It’s a fact: no matter how many pairs of lacey knickers we’ve got, we can’t stop circling back to our old faithful cotton undies – and for good reason!
While there’s no denying the confidence-boosting qualities of our best lingerie, it’s not always the most practical – or comfortable. Cotton, on the other hand, is the real MVP of underwear fabrics – breathable, absorbent, durable, comfortable – and thanks to some amazing trailblazing brands definitely not boring.
It’s true that cotton isn’t as stretchy or sparkly as other popular underwear materials, however, with more and more Australian and New Zealand brands getting on board with organic and ethical cotton, there’s no reason to skimp on style.
Here are some of our favourite ethical undie brands, that you should consider when buying your cotton smalls.
The Mid-Rise
Describing themselves as “minimalist, ethical and really comfortable”, NICO is an Australian brand we can get behind. Not only do they produce luxe-quality garments, but they’re also completely transparent about how they do business. In fact, there’s an entire section on their website titled ‘transparency‘, which outlines their manufacturers, material sources and their eco-footprint per garment.
The Bikini Brief
Mighty good by name; mighty good by nature. These cotton-rich beauties are a modern take on your classic bikini brief, plus, they’re 95% certified organic and Fairtrade cotton and 5% elastane!
The High Cut Brief
For proof that cotton undies can be exciting as well as comfy, this figure-flattering high waist pair has a soft waistband free of harsh elastic. The high cut sides are designed to make your legs look longer.
Made from 90% cotton and 10% elastane, these undies are chemical-free, breathable and hypoallergenic as well as being ethically manufactured. Plus, you get a free sustainable wash bag with every purchase – winning!
The Full Brief
Described as period pants, these certainly don’t sound sexy. But these ultra-absorbent knickers will absorb moisture (up to 10ml of liquid) on those heavy discharge days which will definitely leave you feeling more comfortable. The top layer which lies against the skin is made from soft, moisture-wicking breathable cotton with additional layers for absorption, fighting odour and bacteria and preventing leakage. And far from looking like a giant sanitary towel, these undies are cut to be cute – we love the high waist and mesh panels on this pair.
The Value Pack
New Zealand brand Nisa is doing things. On top of a mission statement that vows to make “kick-ass undies”, Nisa employs female refugees and encourages buyers to donate a pair of their organic, cotton briefs to a charity in Syria.
The Boyleg
Bhumi boyleg briefs are made with organic fairtrade cotton and save 41.3 days of drinking water in production. A winning combo for you, and also for the planet and society as a whole. Talk about feelgood pants.
The Frilly Pair
Making the ultimate case for cotton underwear is this pair. Girly, sexy and super cute!
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