Today I want to focus on underwear and socks :)
This is one of the main areas that I and many others struggle with when it comes to being sustainable! We're so used to buying cheaper than chips underwear from Penneys that justifying higher price points seems so unreasonable. It's a hard mindset to break, but I'm going to provide you with as many options as possible today. I did focus on brands based in the EU and the UK though, as that's where most of my audience is based.
I've previously featured some of these brands but wanted to include them in order to have a full line up in one place. I'm going to break them down into different categories based on price and style. I've included all prices in Euro - from sites in pounds the exchange rate is correct at the time of writing. Some prices are based on multipacks - but to make it comparable I calculated the cost per garment. Additionally, these prices only included full price items - though some pieces were on sale for cheaper, but I excluded sale prices in order to fairly compare.
Also normally I include photos of the garments, but there's a lot of brands to get through so no photos today!
As I have said on past posts, a disclaimer:
Although I really encourage trying to make the change over to shop sustainably I never want to shame anyone. Sometimes people are living in poverty and from paycheck to paycheck and can't afford more than a pair of €2 Penneys knickers. Essentials like underwear, work clothes etc. just have to be bought and it's not your fault that the only thing you can afford, or have time to get, or can find, is fast fashion - that's down to the system. However, a new dress from Boohoo for every night out is not essential, or a haul every month from Zara - and the reason those prices are so low is because of the cost to the person making it. So next time you're doing a haul from your favourite fast-fashion site, maybe ask yourself: "is someone else's suffering worth this?" When it comes to underwear and socks, if you have the means to, hopefully this post will help. As long as you're trying your best! We need lots of people being imperfectly sustainable rather than a handful being perfect.
The Most Bang for Your Buck
Boody
UK Based // Basic underwear
Price range:
Knickers: €10.95 - €11.95
Bras: €19.95 - €34.95
Mens undies: €11.95 - €22.95
Socks: €5.95 - €17.95
Kerala Crafts
UK Based // Handmade by Indian artisans & all profits are used to support 4 projects in South India
Price range:
Knickers: €6.78 - €9.03
Bras: N/A
Mens undies: €7.91 - €10.95
Socks: N/A
nu-in
UK & Portugal based // Basics & sports bras
Price range:
Knickers: €9.99 - €19.99
Bras: €14.99 - €44.99
Mens undies: €9.99 - €14.99
Socks: N/A
People Tree
UK // Basics
Price range:
Knickers: €10.16
Bras: €20.33 - €24.85
Mens undies: N/A
Socks: €6.78 - €10.16
Rapanui
UK // Basics
Price range:
Knickers: €7.91 - €10.16
Bras: N/A
Mens undies: €7.11 - €13.55
Socks: €5.65 - €6.78
Sanchos
UK // Basics
Price range:
Knickers: €9.60 - €40.65
Bras: €16.88 - €54.21
Mens undies: €15.75
Socks: €6.72 - €10.16
Thought Clothing
UK // Basics
Price range:
Knickers: €10.16 - €11.29
Bras: €15.75 - €18.01
Mens undies: €15.75 - €16.88
Socks: €5.59 - €14.62
Mid-Range
Howies
UK Based // Basic underwear
Price range:
Knickers: €11.29
Bras: N/A
Mens undies: €11.29 - €55.34
Socks: €10.84 - €14.10
You Underwear
UK Based // Basic underwear
Price range:
Knickers: €11.29 - €16.94
Bras: €31.62
Mens undies: €19.20
Socks: N/A
Brothers We Stand
UK // Mens basics, limited collection
Price range:
Knickers: N/A
Bras: N/A
Mens undies: €15.02 - €16.94
Socks: €13.55 - €15.81
Rozenbroek
UK // Basics (This is in mid-range as in order to get the cheaper price you have to buy 5 pairs)
Price range:
Knickers: €6.78 - €20.33
Bras: €31.62 - €36.14
Mens undies: €16.92 - €23.72
Socks: N/A
Living Crafts
Germany // Basics
Price range:
Knickers: €11.99 - €29.99
Bras: €16.99 - €39.99
Mens undies: €13.99 - €16.99
Socks: €4.99 - €23.99
The Nude Company
Spain // Limited selection of basics
Price range:
Knickers: €15 - €23
Bras: €35 - 45
Mens undies: €29
Socks: €10
TALA
UK // Sporty vibe basics
Price range:
Knickers: €16.94
Bras: €28.23 - €29.36
Mens undies: N/A
Socks: €7.34
Molke
UK // Funky prints, good option for bigger busts
Price range:
Knickers: €16.94 - €18.07
Bras: €38.40 - €41.78
Mens undies: N/A
Socks: N/A
Do You Green
France // Basics
Price range:
Knickers: €15 - €22
Bras: €20 - €35
Mens undies: €25
Socks: N/A
Sewing Wild Seams
Ireland // Handmade underwear
Price range:
Knickers: €14.50 - €17
Bras: €38
Mens undies: N/A
Socks: N/A
Gary Mash
Austria // Range from basics to treat yourself lacey pieces
Price range:
Knickers: €14.95 - €49.90
Bras: €16.90 - €69.90
Mens undies: N/A
Socks: €4.30 - €14.90
Treat Yourself
Lara Intimates
UK // Pretty lingerie up to 36GG
Price range:
Knickers: €20.33 - €22.59
Bras: €54.21
Brighton Lace
UK // Gorgeous lace & cotton underwear
Price range:
Knickers: €25.97 - €30.49
Bras: €20.33 - €47.43
And that's all from me! There's a lot of brands based in the US & Austrailia as well - you can find these on Good On You, but please take their ratings with a grain of salt (still don't trust them since I discovered they rate Addidas as "good" despite them still being part of a fast fashion model and not treating their garment workers fairly).
Hope this helped you!
Love,
