggled to find, others strictly sell bralettes and lacy things. But they're all doing their part to close the gap in the slow lingerie piece of ethical fashion, and that is something worth recognizing and supporting. 

I'll continue to add to this list as I discover more, so be sure to check back often for updates!   

Lingerie is notoriously hard to shop ethically for. This list takes the stress out of it by combining all of the best ethical and sustainable shops in one place.

1. Azura Bay

Image: Azura Bay

Image: Azura Bay

"I've chosen the most luxurious and stylish options for Azura Bay that also support your values: ethical production, local options, artisan & handmade production, Fair Trade and eco-friendly fabrics and production processes as much as possible. Additionally, most of our brands are woman-owned." - Ashely, Azura Bay founder

Azura Bay is a Canada-based online boutique, curating the best of ethical fashion when it comes to swimwear and lingerie. They feature a stunning collection from brands like Vitamin A, Cosabella, Naja, Pact, Only Hearts and more, with pieces that are feminine and well made. 

  • Sizes: 28A-38DD and Xs-XL 
  • Styles: Everything from lacey bralettes to padded push up bras and everyday underwear to bridal lingerie
  • Shipping: Worldwide
  • Price: $-$$$

2. Naja

"We want to disrupt the way lingerie is marketed toward women by creating a brand that seeks to empower women instead of objectifying them. We did away with fake wind blowing into models hair and poses singularly aimed at the male gaze in order to connect with the smart, sexy, and courageous women of today." - Naja

Putting a flirty and fun twist on ethical underwear, Naja is one of the forerunners of the "slow lingerie" movement. Their garments are made by women or single heads of households — they've even implemented flexible work schedules for their employees, enabling them to balance a job and childcare. They use digital printing, which is the most eco-friendly way to dye fabric, and strive to use fabrics made from recycled water bottles as often as possible. 

  • Sizes: A-DDD and xs-lx
  • Styles: Gorgeous bralettes, padded t-shirt bras, printed sports bras
  • Shipping: worldwide
  • Price: $-$$

3. Svala

Image: Svala

Image: Svala

Produced using eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton and vicose from bamboo and certified organic dyes, Svala is a one woman show based in LA. Helga, the brands designer and founder, creates beautiful bralettes, underwear, and sleepwear that is feminine and unique. 

  • Sizes: xs-l
  • Styles: lace bralettes, cotton sleepwear, underwear
  • Shipping: Internationally via their list of included countries
  • Price: $-$$

 


4. The Nude Label

Image: The Nude Label

Image: The Nude Label

"An evocation to natural beauty throughout the use of soft materials for a second skin feeling."

A minimalistic underwear line designed and made in a family owned factory in Valencia, Spain, The Nude Label uses soft, natural fabrics meant to evoke the feeling of a "second skin". 

  • Sizes: xs-xl
  • Styles: cotton basic bralettes, bodysuits, and cotton undies, each with a unique twist to celebrate the natural body
  • Shipping: worldwide
  • Price: $$

5. Flat Frances

Image: Flat Frances

Image: Flat Frances

"No boobs? No problem." 

A newly launched lingerie brand specifically for ladies with small breasts, Flat Frances is as quirky and unique as the women they seek to create bras for. Sign up for their mailing list to be notified of their (very near!) launch. 

  • Sizes: S-L
  • Styles: Halter, triangle, shelf, and bikini bras for small chested women
  • Shipping: US + Canada until further notice
  • Price: $-$$ 

6. Woron

Image: Woron

Image: Woron

"Our aim is to create that lingerie, that will be the first thing you want to put on and the last thing you take off! It is comfort without sacrificing feminine shaping, fashion & style - and style without sacrificing sustainability. " - Woron

Based in Copenhagen and founded by two sisters on a mission to create sustainable, beautiful lingerie, Woron believes that sustainability isn't just the future, it's the present, and that lingerie isn't something you should dread wearing. Their bras are made with modal, a sustainable fabric made from the pulp of beechwood. 

  • Sizes: xs-xl
  • Styles: soft bralettes, sports bras, leggings, underwear, and swimwear 
  • Shipping: worldwide
  • Price: $$-$$$

7. Brook There

Image: Brook There

Image: Brook There

"The Muse: Smart, self-motivated, a leader, a rule-breaker. Not easily categorized. Practical, kind, has a love of learning, takes care of herself. Creative, fascinated by the world. Hard-working, deep-thinking, independent. Iconoclast and classic all at once. Natural beauty." - Brook There

Brook There is an organic lingerie line run by a husband and wife duo, Brook and Daniel based in New England. They hand-make unpadded, wirefree bras using GOTS-certified organic cotton and real silk. Aside from their beautiful pieces, their website makes it incredibly easy to navigate based on your values (for example, you can select "vegan" to see all of their pieces made without silk, leather, or wool). 

  • Sizes: xs-xl (A-D)
  • Styles: cotton and silk bralettes, underwear, camis, and clothing
  • Shipping: International
  • Price: $$-$$$

8. Harlow & Fox

Image: Harlow & Fox

Image: Harlow & Fox

"To create effortlessly elegant, beautifully luxurious lingerie, exclusively designed for sizes 30-38 DD-G."

