What color is your underwear?

I try to be as "green" of a consumer as I can given the constraints of availability of products and our modern urban lifestyle. So I started looking at clothing made from organic fibers - such as organically-grown cotton and hemp.

The first thing I noticed is that there is a very limited selection of clothing styles and colors most of which do not look particularly good on me. There are a number of designers who work with organic fabrics but besides being limited in styles, most of which are not flattering to my body type, they are also on the expensive side. So how is a woman who cares about how she looks, supposed to purchase "green" clothes?

I decided my efforts to be a green consumer was best left to what's underneath - my underwear. As every woman knows, cotton is the best material to use for underwear and going one step further - organically-grown cotton must be even better. No pesticide residues against your private parts. Certainly, it terrible to think about the tons of chemicals pored into the environment just to produce a pair of cotton panties!

In exploring my options on the Internet, I found organic cotton underwear made by at least a dozen companies. Most produced several different styles so you can choose your favorite type of panty - from the full brief to the thong and many offered panties with an organic cotton/lycra blend as well. The styles tend to be more hip than granny although that varies by company. The companies are proud of their organic offerings and most company websites explain which country the cotton was grown in as well as where their panties were sewn. So if you want to help American farmers or help support a woman's cooperative in India, you can make that part of your decision.

Most styles are available in the three basic colors (natural, white, or black) but some companies (notably bGreen and Blue Canoe) offer other colors ranging from pastals to brighter hues. And you can get some styles with lace.

bgreen - A brand name of organic cotton clothing made by NatureUSA, a division of Cotton Knit Trading, Inc., a family owned and operated business in Southern California. They exclusively use certified organic cotton and low-impact dyes to make their fabric. Clothes are developed, designed, and manufactured in Southern California and carry a "Made in USA" tag.

• Bgreen offers 9 styles to choose from: classic bikini, bikini with lace, string bikini, thong, thong with lace, high cut briefs, boy shorts, hot shorts, and hot shorts with lace.
  


• Color choices are natural, white, black, pink, baby blue, blue dots, and pink dots in most styles.
  

bgreen Review

I have tried two styles from bgreen - the string bikini and the bikini.

I was disappointed with the quality of string bikini as the stitches on the top band (the string part!) came out just stretching the underwear to put it on. This has caused the fabric to pull away from the elastic. Apparently, the thread was not stretchable. I would not recommend this style.

However, I can recommend the bikini style. They are 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex. The quality of the stitching on the top band is fine. The label is printed onto the fabric. The crotch is double-lined. They would be improved if the front of the lining came up further in the front.

Prices and Where to buy online
Prices range from $9 to $14.95 for the bikini style.
Lotus Organics is having a sale on the bikini style for $4.50 in cream (natural) and white only. (Note: This sale price is still available. 2/17/2009)

You can purchase bgreen organic cotton underwear from these online stores:

Faeries Dance
a happy planet
Lotus Organics
Mama's Earth
Organic Lifestyle

blue canoe - A Northern California clothing company. They use handpicked certified organic cotton from Peru and manufacture clothes in the US. They use "fiber reactive dyes," which they claim is the least toxic of dyes, and uses less energy and water.

• Blue Canoe offers 3 styles in 100% organic cotton with "satin elastic":
  string bikini, high cut panty, full cut brief;
  6 styles of 90% organic cotton/ 10% lycra: lace panty, lace boy shorts, sheer thong, sheer low-cut panty, sheer high-cut panty, and sheer boy shorts.
  


• Most styles are offered in black, naked (tan), and natural. The "sheer" styles are offered in bisque (orangie-pink), mango, and sky. You can still find some of their older colors in the clearance section on blue canoe's website or on some of the websites below.
  

blue canoe Review

I LOVE my blue canoe string bikini underwear. They are exceptionally well made and even in natural, the satin elastic adds a touch of elegance that makes them very pretty. The crotch is double-lined and my only criticism is that the front of the lining should come up higher in the front. (It makes me wonder if a man designed them!)

Although blue canoe is one of the more expensive lines of organic underwear, it is probably worth the money in terms of durability. I have not yet had these long enough to comment on how many washes they can last through.

