Sometimes, to get him in the mood, I whisper in my husband’s ear “my underwear is ethically made”. This trick doesn’t do much, but at least I have a giggle.

Jokes aside, knowing that the people who made your underwear were paid a fair wage is really important. Living life in underwear that is made from sustainable materials is essential for the planet and your body too.

Together, with my kick-ass side-kick sister, we’ve put together a list of the best ethical and sustainable underwear brands we think you’ll love.

Please note: we acknowledge these brands are imperfect. But they’re trying, really hard. We applaud transparency over perfection (mainly because perfection doesn’t exist).

“Kate’s Review” : Some of these brands sit in my underwear draw (some I bought, some where gifted). To help you navigate your underwear decisions, I’ve written a short review below the ones I have trialled. All underwear I don’t love, is not featured on here (because you don’t deserve horrible underwear).

Azura Bay

Azura Bay are the Victoria Secret of ethical underwear- they prove you don’t have to compromise on aesthetics when it comes to underwear made fairly. Azura Bay is a curation of several ethical underwear brands all in one easy to reach place. Founder, Ashley, works hard to source lingerie that not only empowers the women who wear it, but also the women who make it.

Kate’s Review: Azura Bay make up a large percentage of my underwear draw; mainly because they were one of the first ethical fashion purchases I ever made, plus I used them for my bridal shower registry before I got married in 2017 I go back to Azura Bay again and again. I’d recommend hand washing all Azura Bay pieces for longevity. They’re dainty and delicate and deserve proper care.

Code KATE2021 is 10% off.

Azura Bay

**$40-$130**
**Organic cotton, recycled polyamide, recycled lace, TENCEL**
**International shipping**

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Nisa

Nisa is a social enterprise, employing women from refugee backgrounds in their beautiful Wellington studio. For the Nisa team, a job is about so much more than a pay cheque - it's about making friends, practising English and feeling like a valued member of a team.

Kate’s Review: I’m lucky enough to have visited the Nisa workroom, and have bought Nisa undies since they began. Simple colours, basic designs, and the Quinn Low Full Brief avoids underwear lines when you wear jeans FYI.

Nisa Underwear.png — Nisa

**$36-$100**
**Organic cotton**
**International shipping**

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Nico

Tees, briefs, bras - Nico has the lot! Australian founded Nico celebrates the philosophy of “minimalism and understated luxury” and they do it so well. The colours stand out, while the soft organic fabrics fit in. Both for people and the environment, Nico uses chemical free dyes and guarantees fair and ethical treatment for all of their workers spread across Australia, India, and Bangladesh.

Thunder Pants

Thunderpants are a small, family-owned and operated company based in New Zealand. They focus on transparency and have fun with their bright, unique fabrics. The Thunderpants team have a culture of ‘people over profits’ and have been a New Zealand staple since 1995.

Kate’s Review: These are my cosy/comfort underpants that I put on in the winter or when I’m feeling sick. They cover the most surface area out of all of my underwear, and they are favourites of my Mum and Mum-In-Law too. Now that I think about it, my husband and my dad wear Thunderpants too.

Thunder Pants NZ

**$28-$70**
**Organic cotton & spandex**
**International shipping**

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Sooti

Sooti means ‘thread’; representing the thread that binds us here in New Zealand, with the makers of Sooti underwear over in India. Sooti underwear are for the yogi, the exerciser, and generally anyone who wants comfort on their tush.

Kate’s Review: Great for working out, easy to throw in the wash. These are less on the ‘sexy’ side, but super practical.

Sooti Underwear.jpg — Sooti

**$17-$120**
**Organic cotton & recycled polyester**
**International Shipping**

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PansyCo

An American dream created by two girls hunting for comfy, ethical and quality - PansyCo materials and manufacturing all happens in the US too! These guys keep ‘local’ on the agenda with stunning organic cotton underwear made to last. Simple staples, PansyCo tick so many boxes.

Olly Lingerie

Based in France, Olly Lingerie manufactures ethically in Europe. Recycled lace seems to hold double the beauty with Olly. Not just ethical, but elegant - Olly knows what we want!

Hara The Label

Vegetable dyes, extensive range of sizes, and comfiness in oodles. Hara The Label are easily one of the most known and well loved underwear companies in the Southern Hemisphere. All products are naturally dyed, cut, sewn, packaged and shipped in Melbourne, Australia.

Kate’s Review: Super comfortable, hand wash only, the dyes leak a little at the start (wash colours separately), but so worth it. The unique colours they’ve achieved with the vegetable dyes are exceptional- even better in real life than what you see on the website. I know one of the seamstresses personally, and it makes me happy to know they are legit when it comes to staff treatment, living wages, and general respect.

Hara The Label

**$45-$60**
**Bamboo**
**International shipping**

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Nette Rose Lingerie

Made ethically in Cape Town, Nette Rose hates waste. They produce a limited amount of items at a time to assure nothing is wasted. Fabric and thread offcuts are a favourite that they reuse to make other beautiful things!

Nette Rose.jpg — Nette Rose Lingerie

**$50-$110**
**Cotton, lace & mesh**
**International shipping**

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The Very Good Bra

The very good bra is a comfort and waste-free driven staple, made with zero waste ideologies from completely natural fibres. The very good bra is home compostable! This is a world first, and hopefully not a world last.

Very good bra.jpg — The Very Good Bra

**$50-$100**
**TENCEL & organic cotton**
**International shipping**

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Living Fibres

Living fibres offers Etiko underwear - word on the street is that they are the comfiest basics around. Certified Fairtrade organic is one of the many reasons to love Living Fibres. No toxins = no brainer! These undies are also offered in a large range of sizes, so there’s something for everyone (or every butt).

Bhampowerpants

Made with organic cotton and non toxic dyes by certified ethical companies, and shipped to the distributor without unnecessary plastic means it’s easy to buy Power Pants guilt free. These undies quite literally carry inspiration and even better, Powerpants donate $1 of profits to female survivors of violence.

Kate’s Review: I love them. I love the whisper of an empowering message when I put my underpants on, and they are so damn comfy. Even though I don’t have a particularly large bottom to vouch for this, the cut of the underwear should be ideal for those wanting a low cut (so they don’t show over top of jeans), but full butt coverage.

Powerpants

**$30 - $82**
**Organic cotton**
**Australia & New Zealand only**

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Jackfruit

Bamboo and cotton makes for a dreamboat pair of soft undies. Jackfruit have kept the earth in mind by creating this humble line of body loving underwear. Certified by Ethical Clothing Australia, they strive for long lasting underwear with manufacturing honouring a long lasting planet.

Le Buns

Le Buns have style with a conscience. Natural dyes and thoughtful production. Enjoy organic cotton basics, alongside recycled nylon that make up a wide range of different pieces.

WAMA

Great for everyone in your home, WAMA underwear are made from hemp and made to last. PETA approved and pioneers of the Hemp Clothing Industry, WAMA are change makers in the underwear space.

Kate’s Review: A little expensive to ship to the Southern Hemisphere, but having put them to the test for over two years, I can confirm they are the best quality underwear I own. Tim (husband) loves his pair too.

WAMA

**$30-50**
**Hemp & organic cotton**
**International shipping**

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Organic Basics

It’s all in the name. From bras to socks, they’ll cover you head to toe. Transparency is key for Organic Basics, with their Certified B Corp factories spread across Europe. All information about the conditions of the workers is available and Organic Basics are even carbon neutral!