Question: So, I want to buy some new underwear (cute, simple) and I am wondering if you have any green, yet affordable suggestions. I checked out American Apparel but it’s like $8 for one pair!!

Thanks! Caitlin

Answer: I was hoping you meant bras, because I’d already put together a post about them. But on to panties –

First, a bit of bad news, sort of: $8 for a good pair of eco-undies is actually in the low price range. I mean, look at Victoria’s Secret prices for comparison issues. Even their cheapest, gaudy, not eco-friendly, prison labor stuff costs $5 a pair on their website. And anything at Nordie’s will run you more than $8 a pair, eco or not.

Certainly, if you were buying undies in bulk at Kmart or Walmart, you’ll be in for a bit of sticker shock — but the fact that you’re searching for green undies makes me think you no longer want to be associated with companies like those…. You deserve nice eco-friendly undies, even if they cost a few bucks more –

But back to basics: I did find you some slightly less expensive undies from Gaiam (left). Pick from the organic cotton hip hugger, high cut, or brief styles: $19 for a 3-pack. (Update: Now $9.99!)

You can also get fair trade, organic hip huggers from Global Girlfriend for $8 a pair.

Or opt for bamboo undies. Pick from the low rise bikini (right), high leg brief, or g-string: $24 for a 3-pack.

You can also get basic organic cotton panties from Cottonfield ($12 a pair for the bikini style) or Clean Undies, ($14.50 a pair for a variety of styles), or Decent Exposures ($11 per pair and up), or Peaceful Valley ($12.50 a pair) but these brands don’t seem any cuter than the less expensive ones I already mentioned to merit the higher price.

A couple organic cotton blends look sleeker than the above panties. I’d like to try Blue Canoe’s low cut bikini (left; boy shorts, panty, high cut panty, and thong styles’re also avaliable), but they’re $17 a pair.

My other pick’s Gaiam’s organic cotton Silver Linings Bikini (right, also in thong and high-cut brief), but those run from $16-19 each.

Patagonia offers a unique product — undies from recycled polyester (left). But this Active Low-Rise Thong costs $18 a pair.

If you wanna go high-end for some special occasion, you can check out Ciel Ltd’s boy short (right), made with Peruvian organic cotton with french lace and lycra. $45 a pair.

So in conclusion: I actually need some plain basic undies too, and this is my action plan: Get a bamboo 3-pack (I wear low-rise bikini undies almost exclusively, so Gaiam’s 3-packs are out) and see how I like them. If I do like ‘em, cool. If I don’t, I’ll move down the list….

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