Hi everyone!
So today we're finally talking about underwear.
And I say that because I get THE most questions
about where to find sustainable and ethically made underwear
this is a video that my Patrons really wanted to see
But unfortunately it's taken me a really long time
because it has been a challenge
and I definitely fell into the perfection trap
which I have warned against in other videos
where I was looking for products that checked all of the boxes
and I'm somebody that wears a non-standard bra size
so I know how difficult it can be
I was really trying to find companies that offered a wide variety of styles
and sizes and options
But, having said that, I did find some great brands that I'm excited to share with you
I'm also going to share with you some of the piece that I own
and give you some tips if you can't find your size
or can't find what you're looking for from a sustainable or ethical brand
So, in my personally sustainable and ethical fashion journey,
when I started looking into more sustainable bra options,
I basically had to switch from a moulded cup into a soft fabric bra
because, first of all, when it comes to foam and all of the synthetics
and elastics that are usually part of moulded cups,
it's really difficult to source that sustainably
I'm not even sure if there is a sustainable foam option
And also, because I wear a non-standard bra size,
with a soft fabric bra, there's a lot more flexibility when it comes to sizing
as opposed to a very rigid, moulded cup.
And, honestly, I was pretty uncertain at first
because I was used to wearing moulded cup bras
and, to me, wearing just some fabric with elastic
didn't seem like it would have enough support or...
It just wasn't at all what I was used to.
They definitely don't give you that same very round shape
that a moulded cup would
but, yeah, I really like them.
I think I actually like them much better than
any sort of moulded cup with underwire and all that kind of stuff
But there are pros and cons to both
And, obviously, look for the style that you feel most comfortable in.
My first bra that I bought from a more sustainably focussed company
I actually still have
It's this guy which is from the brand Blue Canoe
I've had this for almost three and a half years
maybe even longer than that
so it's not in the best shape
Now, when it comes to eco-friendly bras
the materials you usually see are bamboo, modal or organic cotton
They are all nice and soft fabrics
but they will have different properties when it comes to
absorbency, breathability, care
Also sometimes they'll be blended with some lycra or elastane
And, if you're buying anything made out of modal,
you want to look for "lenzing modal"
which is a specific kind of modal where they use
where they use sustainably grown beechwood trees
and they also have a closed process where they recycle their chemicals.
So another piece that I own is this bralette from "Luva Huva"
which is a UK brand
This is a bamboo bralette
And I also have the matching bottom
And what I really like about this one is that it doesn't really look like a bra
It goes over your head and it's got no clasp on the back
and this longer bottom part so I can wear it under
any sort of sheer top and it feels less like I'm wearing a bra that you can see
It's also really comfortable and I love that they matched up the stripes here
That's a sign of good sewing.
And they also offer custom sizing which is amazing to see
Like I've mentioned, it can be very hard to find non-standard bra sizes
so I think it's awesome if a company offers custom sizes
I have this little cami tank and some underwear from "Comazo"
which has a "Earth" line, which uses all fair trade and organic cotton
I also have this bodysuit and some underwear from "Woron"
and this is made out of the lenzing model which I was talking about
This is actually my first bodysuit and I really like it
I love that it has adjustable straps
Another benefit of modal is that it is resistant to shrinkage
and I have had problems with really tight-fitting clothes like this made out of cotton
shrinking a little too much and then being too tight
And I've also had a problem with tightly fitting tanks riding up
So that's why I'm really loving a bodysuit
and I definitely think that I'm going to
probably get those more in the future over just a little tank or cami
I also have some other brands that I found that I want to share with you
The first is "Aikyou" (I think it's pronounced)
They are a German brand
They focus on smaller busts and they also sell mastectomy bras
I think they have really cute designs and they use a lot of organic cotton
The next is "Brook There" which is an American brand
They use a lot of organic cotton and silk
And everything is made in the US
There's also "Anek." who uses off-cut, leftover and dead stock materials
And I love seeing companies using reclaimed materials.
And their stuff is all made in Berlin.
I also want to talk about "Naja" (I think it's pronounced)
They are an American brand
And even though they aren't super focussed on sustainability,
they do have a few more eco-friendly products
And they use digital printing which saves water and dye
They also sell moulded cup bras which, if you're looking for that kind of style, they would be good to check out
What's great about them is that they have a big focus on empowering women,
they employ single mothers,
and they have a really flexible and supportive environment
I also love their nude for all underwear which has 7 different nude shades
because it's completely ridiculous that "nude" is generally one colour
And since I know there's a lot of you from Australia
I also want to share "Nico".
They make everything in Australia
and they use lenzing modal, bamboo and organic cotton.
And I'll include the links to these brands as well as more brands below in the description.
So, finally, if you can't find your size
or the style you're looking for from a sustainable brand,
there are still ways you can shop more sustainably.
I've said this before, but two of the best things you can do are
invest in quality garments that are going to last you
and care for them properly.
Over four years ago, might even be five years ago,
I decided that I was going to go for a proper bra fitting
and invest in a couple of really good bras
And, honestly, I think it's so worth it.
I still have the bras and they are still in great shape
I will show them to you
This is the first one. They're both moulded cup bras.
Both of the bras were over $100 which I, at the time, thought was kind of crazy
But, I have saved so much money probably buying bras since then that
it's been completely worth it.
And this one is still in great shape,
the elastics are holding up really well
I wash it in cold water to help preserve the elastic
And the most amazing thing about is that the foam hasn't deteriorated at all
Whereas, with a lot of cheaper moulded cups that I used to own,
the foam would kind of get lumpy and break down
I'm really impressed how well this has held up.
My other bra that I got is a strapless bra
and this one I don't wear as often.
Again, it's over four years old
the foam is still amazing. It hasn't gotten lumpy or weird or anything,
the elastics are holding up really well
So, yeah! Even though it was kind of crazy to me,
to have such expensive bras
I really think that, if you can afford it, it is worth it.
Research some brands. Find some brands that are known to be really good quality
And then be sure to take care of them
Wash them in cold water, wash them by hand
or, if they can go in the machine, be sure to put them in a delicates bag
And also you don't need to wash your bras after every wear
unless you're sweating quite a bit
So I hope you enjoyed this video
Unfortunately there aren't a ton of options for everyone's sizes and needs
especially for something that is so varied and different like bra sizes
But I think there are some brands doing some great things
And even if you can't support those brands and they don't have what you're looking for,
there are still ways you can have a more sustainable underwear drawer
I would love to hear in the comment if there's any other brands you found
Or what your experience has been like trying to look for
more conscious undergarments.
Thank you for watching
And thank you so much to those of you supporting me on Patreon
And I will see you in the next one.