What are the best undergarments for people with allergies and sensitivities?

[Post updated with new collections and garments for men also]

This post centres on undergarments for people who are sensitive to chemicals in clothing. This collection ranges from certified organic fabrics through to conventional. If you have any tips on good brands of organic or generic underwear, leave them in comments, please.

I’ve yet to find an organic bra that I’m comfortable wearing everyday [update] (until now):

Boody Ecowear, my all-time favourite organic brand of everything, really: bras, underwear and most recently their activewear. I love the feel of Boody eco wear range of products on my skin because there’s no tight elastic, or any elastic, actually; instead the fabric is seamless and just so comfy. Made from sustainable bamboo, grown organically without pesticides, insecticides, fertilisers, and the bamboo is watered with recycled and re-used rainwater instead of harmful artifical irrigation practices.

(Let me add: I also really like the the product always arrives without smelling of scents or that formaldahyde dust that’s often on new clothes. As you can see here, they even come in recyclable packaging

🙂

Organic Bra Choices

Organic bras need to meet these requirements: non-chemically odorous, comfortable, bright in colour, black or nude, pretty, durable, supportive but without underwire, and in that order.

The Boody EcoWear range of bras: All underwire free. Supportive, like the bamboo Racerback Bra; or lifted and padded (still no pesky underwire) like the Padded Crop Bra or, if you’ve a bigger bust then the Boody EcoWear Crop Bra. And they come in black, nude or white.

This is my black Boody padded crop bra:

A Bodysuit  in winter, is a must over the top of a bra. Also, the Boody ecowear cami-top is also great for winter and sits snugly warm over my Padded Bra: perfect for winter mornings under my yoga tops and pants.

B Free Apparel have an organic cotton sleep bra that looks comfy and could even be used for daytime. As well as cotton intimates sets and organic nursing wear. And they also have a great selection for men’s underwear including boxers and trunks.

Free people have bras without underwire. (I usually pay around 15$ for mine on sale from ASOS. (retail $55).  This company is gracious about returning anything defective (in my view) because it’s been fragranced during manufacture, which, ASOS told me, is not what’s meant to happen. But it could also be fragrance on returns?!) Free People’s bras are not organic and most are made from either cotton or polyamide; they’re a little bit hippy and often have parts on them that are stretchy see-through lace with spaghetti straps. They are perfect for hot weather if you tolerate the fabric. (I do have to air these outside for a day before washing because of the residue chemical irritants on them when they arrive, possibly formaldehyde?!)

Polyamide: It’s a fine gauge, stretchy lace. The bras are often made with a double fabric. They’re not that supportive but I like these bras because they allow my ta ta’s to feel free; the fabric doesn’t smell overtly of anything much (as opposed to the elastic used in Target’s fabrics [think: heavy petrochemical and formaldehyde odours!]); and, when I wash them they come good right away.

Seriously! In the past, I’ve had bras that needed airing over the whole summer and washed a tonne of times before they became fit for purpose.

No one wants to be Dame-wash-a-lot!

B Free Apparel

B Free Intimate Apparel have a cotton underwire bra, as well, a selection of other undergarments, mostly organic or cotton.

I used to religiously wear the Barely There Contour Bras (from BoobyTrap), however, I haven’t bought them for years as I need to air them out over the summer, and there’s no point purchasing them in winter because I can’t air them until the weather warms right up. So I’ve moved on… to free-er ta tas’ pastures.

(I’ve linked to Booby Trap Warehouse in Australia because they’re good about making sure their products arrive free of fragrance. Just make sure to put it in the comment box on the order page.)

(Bras that have been tried on by fragrance wearers, or handled by fragrance wearers, stored or sold in places that have fragrance emitting devices, potpourri, or the those stinky sticks, are not suitable for people like us. Rarely does fragrance wash out. If it’s not fit for purpose, return it! I always do.)

I have mentioned, Boody have an organic bamboo bra, but they also sell knickers for women and boxers, briefs, trunks and socks for men made from the same bamboo material also. And, I have mentioned they always arrive completely fragrance free and chemical free and in recyclable packaging but there’s also this:

from Boody on how resourceful bamboo is:

The fastest growing woody plant in the world, some species of bamboo shoot up as much as one metre a day! New stems are able to be harvested again and again. Honestly, try to wrap your mind around that.

B Free Intimate Apparel stock cotton underwear These bras could be suitable as a sports bra or for doing yoga in. I’ve bought from here before and the price is usually reasonable considering sometimes the cotton is of good quality..

Rawganique make organic cotton wireless bras that are dioxin-free, formaldehyde free, wire-free, chemical-free, sweat-shop free. They’re made in USA, Canada and Europe. These bras are suitable for people with elastic allergy, lycra allergy or latex allergy (apart from the actual rubber and latex components, it’s possible that it’s actually petrochemicals people are reacting to when they say they are allergic to elastic or lycra. I know this is the case for me because I have massive problems with some elastics; and it’s petrol I can smell on them when they are new. Some of these have never washed clean.) It will depend on your chemical sensitivity as to which bra you chose:

Organic Pima Cotton Lace Bra: jersey with elastic under the bust and in the straps for support.

RG188 Organic Cotton Simplicity Bra: lycra (approximately 5-10%) jersey fabric. It’s elastic free.

And lastly, there are also organic tank tops and bras (90% cotton, 10% latex) and camisoles that contain no elastic or latex.

More

Boody Ecowear: Organic Bamboo Bras

Boody Ecowear: Men’s Organic Bamboo ecowear

The Labyrinth: Organic Bras

The Labyrinth: Take Off Your Bra

Debra Lynn Dadd: Trying to Find a Bra

 *Disclosure: brand ambassador for Boody:  my favourite organic underwear that I truly believe is the best most comfortable and healthy to wear, this post contains some affiliate links. Any purchase will support my writing x