Underwear - Vegan Shopping & Its Pitfalls

Underwear comes in a wide range, from synthetic materials to comfortable cotton, from sporty blends to chic satin.

Silk is the problematic material to watch out for in underwear.

One popular material for underwear is lucent satin. This material is light, soft and creates a shimmering effect.

Satin is made of silk, polyester, rayon/viscose or a mixture of these, so it can be both vegan and non-vegan.

Another favorite is silk impression, which is a demure fabric that is lightweight and durable. However, this one is not vegan due to the dependence on thousands of silkworms.

A more animal and environmentally friendly alternative is cotton satin, which is 100% natural, and smooth to the touch with a mat finish.

Usually, materials like polyamide, polyester, and elastane are used. Other popular materials include jersey, princess lace satin, and organza.

Sports bras are typically made from the usual synthetic fabrics or a stretchable absorbent fabric such as Lycra. They are designed to reduce irritation by drawing sweat away from the body. Other materials growing in popularity for sporty clothes are RPET and ECONYL®, which are upcycled from plastic bottles and fishing nets found in the ocean.

Some brands make vegan bras and panties by using entirely natural materials like bamboo and organic cotton.

Non-vegan materials:

Silk

Vegan options include:

Bamboo, Cotton, ECONYL®, Elastane, Lycra, Nylon, Polyamide, Polyester, Rayon, RPET, Viscose