Prices and Where to Buy Online

Blue canoe is widely available on the Internet. They can also be purchased through the manufacturers website. The string bikini ranges in price from $15 to $19. The lowest price is $14.95 at the Natural Abode in black or natural only. The other styles range from $16 to $22. (Prices checked 2/18/2009)

blue canoe
a happy planet
Environgentle
Green Stuff Connection
Good Humans
Lotus Organics
rawganique
Rogue Natural Living
The Natural Abode

Clean Undies is a brand name of the Organic Cotton Company, Inc. located in Toronto, Canada. They are one of the few companies in North America processing certified organic pima cotton from raw cotton to finished, high-quality certified organic products. Pima cotton is a generic name for extra-long staple (ELS) cotton.

• Clean Undies are offered in 8 styles:
  Bikini brief, French high cut brief, full brief, low rise wide thong, string thong, boy shorts, cheekie cut, and boy teasers.
  


• All styles come in one color - natural.
  

Clean Undies - Review

I have tried Clean Undies in the bikini brief style. They are very well made and comfortable. They are less "hip" looking than the briefs I own from other brands. I can recommend these.

Prices and Where to Buy Online
Clean Undies bikini brief range in price from $16 to $22.

SALE - Lotus Organics has the bikini style on sale for $9.00. (Note: 2/19/2009 sale price still available.)

Lotus Organics
Many Moons Alternatives
the Oko box
rawganique

CottonField USA is a small woman-owned business in Boston, Massachusetts. Their certified organic cotton is grown by small farms in Texas, California, and North Carolina, their mills are located in North and South Carolina, and the dye house is in New Hampshire. The cutting and sewing occur in the Boston area.

• CottonField offers 2 styles in 2 types of 100% organic cotton:
  Bikini and panty (full brief). The materials are described as a knit and a jersey (1X1 rib knit).
  


• All styles come in natural; additionally the bikini is available in eco-dyed black and pink, the jersey bikini is available in black, and the panty is available in pink.
  

COTTONFIELDusa - Review

The bikini style is a fuller cut than those of other companies. These may be more akin to what other brands call a "hipster." The end of the fabric at the legs and waist are finished and then folded over to completely cover the elastic. This is in contrast to other brands where the elastic (covered or uncovered) is added in these places.

Cottonfield got the double-lined crotch positioned right! Can I make a wild guess that a woman designed these with function in mind? Perhaps not as stylish as some of the more "hip" brands - but a good solid pair of organic cotton underwear.

Prices and Where to Buy Online
Cottonfield USA bikini style panties range in price from $11.95 to $13.

SALE - Round Belly Clothing has the both styles on sale for $9.10.

COTTONFIELDusa
EnvironGentle
GoodHumans
Kasper Organics
Round Belly Clothing
Back to Basics

EcoAve USA - A division of The Comfort Zone part of the Environmental Resource Outlet, Inc, located in Norfolk, Virginia. The company uses 100% certified organic cotton. The fabrics are from USA mills and the clothes are cut & sewn in Virginia, the Carolinas, and New York.

• EcoAve USA offers 2 styles in 100% organic cotton: bikini and full briefs.


• Available in natural and black.
  

EcoAve Usa organic cotton underwear is sold through Tomorrow's World online. The regular price is $14 per pair of briefs but are currently on sale for $12.

Ecoland - A California based company that makes clothing from organically grown cotton - certified by SKAL. They state the garments are sustainably processed and sewn in a sweatshop-free environment.

• Offers 1 style in 95% organic cotton/5% spandex called the hipster
  


• Available in natural only.
  

The Ecoland hipster ranges from in price from $16 to $25 for a package of two.

Ecoland, Inc.
FaeriesDance.com
the Oko box

Gaiam, founded in 1988 in Boulder, Colorado, bills itself as a "Lifestyle company" and offer a variety of environmentally-friendly and fair trade products. It is unclear whether they produce their own underwear or just brand it - but it is 100% organic cotton, low impact dyes are used, and apparently they are made in India.

• Gaiam offers three styles in organic cotton: full brief, high cut brief, and hip hugger.


• All three come in natural or "eco-low impact dye" black.

