It’s not the clothes that count, it’s what’s underneath them — and by that I mean lingerie, of course (what, you thought I was going to say personality? Please). Most days, for example, I can be found in a grungy pair of jeans, T-shirt, faded sneakers and a $120 Agent Provocateur thong.
But designer underwear, besides being impossibly expensive, isn’t usually cut from the most sustainable cloth, nor manufactured in the most ethical workplace. Plus, at least in my case, there’s the added carbon cost of shipping it over from France.
So from now on, if I need new underwear, I’m sticking to organic cotton. Unfortunately, a lot of the organipanties tend to look like this, but I’m convinced that with some Internet trawling and local store-hopping I can find some better options.
These black, lace-trimmed organic cotton briefs, for example, aren’t so bad (though they are still from Europe), and these ones are OK, too.
Still, if any of you have some ideas for where I might find some organic undergarments that maybe aren’t so beige and, better yet, don’t fall into the granny panties category, that’d be great.
October 19, 2007 at 10:12 am |
Why yes, now that you ask, I believe I might have just the thing for you
Look around here and I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking. The Natural Store is based in England, but you can always try to buy directly from the brands (although I really don’t know where the brands themselves ship from). Granny panties… tsss
October 19, 2007 at 11:49 am |
Nope. No ideas. Guess I you have to wear those ones above. Those are local too aren’t they? Perfect I think. You’ll look super sexy in those giant underwears (when they’re that big- they’re no longer panties). Then again- would a greener change not be to just go without?
October 19, 2007 at 11:55 am |
yeah yeah commando style *laughs like Beavis*
October 19, 2007 at 12:14 pm |
Doesn’t the Treehugger Guide to greening one’s sex life have anything? If not, perhaps you could ask them and both of you would be better off. Um… I don’t think a pun was intended. Hahaha.
October 19, 2007 at 12:34 pm |
The treehugger guide does have something, in fact. Here’s the link: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/how-to-green-your-sex-life.php
October 19, 2007 at 12:40 pm |
I know, I know, American Apparel — but they do have a couple organic cotton undie offerings. Not Agent Provocateur-style underwear, but also not up to your rib cage. And they’re made in North America, of course. You can even go buy them in a retail location in the city instead of having to have them shipped, which is not exactly-carbon friendly considering their size. (Unless you’re buying the undies pictured above, of course.)
October 19, 2007 at 12:57 pm |
http://www.naturalcollection.com/natural-products/Organic-Cotton-Polka-Dot-Underwear.aspx
this one was on one of the sites you linked to. It’s black with polka dots:)
October 19, 2007 at 1:11 pm |
will these work for you?
http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/20-0191_MSTR
October 19, 2007 at 1:57 pm |
Try Blue Canoe: http://www.bluecanoe.com/e-store/prod_thumbs.asp?pcid=3101632254119.
October 19, 2007 at 2:31 pm |
I wouldn’t really recommend going commando. It hasn’t worked for many celebrities lately has it?.
The above mentioned undergarments (commonly known as granny panties) could serve a myriad of purposes aside from the obvious. Judging by the size of them, you could use them to go skydiving with, cover the large hole in the ozone, or sew the legs shut and use them as a new tote bag (provided you wash them of course).
October 19, 2007 at 3:10 pm |
I work at an eco-boutique in Boston, where we specialize in providing green fashion without sacrificing style– we’re trying to put the whole ‘earthy crunchy’ image behind. You can check out the website at http://www.shopenvi.com, but be warned– we’re re-launching soon, so our inventory is extremely limited. But we do carry adorable Stewart + Brown organic cotton boyshorts in really beautiful colors and prints, as well as some lacy organic cotton thongs and panties in bold colors. Check out the site– if it isn’t there, feel free to call ! It would certainly beat shipping overseas !
October 19, 2007 at 3:32 pm |
My wife has been looking for organipanties and glad you wrote about this…gonna direct her to all these sites. Just as long as they don’t look like the ones above…;-)
October 19, 2007 at 5:14 pm |
just got some great ones – on sale even – from american apparel…
October 19, 2007 at 5:19 pm |
hanes carries organic underthings now. i just bought some very cute boyshorts that i adore.
i’ve also seen quite a few things posted on alternativeconsumer, if you want to check there too.
