Most women wear bras every single day of their lives. Good-fitting underwear is a very important wardrobe essential to provide innate support to our breasts, and also to keep us comfortable and streamline our shape in clothes.
Because of this, we can accumulate so many – I personally have far too many to count and they take up a lot of space in my ever-growing chest of drawers.
© Getty ImagesWhy should our bras be sustainable?
Our bras contribute to a huge amount of fashion waste due to the materials they are predominately made from. Plus, some of the fabrics aren’t particularly breathable and can be pretty uncomfortable – especially harsh fabrics and sticky-out underwire.
© Lemonade DollsEver had that tell-tale red mark on your skin after you’ve taken your bar off at the end of the day? Yep, us too.
Making our wardrobes more echo-friendly should start with our bras and knickers, and trying to do all that we can to help with the zero waste movement is imperative when looking after our planet.
Best sustainable bras
I’ve looked into the best choices for suitable bras and how they practise what they preach.
Stripe & Stare – best non underwire bra
Although the mighty Stripe & Stare are known for their insanely comfortable knickers and PJs (I’ve tried both, insanely cosy FYI) their bras are also responsibly sourced; I find this smooth padded bra offers great support.
Co-founder of Stripe and Stare, Katie Lopes started the brand after working as a buyer for top-end fashion labels and seeing consumer interest in comfy yet attractive underwear first-hand.
“When it comes to our bras, we only use Tencel fibres across our range, as it is so soft,” she explains. “These fibres are scientifically proven to be 2-3 times softer than cotton but still made of natural fibres that breathe with your skin. We never use underwires as we don’t think they are comfortable so everything is a soft bra shape which means we have to work hard to get the support through the design.”
They “wear and test” everything they launch beforehand with the aim of ensuring all underwear is comfortable and practical whilst still looking great.
Best sustainable underwire bra by Nudea
I’ve been wearing Nudea’s ‘Stretch Boss Full Cover Bra’ £48 / $70 and honestly, it not only fits like a glove, but I can hardly tell I’m wearing it, which is very unusual for an underwire bra.
Priya Downes, CEO and Founder of Nudea told HELLO! that their eco credentials are legit. “All our products are made from natural or recycled fabrics. On the recycled fabrics – which are man-made – we also only use deadstock; i.e fabrics that have already been created, we don’t create our own run of new fabrics that will leave excess post usage,” she says.
The fabric is designed to suit all cup sizes, from an A to a GG, meaning better posture and no digging or scratching. Priya explains: “In addition, choosing either natural or recycled fabrics that are breathable and moisture-wicking, means less skin irritation.”
Best sustainable bralette
As a gal with large boobs, I was pretty scared about wearing a bralette but this design by Lemonade Dolls holds me in and uplights my chest without any sagginess whatsoever.
Lemon Fuller, founder of Lemonade Dolls, reveals: “Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s built into the very fabric of our brand (literally!). Every bra we create is made using recycled materials, from our delicate lace to the supportive power mesh.
“Choosing recycled fabrics is a conscious decision, even though they cost 30% more than non-recycled alternatives. For us, sustainability is worth the investment because we believe in creating lingerie that not only makes our customers feel incredible but also looks after the planet.”
The brand also prides itself on using fully biodegradable or recyclable packaging. Their eco credentials don’t stop there.
“We are also so proud of our incredible family-run audited factory that we visit often. The skilled garment makers are an extension to our team and share our ethical values”, Lemon adds.
“Looking ahead, we’re taking transparency to the next level. In 2026, we’ll be launching our Product Passport, giving customers full visibility into where their lingerie comes from, from the mills creating the yarn to the moment it lands in their letterbox.”