Gaiam Review
I received my three pack of organic cotton high cut briefs in natural from Gaiam about two weeks ago and can give my first impressions. The first thing I noticed was how incredibly soft the underwear was. They seem to be sturdily constructed and I expect them to hold up well after washing. They are comfortable with the exception that I do not feel I have full coverage where its needed - that's right, the double lining in the crotch covers the back area well but ends in the mid-perineal region and does not come close to providing the protection I'd like in the front! (What is it with these underwear designers? Or am I the only one that worries about this sort of thing?) So - based on this I will most likely not be purchasing these again - however, if this is not an important issue for you, these are very soft and well-made panties.

Gaiam organic cotton underwear can be purchased online through their website at gaiam.com. They are regularly sold in packs of three for $20. There is currently a sale for $13 for a three pack of the hip hugger style.

Osaj - Based in Los Angeles, they produce clothing in the USA from 100% unbleached organic cotton.

• Osaj offers 4 styles in 100% unbleached organic cotton: thong, low-cut, high-cut and briefs.

Osaj Intimates - Review

I have a few pairs of Osaj organic cotton low cut briefs, which could just as easily have been called "bikini." They are made from a lightweight, silky fabric. The elastic bands at the legs and waist are made from a knit elasticized ribbon, which adds a nice touch. They appear to be very high-quality underwear. The one issue I have is that the crotch-lining does not cover what needs to be covered in the front - it ends mid-perineal area. Although I like the stylishness of these, it is unlikely I will purchase more as one of the primary reasons for wearing underwear is protection and these leave much unprotected!

Prices and Where to Buy Online
Prices for the Osaj low-cut briefs range from $10 to $12.

Osaj intimates can be purchased at the following online retailers:

Lotus Organics

American Apparel is a funky Los Angeles based company. All their clothing is cut & sewn under one roof in LA. They offer some of their clothes including underwear in a 100% USDA certified organic cotton fabric. Their organic cotton is imported into the US.

• American Apparel offers three styles in their "Sustainable Edition" line: thong, flat panel panty (low-cut brief), and the unisex men's brief (which they assure us is for girl's too!).
  
• The thong comes in natural or natural/Kelly green, the panty comes in white, natural and "Rehance"/natural, and the unisex men's brief comes in 6 colors all with white contrasting piping: natural, Dijon, pomegranate, ultraviolet, galaxy (deep blue-green), and cinder (gray).
  

American Apparel sells its clothing online through americanapparel.net. Click on Organics to see the "Sustainable Edition" of their underwear. The panty normally is priced at $10 but is currently on sale for $6.

Decent Exposures is a woman-owned, socially responsible business, based in Seattle - famous (in some circles) for their UnBra, which they custom sew. They offer underwear in any of their fabrics including organic cotton in four colors.

• Decent Exposures offers 5 styles: bikini, hipster, full brief, French hipster, and French brief.
  
• Their 100% organic cotton fabric choice comes in cream, pink, blue, navy, and black. There is also a 90% organic cotton/10% lycra fabric choice in cream, blue, and black.

Decent Exposures organic cotton underwear can be purchased through their website at decentexposures.com. Since Decent Exposures is a custom sewing house, you need to specify that you would like one of the four colors of organic cotton fabric. They range in price from $14 to $23 dependent on size!

Buenostyle is a sideline business for Christi York, a free-lance graphic designer located in Canada. She started out making fashion accessories using recycled materials and more recently designed colorful panties in organic cotton with the message "Eat Organic" printed on them. The panties are made from 96% organic cotton and 4% lycra blended fabric and come in cherry and kiwi. The style is a modified "boy-cut" that looks similar to hipsters.

Buenostyle Eat Organic panties can be purchased through their website: eatorganicpanties.com - pricing is in Canadian dollars (converted to US through your credit card at the current exchange rate).

Buenostyle panties range from $14 to $16 each(in US dollars) and can be purchased at the following online stores:
Faeries Dance
The Green Loop
Many Moons Alternatives

Brand

cotton grown

milled/woven

cut/sewn

certifications

American Apparal

imported

 

USA (CA)

USDA

bGreen

 

 

southern CA

 

Blue canoe

Peru

 

made in USA

 

Clean Undies

USA

Canada

Canada

 

CottonField

USA
(TX CA NC)

USA
(NC SC NH)

USA (MA)

 

Decent Exposures

 

 

Seattle

 

EcoAve USA

USA

USA
(VA NC SC NY)

made in USA

 

Ecoland

 

 

China?

SKAL

Gaiam

 

 

India

 

Osaj

 

 

USA