Best women’s sustainable activewear UK: plastic-free workout clothes and sportswear
Underwear, knickers, pants, lingerie, briefs: no matter what you call it, it’s very likely you wear it – and if you don’t, well, you do you. You’re fabulous. But, our smalls can make a big difference – and choosing ethical underwear has a surprisingly big impact on everything from personal comfort, to the planet and the people who make it.
We know that sustainable underwear feels great. Did you know it can’t look great, too?
Below are twelve brands who prioritise beautiful design and comfort alongside ethics, whether they choose to work with only surplus fabrics, source organic materials, or partner with charitable organisations that empower vulnerable women.
You might prefer sexy silks, or you might be more of a super-soft cotton gal – but whichever you’re after, we’ve got both cheeks covered.
The Live Frankly seal of approval:
Those featured here are really good brands, doing good things. To be included in this list, each brand has been given the Live Frankly seal of approval. We are not a certification, but we talk with every brand and ask them to complete a comprehensive questionnaire about their ethical standards before we feature them. No brand is perfect – we’re all operating in an imperfect world – but only purpose-driven brands that are working to change things for the better will be featured on Live Frankly.
We ask that workers’ rights and pay are ensured across the supply chain, that brands use sustainable materials and want to know about their governance structures. This means you can be confident these brands are some of the most ethical and sustainable around. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Prices correct at time of publication.
Seven best sustainable underwear brands at a glance:
Ethical underwear: brands to look out for in the UK
Peachaus’s best-sellers:
Hakea recycled-tulle soft bralette
ÂŁ50
Sakura recycled tulle front close bra
ÂŁ60
Betula recycled tulle underwired balconette bra
ÂŁ60
Why Peachaus is a better choice:
- Selling gorgeous and comfy everyday underwear, sleepwear and leisurewear, Peachaus is an all-round women’s lifestyle brand.
- Each lingerie design works as everyday underwear, ranging from casual crop tops to elevated sheer lacier sets.
- Peachaus’ innovative Simple Sized system means their garments are designed to have an enhanced, fluid fit – making it easier to find the right fit.
- Peachaus’ garments are consciously made. Their manufacturers are committed to sustainable production, minimising their environmental impact, and producing high-quality products made to last.
- Sizing: Bras: 32B – 36DD, briefs XS-XL
SHOP PEACHAUS NOW
JulieMay Lingerie’s best-sellers:
Rosie – Silk & Organic Cotton Lace Full Cup Wireless Bra
ÂŁ75.00
Serenity – Lace, Cotton & Silk Bralette
ÂŁ58.00
Elysia – Silk & Organic Cotton Front Closure Full Cup Bra
ÂŁ75.00
Why Juliemay Lingerie is a better choice:
- If you’ve got extra sensitive skin, where even your underwear can feel uncomfortable, allow us to introduce you to JulieMay Lingerie which specialises in making ultra-soft, super breathable, naturally hypoallergenic bras and briefs.
- AllergyUK has accredited JulieMay suitable for people with skin conditions such as eczema and those allergic to synthetic fibres.
- They make their supportive and stylish lingerie from certified organic pima cotton and silk.
- They make a range of post-surgery bras which are lined with 100% pure silk, helping to keep scar tissue dry and cool.
- JulieMay’s products have a real sensitive touch and don’t use synthetics, harsh chemicals, exposed elastics, latex or nickel.
Sizing: 8-18, 30B-40G/42DD
SHOP JULIEMAY NOW
Wellicious best-sellers:
Âľ Crop Top, Caviar Black
ÂŁ99
Fresher Cropped Tank, Diamond White
ÂŁ79
Diamond White Organic Control Bra
ÂŁ79
Why Wellicious is a better choice:
- If you’re in need of a trusty new sports bra that’ll look, feel and perform fantastically, Wellicious is here to help.
- Wellicious is a circular, Cradle to Cradle Certified® brand. This is a framework to assess the safety, circularity and responsibility of materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance including material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, safeguarding clean water and healthy soils.
- The brand uses GOTS certified organic cotton from Peru.
- All colour pigments which are skin-friendly and safe for water and soil.
- Sizing: XS- XL
SHOP WELLICIOUS NOW
Arms of Andes best-sellers:
Alpaca Wool Thong
ÂŁ23.30
Alpaca Wool Sports Bra
ÂŁ54.36
Alpaca Wool Panties
ÂŁ40.38
Why Arms of Andes is a better choice:
- Breathable Alpaca Wool underwear is designed for comfort and hygiene. It’s naturally moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial and odor resistant.
- Alpaca fibres also feel soft on your skin, making them ideal for day hikes, travel, and short backpacking trips.
- Arms of Andes specialise in outdoor clothing from high-quality natural Alpaca Wool, including t-shirts, hoodies, thermals, jackets, underwear and more.
- The brand has developed plastic-free zippers, switched to 100% natural fabric finishing and removed all traces of petrochemicals in their supply chain.
- It is a single origin manufacturing brand, meaning everything from making the fibre through to the finished garment and packaging happens in Peru.
SHOP ARMS OF ANDES NOW
Project Cece best-sellers:
Debbie Briefs, Organic Cotton & Silk
ÂŁ23
Margot Lace Bra, Organic Cotton
ÂŁ30
Paloma Lace Briefs, Organic Cotton
ÂŁ16
Why Project Cece is a better choice:
- Project Cece is the largest online marketplace for stylish and ethical clothing in Europe, which has more than 400 brands, and is still growing.
- To be featued on Project Cece, brands must fall into at least one of these five categories: be fairtrade; use eco-friendly practices and/or materials; are vegan; support a good cause; produced in Europe.
- Project Cece does all the hard work of researching and curating a collection of feel-good fashion, by bringing together lots of different sustainable brands into one platform.
- NOTE: Filter by Store Location ‘United Kingdom’ to avoid delivery taxes and customs duties from European Brands
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Why Shop Like You Give A Damn is a better choice:
- Shop Like You Give A Damn is an online marketplace that, as the name quite literally suggests, makes ethical shopping easy for those who give a damn.
- Shoppers can filter underwear by criteria that matter most to them. So, you can easily shop inline with your values – or those of the person you’re buying for – whether that’s supporting a social enterprise, or gifts made from recycled or plastic-free materials.
- Everything it sells is 100% vegan, fair and sustainable, while it also champions being inclusive as well as mission-driven businesses.
- NOTE: Shop Like You Give a Damn list a lot of European brands, so always check delivery taxes and customs duties
SHOP ‘SHOP LIKE YOU GIVE A DAMN’ NOW
Lora GENE’s best-sellers:
Jolie triangle silk bra
ÂŁ69
All bras available with matching silk dresses
Fleur silk triangle bra
ÂŁ69
Why Lora GENE is a better choice:
- Lora GENE‘s designs are timeless and there’s little more luxurious than silk underwear, whether that’s a bra made from offcuts from the brand’s silk dresses, or a universally flattering silk slip dress.
- The two bra designs of bras have been thoughtfully created to fit different cup sizes, and come in a wide range of colours.
- Lora GENE founder, Lora Nikolaeva, truly believes the people who make the clothes are the core of the brand.
- The brand has worked with the same factories and workshops for at least five years, and Lora Nikolaeva visits the factories it uses in Bulgaria every three months.
- All of the tailors working for Lora Gene earn a living wage.
- Sizing: 6-26.
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