Bras: a lot of us wear them, a lot of the time. They can be beautiful, they can be functional, but sometimes they are just plain uncomfortable! And, the fashion and clothing industry is very harmful to Earth.
Fabric made with natural materials and sustainable and ethical production is so important. We want both: something great for everyday wear that is also planet and people-friendly. Good news…let me introduce the next best thing: Organic cotton bras!
Why does an organic bra matter?
So why does organic cotton matter? After all, can an organic cotton padded bra really make a difference?
The answer is yes, yes it can. Organic cotton is more ethical and sustainable than non-organic cotton for several reasons. To start, organic cotton uses no pesticides or genetically modified seeds. Because no harmful chemicals are used in the process of growing cotton, there is no pollution runoff and the health of the fieldworkers is also less impacted.
Breathable organic cotton is great for sensitive skin and especially for young girls. Fortunately, there are numerous options for cup sizes so a perfect fit is almost guaranteed!
What’s so bad about conventional cotton?
Conventional cotton is grown using pesticides that pollute the environment: we’re talking directly impacting the soil, water, and those who work around it. Cotton is also often grown in regions where water is lacking and therefore it is less sustainable and adds more stress to the already existent water management challenges of the area.
Certifications that are helpful to look for:
When it comes to purchasing organic cotton clothing and organic cotton padded bras, you’ll want to look for certified organic cotton. Two certifications that will help you determine the right purchases are GOTS and Fairtrade International.
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard which defines the requirements to ensure the textiles are organic throughout their production cycle: from harvesting raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, to labeling accurately to provide correct information to the consumer.
Fairtrade International certification ensures that the farmers and workers producing the textiles are not marginalized. Fairtrade allows farmers and workers fair wages that cover the cost of producing their crops sustainably, as well as decent working conditions and a ban on forced or child labor or discrimination.
What to consider in sustainable bra brands:
When purchasing organic bras, you want both a good bra and friendly bras…meaning bras made and sold with ethical sourcing, ethical supply chains, organic farming practices etc. That’s why the GOTS and Fairtrade certifications are so important. Because what does ethical sourcing and supply chain mean?
To source and run supply chains ethically means to consider the impact of each step of the product, from planting seeds, to harvesting, to working conditions, to the production and sale of the product.
As when shopping for any other clothing articles online remember to check if the return policy works well for you in case you make returns of products.
This post may contain affiliate links.
7 Organic Cotton Padded Bra Options
1. Majamas The Organic Padded Daily Bra
Colors: 4
Size Range: S – XXL
Price: $49
Fabric: Shell – 91% organic cotton, 9% spandex; Lining – 100% organic cotton
Majamas Earth is committed to making eco-friendly clothing, including a collection of sustainable bras, that is beautiful and protects our planet. They do their best to use all organic cotton as well as recycled and reclaimed materials.
The organic padded daily bra is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton with a small amount of spandex and is made in the USA with ethically sourced design and production.
The bra features a v-neck crossover front and low-cut scoop back with thick sporty straps. The no-closure wireless style offers support without eye closures, hooks, clasps or underwire while enhancing your natural shape.
2. Pact Apparel Lace Smooth Cup Bralette
Colors: 11
Size Range: XS – 3XL
Price: $38
Fabric: 95% organic cotton, 5% elastane
Pact Apparel is an organic cotton clothing company that aims to do good. Their cotton uses 81% less water than conventional cotton without the compromise in style.
The smooth cup bralette is wire-free and made for everyday wear with a pullover-style fit and removable soft cups for extra support. The lace band and adjustable straps make this great bra pretty and practical! It’s a buttery-soft organic cotton bra designed for all day comfort.
3. Wama Underwear Racerback Bralette
Colors: 4
Size Range: XS – 4XL
Price: $48
Fabric: 53% Hemp, 44% Organic Cotton, 3% spandex
Wama is an underwear company whose mission is to pioneer the hemp underwear industry— hemp fabric is naturally anti-bacterial, super soft and breathable, as well as sustainable!
The Wama underwear racerback bralette gives you full support no matter your size, and with no uncomfortable wires! The fabric is a blend of hemp and organic cotton and the pullover design is available in sizes XS – 3XL with the colors black, green and four shades of nude.
Another bonus is that you can buy these bralettes in packs of 3 or 6 for more savings!
4. ThirdLove Organic Cloud Cotton Perfect Coverage Bra
Colors: 3
Size Range: 91 different band and cup size combinations available
Price: $72
Fabric: 93% organic cotton, 7% Spandex
This new bra from Third Love is the perfect amount of stretch and coverage with thin cups for shape and support.
With the numerous cup sizes and band options it won’t take a long time to find the right fit. Other ThirdLove options include a range of bras from wire-free styles and classic t-shirt bras.
Their site offers plenty of information on customizable fit options so there is less guess work for you to find the ideal bra. Naturally each collection of bras is machine washable and other care options are offered on their website if needed for future reference.
The cost of shipping is fair and if you refer a friend they will receive $25 towards their first order.
5. Natural Clothing Company Organic Cotton Padded Bra
Colors: 3
Size Range: S – XL
Price: $60
Fabric: 100% organic cotton
The Natural Clothing Company is a small business run by a husband and wife team who decided to offer alternative, sustainable products after realizing how many toxins they are exposed to in everyday life.
The organic cotton padded bra by the Natural Clothing company is great for daily wear. This bestseller has removable pads which means you can also use your own pads you might have for nursing or after a mastectomy.
The organic cotton shell is breathable, durable, and comfortable
6. Organic Basics Organic Cotton Core Classic Bra
Colors: 1
Size Range: XXS – XXL
Price: $36
Fabric: 100% organic cotton
Organic Basics is founded on sustainability. With that, they make decisions based on the impact they might have in every step of the way as they design their products and make planet friendly bras. Their feminine design takes basic bras to organic lingerie!
This organic cotton Core Classic Bra is their best-selling bra with zero wires but with a surprising amount of support! The straps are adjustable and the bra is made without padding but is double lined for extra support. The sizing runs from XS to XXL each with this perfect blend of support.
7. The Very Good Bra Black
Colors: 1
Size Range: 28 sizes
Price: $58
Fabric: 100% organic cotton grown and spun in India, GOTs dyed and knitted in Australia at ABMT Textiles
Fun fact, The Very Good Bra was founded with a kickstarter campaign and the mission to be the world’s first zero waste bra from start to finish, including no plastics, no toxins and no synthetic fabrics.
The Very Good Bra Black is completely plastic-free, from the tree rubber and organic cotton elastic to the tencel sewing thread is designed to break down in nature at end-of-life and leave no trace after its done.
There is no spandex in these super soft bras so they do run a little small with less stretch, but is offered in a variety of sizes to accommodate the best fit of the right bra!
The wide band with eye closure hooks offers extra support while the plunging neckline allows for wear under all styles of clothing! Many consider this the most comfortable bra and even great for special occasions.
Summing It All Up
The benefits of purchasing more sustainably are endless, but it can become daunting. That’s why it’s important to make small swaps like buying organic cotton bras!
It IS possible to have sustainable bras made with organic materials like soft organic cotton and fair trade that are also comfortable and cute. There are so many options available depending on your style, from organic basics bras to organic cotton bralettes to more sexy lingerie, and whether you need light support or total support, we’ve got you!
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About the Author
Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.
Website: genthirty.com