As competition intensifies in the global underwear market, brands can no longer rely solely on aesthetics or pricing. Ethical production and sustainability have become powerful differentiators, particularly in the premium and conscious consumer segments. The following list features 9 ethical underwear brands across the world that have built strong market positions by prioritizing responsible manufacturing, material innovation, and ethical brand values.
1. How to Identify Ethical Underwear Brands?
As the term “ethical” is increasingly used in fashion marketing, not all underwear brands that claim to be responsible truly meet ethical standards. Identifying genuinely ethical underwear brands requires looking beyond slogans and green labels, and instead evaluating concrete practices across materials, manufacturing, labor, and transparency. Below are the key criteria that help distinguish truly ethical underwear brands from those engaging in superficial sustainability claims.
- Responsible Material Sourcing: Ethical underwear brands prioritize certified and low-impact materials such as GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled polyester, TENCEL™ Modal, or responsibly sourced wool. These materials reduce water consumption, chemical usage, and overall environmental impact while ensuring skin safety.
- Transparent and Traceable Supply Chains: Genuine ethical brands clearly disclose where their underwear is made, including manufacturing countries, factory partners, and sometimes even production processes. Transparency indicates accountability and reduces the risk of unethical labor practices.
- Fair Labor Practices and Worker Welfare: Ethical underwear production ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, reasonable working hours, and respect for workers’ rights. Brands working with factories certified under standards such as SA8000, WRAP, or BSCI typically demonstrate stronger social compliance.
- Third-Party Certifications and Standards
Independent certifications play a crucial role in verifying ethical claims. Look for standards such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Fair Trade, or Bluesign®, which validate material safety, environmental responsibility, and social compliance. - Low-Impact and Clean Manufacturing Processes
Ethical underwear brands invest in water-saving dyeing methods, reduced chemical processing, and energy-efficient production. This includes non-toxic dyes, wastewater treatment, and minimized microfiber shedding for synthetic fabrics. - Durability and Long Product Lifespan: Ethics also extend to product longevity. Well-constructed underwear that maintains fit and performance after repeated washing helps reduce overconsumption and textile waste.
- Clear Sustainability Reporting and Accountability: Truly ethical brands publish measurable sustainability goals, impact reports, or progress updates rather than vague promises. This includes data on carbon footprint, material percentages, or supply chain improvements.
2. List of 9 Ethical Companies for Your Consideration
Explore these 9 brands that prioritize eco-friendly materials, fair labor, and transparency across their supply chains.
2.1. Boody
Boody is an Australian underwear and basics brand originally founded in Sydney, Australia, and now distributed globally with online availability in multiple regions. The brand specializes in everyday essentials including underwear, bras, socks, loungewear, activewear, sleepwear, and baby basics, all crafted from organically-grown bamboo viscose.
As a certified B Corp, the brand is committed to supply chain transparency, social fairness, and environmental accountability. All manufacturing partners are WRAPand SA8000 certified, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and responsible labor practices.
Its bamboo is sourced from FSC-certified sustainably managed forests, grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. In addition, all products are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, guaranteeing they are free from harmful substances, while recycled packaging and vegetable-based inks are used to minimize waste and environmental impact.
2.2. Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein is a global fashion brand founded in 1968 in New York, USA, and is currently owned by PVH Corp, one of the world’s largest apparel groups. Known for its minimalist, modern, and sensual aesthetic, the brand operates a vast global distribution network with thousands of retail stores and points of sale across more than 110 countries.
Calvin Klein Underwear being its most iconic and commercially successful category. In recent years, the brand has expanded its use of eco-conscious materials, including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™ Lyocell, notably within collections such as The Eco Series.
Beyond environmental goals, the brand emphasizes inclusivity, reflected in size-inclusive product ranges and campaigns that celebrate diversity across gender, body types, and skin tones, reinforcing its commitment to social responsibility alongside sustainability.
2.3. TomboyX
TomboyX is a gender-inclusive underwear and apparel brand founded in 2013 in Seattle, USA. The brand offers a wide range of products including underwear, bras, loungewear, swimwear, activewear, and gender-affirming pieces such as tucking and packing underwear, with sizes typically from 3XS to 6XL to ensure broad fit inclusivity.
TomboyX markets its products primarily through e-commerce and select retail partners, and emphasizes premium, long-lasting fabrics – including organic cotton, TENCEL™ modal blends, and other OEKO-TEX® certified materials – designed for comfort, durability, and everyday wear.
The brand is a certified B Corp, reflecting a high standard of social and environmental responsibility in business operations and governance, and it partners with WRAP and Fair Labor Association-certified factories to support ethical labor practices.
2.4. Pact
WearPact, often referred to simply as Pact, is a sustainable clothing brand headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA, founded around 2009 with a mission to make eco-friendly basics accessible to everyday consumers.
The brand offers a wide range of wardrobe essentials for men, women, and children, including underwear, socks, t-shirts, leggings, loungewear, and activewear, with a strong emphasis on 100% organic cotton and other eco-friendly materials grown without harmful chemicals.