Harlow & Fox is a UK based lingerie brand filling a needed gap in the ethical lingerie industry for plus sized women. With elegance as their key principle, the brand crafts their pieces with silk, lace and intricate detailing, their designs are as captivating as the women their design for. 

  • Sizes: DD-G
  • Styles: padded bras, bustiers, robes and more
  • Shipping: International
  • Price: $$$

9. Baserange

Image: Baserange

Image: Baserange

"Modern basics in easy soft silhouettes made to emphasize natural beauty and be forever wearable."

Baserange is based in Denmark and France and focuses on creating basics and undergarments that accentuate natural beauty without extra cost to the environment. They use organic cotton for most of their production, ensuring their pieces are good for your body and the environment and will last for years to come. 

  • Sizes: xs-l
  • Styles: cotton bralettes and underwear and clothing like dresses and jumpsuits
  • Shipping: International 
  • Price: $$

 


10. Clare Bare

"Our pieces are designed to accentuate your assets in a natural way, using time-honored techniques yet fashion-forward silhouettes." 

Made in LA by a team of lingerie-loving girls, Clare Bare designs seductive but sustainable pieces using vintage and natural fabrics. They hand make and hand dye each piece, making their designs even more special. Instead of adhering to the typical "seasons" of the fashion industry, Clare Bare releases new products whenever inspiration strikes — a beautiful embodiment of the empowered, confident women who wear their designs. 

  • Sizes: AA-DD
  • Styles: soft cup bras, cotton underwear, bodysuits, garter belts and accessories 
  • Shipping: International
  • Price: $-$$$

11. Style Saint

Image: Style Saint

Image: Style Saint

"By focusing on quality over quantity – and designing timeless collections that are meant to be worn year-round – we stand firm in our belief that fashion should be neither fast nor disposable."

Although lingerie isn't their main focus, Style Saint is worth including simply for their ethics and beautiful business model. Using a "creater-to-closet" model, Style Saint avoids the markups of typical brands and seeks to utilize sustainable fabrics. They design bralettes that can be worn alone or under your clothes in their studio in LA. 

  • Sizes: 2-12 (xs-l)
  • Styles: beautiful bralettes (and a wide array of other clothing that is equally beautiful)
  • Shipping: International 
  • Price: $$

12. Madonna Bain

IMage: Madonna Bain

IMage: Madonna Bain

"There are bigger factories there (in Bali) that can make clothing for much cheaper but that is not how I want to produce my — emphasis is sustainability and quality." - Gede, founder/designer

Based in Australia, Madonna Bain creates small batch, eco-lingerie in a small studio with 3-5 people. Their designs are then sewn by seamstresses in Bali, emphasizing quality and slow, over cheap and fast. They sell beautiful bralettes, bodysuits and have just released a padded, soft cup bra that is equally as stunning. 

  • Sizes: 6-16 AUS (xs-l)
  • Styles: soft padded bras, bralettes, bodysuits, underwear
  • Shipping: International
  • Price: $-$$$

13. Do You Green Paris

Image: Do you green

Image: Do you green

"Do You Green is the encounter of French chic and elegance with the natural pinewood super-power : 
an entire range of lingerie with a sensual-chic design made in a pinewood fibers’ unique fabric and the finest Calais laces."

An amazing resource for "real" bras and bralettes alike, Do You Green is a Paris based brand that designs durable, beautiful lingerie using fabrics made from pinewood fibers and lace. Their pieces are truly beautiful and well worth the investment. 

  • Sizes: xs-xxl 
  • Styles: padded underwire bras, bralettes, underwear
  • Shipping: International
  • Price: $$-$$$

14. AmaElla 

Image: AmaElla

Image: AmaElla

"By selecting the finest organic cotton, premium trims, and pretty prints, we ensure your lingerie drawer is anything but ordinary."

AmaElla is a best-friend founded brand hinging on the premise that cotton doesn't have to be boring or outdated. The duo designs gorgeous prints using GOTS certified organic cotton. They have a selection of wired and unwired bras and beautiful panties as well. 

  • Sizes: A-D (S-L)
  • Styles: Casual underwire bras, bralettes, underwear, and sleepwear
  • Shipping: International
  • Price: $$

15. WAMA Underwear

IMG_7163.JPG

"Hemp fabric is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-microbial with anti-odor properties. Super comfortable, breathable and gets softer with every wash. Hemp is also organic, eco-friendly and can help save the planet. Hemp is the perfect fabric for your underwear. Why Not Hemp?"

Using GOTS Certified cotton and hemp for their underthings, WAMA produces men's and women's underwear that's as good for your body as it is for the planet. 

  • Sizes: mens + womens xs-xl
  • Styles: casual black hipsters and boxers
  • Shipping: international
  • Price: $

Do you know of an ethical lingerie brand that's making bra shopping easier and eco-friendly? Share them in the comments so I can add them to the list!

Karton || Cardboard Reimagined

Karton || Cardboard Reimagined

MATTER Prints || Slow Sustainability

MATTER Prints || Slow Sustainability