At thegreenlist.nl We are a fan of tights. A tights not only looks great under a dress or skirt, but is also ideal as an extra layer under trousers during the colder months. So feel free to turn the heating down by one degree! But how do you actually find sustainable tights? We’ve researched it for you.
How sustainable is a maillot?
We already did research on panty liners earlier. and came to the conclusion that producing such clothes is anything but environmentally friendly. Such a thin and transparent garment can only be made from synthetic material and often ends up in the trash after just a few wears. But what about leggings? At least they last longer and don’t necessarily have to be made entirely from synthetic material.
What material are mailbags made of?
Because a bra is thicker than a panty and not transparent, a bra can be made largely from natural materials, such as organic cotton or wool. Mostly, because a little elastane is needed for the stretch. Elastane is a synthetic material that is very elastic, but unfortunately not very durable. You can read more about elastane in this article. Fortunately, a maillot only needs a small amount of elastane: often two to five percent is enough. The rest of the material can also be synthetic; in that case you get a smooth, often slightly shiny maillot. More durable – and usually also more comfortable to wear – is a maillot that is largely made of a natural material, such as organic cotton. You can often recognize these maillots by their slightly woolly feel. Look, The jerseys that you probably wore as a child too.
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Sustainable jerseys are mainly made from natural materials and produced in a sustainable way.
How are mailots produced?
When we are looking for sustainable underwear, not only the material is important, but also where and how the underwear is produced. Where does the yarn come from? How is it dyed? Is water and energy used sparingly? And how are the workers who make the underwear treated? Sustainable brands usually transparently mention this kind of information on their website.
List of sustainable underwear
If you are looking for a sustainable bra, there are two important things to keep in mind: is the bra (for the most part) made of more sustainable, natural materials and how was the bra produced? To save you the research work, we have put together a list of some great brands for you.
- Bonnie Doon Is an American-based sock brand with a presence in the Netherlands. The production takes place in Italy and Portugal. You can find polos in all kinds of colors, mostly made from organic cotton. There are also a few variants with viscose and cashmere.
- The Danish brand Dilling It is especially known for its fine wool fabrics. For women, Dilling has a few dark sweatshirts, mostly made from organic wool. For children, the choice is greater, with sweatshirts made from organic wool or organic cotton. The production chain for each product is clearly listed on the website.
- Gudrun Sjödén Is a colorful Swedish clothing brand that prefers to work with natural and recycled materials. You can find striped polos in various colors here, mostly made from organic cotton. The polos are produced in Italy.
- The German fashion brand Hess Natur Use as many natural materials as possible. You will find dark sweatshirts made of organic cotton with a small percentage of elastane for stretch. The sweatshirts are produced in Slovenia and Croatia.
- The sustainable German fashion brand Living Crafts Maillots are available in various colors. The maillots are mostly made of natural materials such as organic wool or organic cotton and are produced in Lithuania or Turkey.
- Seasalt Cornwall is an English clothing brand with a B Corp certification. You will find sweatpants in various colors, mostly made from organic cotton. The sweatpants are produced in Italy.
- At Swedish Stockings You will find shirts made from organic wool and organic cotton. Almost all products are produced in Italy.
ALSO INTERESTING: this list of sustainable underwear brands.
Will you choose sustainable underwear from now on?
A maillot can certainly be part of a sustainable wardrobe, provided it is produced in a responsible way. Natural materials such as organic cotton are generally less harmful to the planet than synthetic materials such as nylon or polyester. Furthermore, no microplastics are released during washing. You can read more about microplastics in synthetic clothing here. Underwear needs a little bit of elastane for stretch, but fortunately that doesn’t have to be much. To absorb any microplastics and keep your underwear looking beautiful for as long as possible, it’s smart to put it in a laundry bag like the Guppyfriend to be washed. You can find more tips on how to keep your sustainable underwear looking beautiful for as long as possible in this article.
Photo credits: main image left and follow-up: Alipazani (Pexels), main image right: Cottonbro (Pexels), woman in orange jersey: Olha Ruskykh (Pexels).
