No item of clothing has its work cut out for them quite like lingerie does. Apart from holding everything in place, bras perform multiple functions like providing support, comfort, breathability, and protection, while also offering a boost of confidence (literally and figuratively). Don’t even get us started on the beating that underwear takes on a daily basis for all that it does.
But in order to serve these multitudes of purposes well, lingerie comes in a wide range of fabric compositions, some of which have been treated with chemicals to aid these functions. However, the problem arises when our skin (and the environment) begins to absorb these chemicals.
Simply put, lingerie is like a second skin that isn’t just skin deep.
Akin to the moisturizers and creams we apply, lingerie doesn’t just sit or hug our skin all day long, if there are chemicals present in the fabrics of our bras and underwear, they can potentially penetrate through our skin. In other words, as we sweat, our pores can potentially draw chemicals out of the fabric and absorb them into the body.
This is where a pared-back and consciously considered approach to choosing lingerie — especially its fabric — is needed. And opting for minimally treated natural fibers like organic cotton can be one of the wisest decisions you can make for your skin and the environment.
*Transparency note: This content was made in partnership with organic lingerie brand Brook There.
Breathable, non-toxic organic cotton lingerie
Somewhere in the consumerist process of being seduced by lingerie marketing for years, even our most basic sets of everyday bras and underwear began to get replaced by synthetic materials. After all, nothing boosts your confidence like the knowledge that the lingerie you’re wearing makes you look and feel amazing.
But what if we told you that you could achieve similar effects through organic cotton lingerie?
Organic cotton makes for a great choice of lingerie fabric owing to its moisture-absorbing properties and breathability. Did we mention its unparalleled softness?
Since this variety of cotton is completely handpicked, the process preserves the length of its fibers while also ensuring these fibers aren’t weakened or broken, resulting in softer clothing.
Moreover, people with extremely sensitive skin conditions like atopic dermatitis can benefit from using hypoallergenic organic cotton lingerie especially since their condition predisposes them to have an increased chance of chemicals getting absorbed into their bloodstream due to the compromised integrity of their skin barrier.
In fact, organic cotton’s hypoallergenic properties are one of the main reasons why it’s also heavily favored by infant and children’s clothing brands.
When it comes to articles of clothing that are just like your second skin, a simple switch to natural fabrics like organic cotton can do more than just help you feel comfortable. It can help the environment too!
A garment’s sustainability is highly influenced by its choice of material because it includes the full gamut of impacts.
From climate change and the use of non-renewable resources, to loss of biodiversity and water pollution — not to mention its damaging effects on producer communities and human health. Fortunately, the benefits of producing organic cotton are widespread.
Organic cotton is a naturally cultivated fiber that goes a step further than its conventional counterpart (that’s all too often doused in pesticides) by eliminating all forms of synthetic chemicals during the growth stage itself.
Not only is this practice better for the soil but also the cotton growers who could be adversely affected by the chemicals inhaled. And when grown in line with organic standards, the organic cotton you’re wearing has adhered to strict ecology and toxicology guidelines. In fact, in its most natural and undyed form, organic cotton can even be safely composted.
Where to find natural organic cotton lingerie
If you’re wondering where you can find good organic cotton lingerie, then look no further. Brook There is a female-founded brand where you can find the perfect underpinnings to take you from day to night made from GOTS-certified organic cotton.
From bras and underwear in a wide range of styles to slips, camisoles, and loungewear, Brook There will have you covered in organic essentials that have been milled and dyed locally in California, which has some of the most strict laws when it comes to ecological requirements for producers.
Composed of 94% Organic Cotton and 6% spandex (included to help the lingerie maintain its shape), the brand’s pieces are dyed using fiber-reactive dyes, which have a lower impact on the environment than their conventional counterparts.
Brook There’s bras range from 32 A and go up to 38 D, while their underwear and loungewear collection caters to sizes XS-XXL. What we love most about their lingerie line is the expansive range of neutral hues that go from pale wheat to chocolate brown, making it the perfect foundational piece for sheer clothing.
Brook There also does a fair bit to keep their environmental impact low by maintaining local production and sampling facilities, to avoid any extra carbon emissions caused by freight and transportation. To keep the impact low after purchase, the brand recommends caring for their lingerie by machine washing on a gentle or cold cycle and line-drying when possible to conserve energy.
Explore Brook There and its range of organic cotton lingerie to find your next everyday essential.
About The Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her. When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers
