Last Updated on October 18, 2022 by The Filtery Staff
Bras can be a bit of a complicated topic to begin with… They can be so restricting and uncomfortable, it can be hard to find one that really fits you right, and there are all kinds of outdated and unnecessary social expectations that come along with bras, boobs, and nips.
Add to that the fact that most bras are made out of synthetic fabrics that are not ideal to have against your skin (and are also not great for the planet).
The good news is that there are actually some great brands that now make non-toxic bras that are not only more sustainable but are also comfortable and high-quality. In this guide, you’ll find standard bras, bralettes, and sports bras that come in a wide range of styles and price ranges.
When it comes to eco-friendly bras, there’s no reason to sacrifice comfort, confidence, and the right amount of support. We hope you can find your next favorite bra brand from the companies listed below!
P.S. For nursing-friendly bras, click here.
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. We only make recommendations that are genuine and meet our standards.
Featured Image Credit: Organic Basics
What to Look for in a Healthier Bra
When shopping for bras and bralettes that are better for you and for the planet, here are a few things to look out for:
Natural, Organic, and Sustainable Fibers
Most of the bras that come from more ‘mainstream’ brands are made from synthetic fabrics and conventional cotton.
Synthetics include things like polyester, nylon, and spandex. These types of fabrics have various pros and cons, but none of them are good for our ecosystem. Not only are they petroleum-based products, but they can also shed microplastics as they’re worn and washed, which are slowly starting to wreak havoc on plant, animal, and human life.
Then there are semi-synthetic fabrics, like rayon. Although these types of fabrics use plant material such as bamboo as their starting material, the manufacturing process required to transform those plants into a soft and silky fabric requires a few different toxic chemicals, which pose a big problem to the workers manufacturing them, along with the surrounding communities. Part of the problem is that not all rayon fabrics are created equal, and some are more toxic than others. You can read more about that here.
Conventional cotton is another fabric commonly used in regular bras, bralettes, and sports bras. Although it’s a natural fiber, conventional cotton is not the best choice because of the fact that it’s sprayed with lots of herbicides and pesticides and is quite water-intensive to grow.
Instead, look for organic and regenerative cotton when possible, which is grown using methods that are not only healthier for the soil, but also better for the pollinators, the farm workers, the surrounding communities, and our overall ecosystem.
In addition to organic cotton, we’ve also included hemp bras in this guide. Although this super sustainable fiber unfortunately got caught up in the war on drugs, we are beginning to see an increase in hemp underwear, clothing, and other hemp products on the market.
Hemp is a really awesome eco-friendly fabric: it’s breathable and naturally anti-microbial, it’s soft and strong, and it has several sustainable qualities to it. It’s not picky when it comes to climate (it will grow in a variety of different regions), it doesn’t require herbicides, pesticides, or very much water to grow, and it takes up less land than other comparable crops.
Non-Toxic Dyes & No Added Fabric Treatments
The other thing to consider when shopping for bras is how the fabric is dyed and treated. Look for azo-free dyes (or even better: dye-free) whenever possible.
Additionally, try to avoid words like “moisture-wicking,” “anti-wrinkle,” “stain resistant,” and “water resistant.” This type of language usually indicates that a piece of clothing has been treated with toxic PFAS, a.k.a. “forever chemicals.”
Fair Labor & Ethical Manufacturing Processes
Considering the workers involved in your bra’s supply chain is an important part of evaluating safety and sustainability. Look for brands that are committed to transparency when it comes to the factories they work with. Where are the factories located? Do they own the factories and/or visit them regularly? How can they guarantee that workers are safe and paid a living wage?
Third-Party Certifications
Looking for third-party labels can be a helpful way to identify brands that are making better bras. These certifications indicate that a brand or product has been tested and verified using a third-party set of criteria. Some of the labels commonly used for non-toxic and eco-friendly bras include:
- GOTS organic (which indicates the cotton has been grown using organic methods)
- OEKO-TEX (which certifies that an end product has been tested to be free of a long list of harmful toxins)
- Fairtrade International & Fair Trade USA (which verifies that the workers involved in the supply chain are paid living wages and work under safe conditions)
A Bra That Makes You Feel Good!
Lastly, make sure your bras fit well and feel good! Don’t like underwires? Don’t buy them! Prefer sports bras or bralettes over traditional bras with padding? Go for it. You deserve to wear clothing that is not only non-toxic and sustainable but also leaves you feeling comfortable and confident.
These Are The Best Brands for Organic Cotton & Hemp Bras
Knickey
Type: Bralettes
Price: $48
Sizes: XXS – XXXL
Made In: NYC
Knickey’s everyday undies are designed to let your body and mind breathe easy, with super-soft certified organic cotton bralettes to benefit your body and the planet. Their mission is to make organic your daily default – and they’re definitely making this easy for us with their organic, size-inclusive bralette collection.
With colors good enough to eat, such as Butterscotch and Peachy Keen, and clear, transparent messaging about every product’s environmental impact, Knickey’s toxic-free bralettes are a top choice.
Juliemay
Type: Supportive underwired, non-wired, back support, sports bras, non-wired/bralette, front-fastening
Price: $63-$87
Sizes: 8-18, 32B-40G
Made In: UK
We love the selection Juliemay offers. Not only are these bras made with organic pima cotton and silk, but they’re super comfortable and great for hose with sensitive skin. Not only that, but they have a wide range of styles, shapes, and sizes (and they even offer custom sizing if you need it!). Plus, everything is ethically made in the UK using sustainable manufacturing practices.
If you’re looking for a bra that’s both comfortable but still has a feminine design to it, you should definitely check out Juliemay’s collection.
Frank & Oak
Type: Bralettes
Price: $49.50
Sizes: XS-XL
Made In: Canada
Certified B Corp Frank & Oak believes that by considering the impact of our daily choices, we have an opportunity to better ourselves.
Their wireless bralettes are made of organic cotton or TENCEL, and come in a range of simple yet fashionable styles and colors to suit every personality or mood – think pale yellow, honey orange, or Atlantic green. Colors that are almost too good to hide away.
75% of their products are produced with eco-friendly materials, and they’ve considered every step of their product journey, all the way down to their compostable packaging.
Araks
Type: Bralettes, underwired bras
Price: $110 – $140
Sizes: XS-XL and XS D-Cup – LG D-Cup
Made In: New York, USA
Looking for lightweight bras and bralettes that come in enough colors to put the rainbow to shame? Araks is the one for you!
Araks’ consciously crafted cotton lingerie is composed of 70% organic cotton and 30% upcycled cotton mixed with wood pulp. Plus, they only work with suppliers who are as passionate about sustainable practices as they are.
Their organic cotton collection includes bralettes suitable for everyday comfort and underwired bras for when you need that extra bit of support.
Thunderpants
Type: Bralettes
Price: $38
Sizes: S-2XL
Made In: Oregon, USA
We love Thunderpants’ unique, eye-catching wireless bralette prints – choose from designs such as Party Guac, Sketchy Snakes, or Marine Whales. They’re all designed by artists local to the minimal-waste factory in Oregon and are made from certified fairtrade organic cotton grown without any synthetic chemicals, pesticides, dyes, or other nasty stuff.
Pairing ultimate comfort with funky designs, these size-inclusive bralettes “might be the world’s most comfortable underwear.”
Lé Buns
Type: Bralettes of various shapes
Price: $65
Sizes: 6-16
Made In: Australia
Each piece from Lé Buns’ collection is ethically made using GOTS certified organic cotton and non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes. Their team is committed to transparency, ethical manufacturing, and minimal waste throughout the entire supply chain.
Their bralettes and crop tops are available in various shapes, whether you’re looking for something for everyday wear, something more sporty, or even a strapless option. Made using 10% elastane, their pieces are just stretchy enough while still holding their shape as you wear them throughout the day.
Shop Lé Buns (and you can use the code THEFILTERY15 for 15% off)
Object Apparel
Type: Bralettes
Price: $48-$52
Sizes: XS-2XL
Made In: Detroit, USA
Object Apparel is committed to creating clothing that doesn’t harm the planet, using GOTS certified organic textiles, natural plant dyes, and non-toxic water-based inks for all their stylish, original-artwork wireless bralettes.
If you think the original artwork is too nice to be kept hidden underneath a top, then don’t worry – they’ve got ‘tank bralettes’ totally suitable for wearing on their own. Go show off the designs!
PACT
Type: Bralettes, bra tops
Price: $37-$52
Sizes: XS-XXL
Made In: USA
Working with Fairtrade factories to create their GOTS certified organic cotton bralettes, Pact’s mission is to build Earth’s favorite clothing company. We think they’re on the right track – with soft triangle bras, bra tops, and modern racerback bras all available in numerous colors, these bras ooze comfort.
As well as using organic cotton, Pact carbon offsets their shipping and thoughtfully chooses their packaging to minimize their environmental impact even further.
MATE The Label
Type: Sports bra
Price: $38
Sizes: XS-3XL
Made In: USA
Most activewear isn’t great news for the environment – typically made from synthetic, plastic-based materials that release microplastics when washed. MATE’s Organic Stretch Sports Bra, however, is made from a blend of 92% Organic cotton and only 8% spandex, so you can hit your low-medium intensity workouts knowing you’re wearing an earth-kind sports bra that’ll give you all the support you need.
Available in nine colors, this stretchy, unpadded, size-inclusive sports bra is constructed with double-layered fabric to provide you with enough coverage without being suffocating.
Sustain By Kat
Type: Bralettes & Sports Bras
Price: $56-70
Sizes: XS-XL
Made In: USA
Sustain By Kat offers one of the very first 100% natural and completely synthetic-free sports bras! These are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and a 100% organic wicking hemp lining (with an opening to insert soft cups or nursing pads). Even the elastic and thread used are made from natural and organic materials!
These bralettes and sports bras are available either in undyed or in a couple of beautiful shibori tie-dye colors—dyed from plants!
Everything is ethically designed and manufactured in Los Angeles.
People Tree
Type: Wireless bralettes, wireless bra tops
Price: $29-$36
Sizes: 8-16
Made In: UK
People Tree’s soft, organic cotton collection is vegan, verified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), and free of toxic chemicals. By using skills such as hand weaving and embroidery, they create employment in job-scarce areas and are passionate about supporting their producer partners’ efforts towards economic independence.
Their neutral-toned products are available in two styles, whether you like black triangle bralettes trimmed with lace or an ultra-comfy soft bra top in eco-white. Everything is dyed using low-impact dyes, so you can be comfortable all while supporting the planet and its people.
Magi
Type: Bralette
Price: $35
Sizes: XS-XXL
Made In: Portugal
It uses 80% less water than cotton, is four times more breathable, and is naturally antibacterial: introducing hemp, cotton’s latest eco-competitor.
Available in black, cream, or lilac, 1% For The Planet member Magi have designed their bralettes to be as comfy as they are beautiful – and a top choice for the environment.
Use code THEFILTERY10 for 10% off.
WAMA
Type: Bralette
Price: $44
Sizes: XS-3XL
Made In: China
Another hemp industry pioneer, WAMA’s organic triangle or racerback bralettes are super soft, breathable, and will give you the support you need no matter your size. Choose from neutral tones or their signature ‘WAMA Green.’
They’ve got several environmental certifications, such as being PETA approved and a certified Green America business, and their dyeing facilities are Oeko-Tex certified. As for sourcing their hemp from overseas, they’ve thought long and hard about where to source it from, and no other country can produce the quality of hemp fabric that China can.
Unhappy with your purchase? They’ve even got a first pair guarantee, where you can receive a new size, color, or a refund, no questions asked.
Nubian Skin
Type: Wireless bra
Price: $55
Sizes: 30B/C-38E/F
Made In: Europe
Made from 96% organic cotton, Nubian Skin’s 5-piece paneled wireless bra is supportive, comfortable, and like a second skin. Available in four different shades, this bra is so soft you’ll want to live in it.
As you’re shopping, note that only some of their bras are made from natural or organic materials so make sure to check before buying.
EmMeMa
Type: Bralette
Price: $45-$88
Sizes: Custom fit
Made In: Canada
You’re spoiled for choice with EmMeMa’s range or organic cotton bralettes – whether you fancy a honey-bee patterned wireless, a red-chili colored padded balconette, or a reversible dog pattern, you’ll find it! There’s also an organic cotton nursing bralette available in ten different patterns.
They’re committed to having a minimal impact on the environment and to creating each piece in a healthy, happy environment. 5% of proceeds are donated to Wildlife Preservation Canada, which makes these bras a true planet-friendly choice.
Organic Basics
Type: Bras, bralettes, sports bras
Price: $50-$75
Sizes: XS-XL
Made In: Locations around Europe
Boasting a range of bras in organic cotton, TENCEL, and recycled textiles, Organic Basics is far from basic. Whether you want a classic bra, a lightweight bralette, or a super comfy bralette tank for those sofa days, Organic Basics has got you covered.
As well as having sustainability as their core mission and being transparent about their impact, they’ve also got a ‘Body Friendly Manifesto’ where they’re publicly committed to expanding their size range and not using photoshop on their models. This is the stuff the fashion industry desperately needs!
Eco Intimates
Type: Wireless bras and bralettes
Price: $55-$129 AUD
Sizes: A-G cup
Made In: Indonesia, Australia
Eco Intimates’ range of bras and bralettes aims to remain true to their ethos of creating natural lingerie to remind women how beautiful they are. Choose from pieces such as a pink floral bralette, a sheer silk black bralette, or a full-cup crop for extra coverage.
Using GOTS certified organic cotton and produced in small batches by family-run makers in Indonesia, their lingerie is beautiful, ethically made, and kind to the planet and its people.
Honorable Mention: Tomboyx
Type: Bralettes, sports bras, compression tops
Price: $32-$45
Sizes: XS-4XL
Made In: Asia & South America
Tomboyx deserves an honorable mention here due to their inclusiveness and OEKO-TEX certified conventional cotton (which means the end product has been tested for a number of toxic chemicals).
They’ve got the widest range of sizes we’ve seen, and where they can’t use cotton, they use TENCEL, which is synthetic fabrics’ more sustainable, less toxic competitor. Needing a rainbow-striped racerback bralette like, now? Head to Tomboyx.
Conclusion
Everyone deserves to wear undergarments that are not only non-toxic and sustainable but are also comfortable and help us feel good as we move throughout our days.
This guide brought you some of the best eco-friendly and organic bras, bralettes, and sports bras to try the next time you go bra shopping.
If you’re looking for some other non-toxic underwear guides, check out these articles:
- The Best Organic Plus-Size Underwear for Curvy Ladies
- Best Organic Cotton Underwear For Women
- The Best Hemp Underwear & Bras [Women, Men, & Gender-Neutral]
- Where to Find Soft & Sexy Organic Cotton Thongs
Image Credits: all product photos belong to respective brands.
So many options but after looking at most of the products, they all have spandex, elastane, or some similar stretch material. I’m super allergic. If you ever find any truly all cotton bras or bralettes, I’d love to know about them.
Hi Mary Ann,
Can you do natural rubber? If so, you might check out Sustain By Kat. (https://sustainbykat.com/) Her intimates are completely free from synthetics.
Other than that, it looks like Cottonique has some 100% natural options that are free from elastics and metals. It looks like they have quite a few options in terms of bra styles, too. (https://www.cottonique.com/pages/breathe-easy-with-cottonique-allergy-free-bras)