Pact also highlights efforts to lower their environmental footprint, including carbon-neutral shipping options and recycled packaging, and engages in programs that give back to community and environmental causes. While the brand is widely recognized for its sustainability focus, transparency around some certifications and full supply chain disclosure varies compared to other ethical apparel leaders.
2.5. Organic Basics
Organic Basics is a sustainable fashion brand founded in 2015 and based in Copenhagen, Denmark, known for its eco‑friendly underwear, activewear, and everyday basics made for both men and women.
The brand sells primarily through its online store and select international retailers, offering underwear, bras, tees, socks, and base layers made from organic cotton, recycled nylon, TENCEL™ Lyocell, and other lower‑impact fibers chosen for durability and comfort.
Organic Basics centres its philosophy around material responsibility, supply chain transparency, and long‑lasting design to minimize environmental footprint. A high percentage of its garments are made with GOTS‑certified organic cotton and GRS/OCS certified recycled materials, and its factories are aud
2.6. Mighty Good Basics
Mighty Good Basics is an ethical underwear and basics brand founded in 2015 in Sydney, Australia, offering premium men’s and women’s underwear, tops, and swimwear made primarily from Fairtrade and GOTS‑certified organic cotton that is soft, durable, and free from toxic chemicals.
The brand sells its products online with worldwide shipping, and emphasises a high standard of ethical manufacturing by partnering with factories certified for fair labor practices and safe working conditions, while also supporting initiatives like the Happy Boxes Project that provide essential supplies to women in remote Australian communities.
The brand has set a circular business vision with tracing its supply chain closely and working with certified ethical factories, while also carbon‑offsetting production and supporting social impact programs that align with its values of fair labor, sustainability, and community empowerment.
2.7. NICO
NICO Underwear is an Australian underwear and basics brand founded in 2012, recognised as one of the first plant‑dyed organic cotton underwear labels in the country, with headquarters in Canberra, Australia.
NICO’s collections are made from sustainably sourced materials, including GOTS‑certified organic cotton and Lenzing TENCEL™ Modal, with many pieces coloured using natural plant‑dyeing techniques that avoid harmful chemicals and enhance skin‑friendly softness.
NICO’s philosophy centres on ethical transparency, environmental responsibility, and timeless design, with a commitment to creating garments that are as gentle on the planet as they are comfortable to wear.
NICO’s use of chemical‑free plant dyes and biodegradable packaging further reflects its dedication to minimising ecological impact, while its focus on longevity, courteous customer service, and supply chain clarity underscores its broader commitment to sustainable fashion values.
NICO emphasises responsible material choices and works with skilled artisans in responsible factories, fostering fair and safe production practices
2.8. WAMA Underwear
WAMA Underwear is a sustainable underwear brand based in the United States that specialises in intimate apparel made from hemp blended with organic cotton, designed for both men and women with everyday comfort, breathability, and natural performance in mind.
WAMA’s philosophy centres on making underwear that puts people and the planet first, driven by the belief that hemp is one of the most sustainable fabric choices available due to its low water use, natural growth without pesticides, and soil‑enriching agricultural benefits.
The brand is a Certified Green America Business and PETA‑Approved Vegan brand, and works with family‑run organic hemp farms and Oeko‑Tex certified facilities using eco‑friendly dyes, with a focus on ethical labour standards, fair working conditions, and environmental care throughout its supply chain.
2.9. MATE the Label
MATE the Label is a sustainable essentials brand based in Los Angeles, USA, specialising in clean, minimalist basics such as underwear, loungewear, tees, sweatshirts, and leggings made from organic, non‑toxic, natural materials including GOTS‑certified organic cotton, linen, and TENCEL™ Lyocell.
MATE the Label’s philosophy centres on clean fashion, ethical labor, and environmental stewardship. Guided by its Dress Clean® mission and a set of eight principles, the brand uses organic, non‑toxic dyes and strict restricted substance lists to keep carcinogens and harmful chemicals out of its supply chain, while prioritising fair, respectful working conditions for everyone from farmers to garment workers.
3. Thygesen Textile Vietnam – A Reliable Manufacturing Partner for Ethical Underwear Brands
Thygesen Textile Vietnam is a full-package apparel manufacturer with over 90 years of experience in the textile industry, part of the Thygesen Textile Group from Denmark.
We are proud to be the manufacturing partner of global brands such as Boody, Calvin Klein, and TomboyX in Vietnam, and to collaborate with Lenzing, a leading supplier of sustainable fibers including TENCEL™ and Lyocell.All our garments are produced in SA8000 and WRAP-certified factories, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship and ethical labor standards.
Moreover, we are committed to full transparency across our supply chain, from fabric suppliers to trims, printing, embroidery, and subcontractors, and we partner only with those who share our ethical values.
Especially, Thygesen places truthfulness and honesty at the heart of our business, ensuring that profit is never prioritized over people or the environment. Our approach supports sustainable development, safe working conditions, and environmentally responsible production, allowing us to deliver garments that are both high-quality and socially responsible.
In conclusion, as sustainability and ethical responsibility become central priorities in the global fashion industry, underwear brands are under increasing pressure to rethink how their products are designed, sourced, and manufactured. Visit us at thygesenapparel.com or reach out directly at sale@thygesen.com.vn to start creating garments that are good for people, the planet, and your brand.