October 19, 2007 at 6:48 pm |
Hi Vanessa,
Two retail spots here in TO: there’s a Home/linen store at street level, west side of Hazelton Lanes (sorry don’t know the name), that sells organic cotton and hemp undies. Not overly sexy like your thong, but, more wearable than the ones you’ve shown. Also, Lululemon sells undies – boyshorts & thongs, really cute. Assumed they were organic?? Have a call through to them to find out. Will let you know…
Lol,
Cat
October 19, 2007 at 7:58 pm |
I love the Blue Canoe panties, too. They are really comfortable. They make a string bikini in colors, too!
October 19, 2007 at 8:05 pm |
Check out La Senza. They sell some “ecoganic” lingerie; a organic cotton/ bamboo blend. They’re cute, too.
October 19, 2007 at 8:49 pm |
Check out these: http://www.passionfortheplanet.net/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=6
October 19, 2007 at 9:47 pm |
Idea for you, if you haven’t already done it – how about eliminating Christmas and other superfluous greeting cards? I cut them out of my life a few years ago since I couldn’t think of a more ridiculous waste of resources than greeting cards – think of all the gas wasted trucking them around, the trees used to make them, the ink, etc. And they all get tossed out after about 5 minutes. I know you’re using recycled cards with seeds for accompanying gifts, but I think sending cards for the sake of sending cards falls into a different category.
There’s always e-cards!
October 19, 2007 at 10:40 pm |
To pick up on Sue’s comment about Christmas/greeting cards… for years, I have saved cards sent to me. Instead of going out and buying (wasteful) “to” and “from” gift tags, I cut up the old cards. I get the holiday-perfect *s* trees, Santas, snowflakes or what-have-you from the card… or I cut out the legends inside– “a peaceful holiday to you”– and punch a hole in it. I also have not bought wrapping paper for years. I used brown paper bags… but I go to town on ribbons! I make my own big plaid bows out of red/green or blue/silver, tie on my funky last-year’s-greeting-cards tags and I get compliments on all my packages. The brown paper bag wrap can also be painted or stamped with stars or snowflakes.
I also buy cotton cloth with Christmas patterns and sew drawstring bags, using ribbons for the ties with little bells on them. I wrap small gifts in white or unbleached tissue paper (hard to find it unbleached though) and stuff them in these little bags. I meant for people to re-use them but they keep thim and hang them on their trees.
Another source for cotton clothes and (thong) undies is http://www.dharmatrading.com They sell “blanks” or white/unbleached items that you can dye or paint to do-it-yourself. Read their “About Us”… they use lots of recycled content and support hand-weavers and such in other countries.
In L.A.
October 20, 2007 at 2:55 am |
biodegradable, althoough made overseas: http://www.staplesonline.com
October 20, 2007 at 7:10 am |
You’ve got to be kidding me, $120 for one pair of panties that barely covers anything?
October 20, 2007 at 1:10 pm |
But what about organic, fair trade jeans? I need a new pair. I ‘ve been looking at the thrift shop for a 2nd hand pair, no luck. I can’t bring myself to buy new jeans that have been made by unfair labor, and I can’t find an ethical source.
October 20, 2007 at 6:11 pm |
I walked into our local “Understuff” store and asked the owner about organic attractive undies. Pretty gutsy for a sixty year old fart, eh!
She showed me a cataloge. Here is the website:
http://www.gaiam.com/retail/2/Intimates
They do have organic cotton but they go on and on with all the “right” buzz words, “…all made with 90% organic cotton that’s completely free of synthetic chemicals, so it makes a difference for your health and the planet’s.” Blah blah.
As near as I can tell thegoods still travel thousands of miles to get to our shore
October 23, 2007 at 4:46 pm |
Just getting back on the Lulemon undies as promised. I am told only some of their undies are organic, with a partially organic line made of bamboo. More products are in the works.
October 25, 2007 at 9:08 pm |
Saw a link to these panties. I think they are soooo cute! Besides, who doesn’t like a little humor….http://www.greenknickers.org/Knickers/Christmas/ChristmasEO.html