Feature Photo by Agafonova at Pexels.com
I don’t know about you, but Christmas is always the time of year I replenish my knickers drawer, so this Christmas I was excited to discover two new sustainable underwear brands that are worth getting your knickers in a twist for.
STRIPEANDSTARE.COM
One of my mum’s sewing circle friends works for Stripe & Stare, so when I went down to Devon for Christmas my mum introduced me to this brand, knowing I would love their values and their knickers!
WHO ARE STRIPE & STARE?
Stripe & Stare was founded in 2017 by Katie Lopes and Nicola Piercy; it’s a British brand of underwear, lounge and sleepwear. Stripe & Stare’s Creative Director and CEO Katie Lopes was born in London and grew up in the Devon countryside. Before launching Stripe & Stare Katie worked as a fashion buyer and this is when she realised that there wasn’t a brand offering super comfortable, cool knickers; the usual choices for most women were either the ultra-frumpy M&S at one end of the market and the ultra-sexy Victoria’s Secret at the other – and virtually no brands offering sustainable knickers. The brand is therefore designed for the modern woman, who is a lover of bold colours, a good print and sustainable fabrics.
STRIPE & STARE AND GIVING BACK
Stripe & Stare was founded on the belief that you should do to others as you would have them do to you, and they are proud to support some brilliant charities who are working hard to make the world that bit brighter. Their knickers symbolise all that they stand for – kind to the planet and so comfortable they leave you free to conquer the world. A company founded and run by women who always have each other’s backs, so it’s no surprise that women supporting women is a cause close to their hearts, and as such they give 5% of their profits to women’s empowerment charities.
One of these charities is the Lorraine NoButts campaign, teaming up with Deborah James @bowelbabe, with the support of Bowel Cancer UK, to spread the word about early diagnosis and awareness of the symptoms. As an official supporter of the campaign, Stripe & Stare designed a bespoke knicker with a peach embroidered on the bum to help shout about this worthy cause. For every No Butts Knicker Box purchased, Stripe & Stare donated 20% of the proceeds to this important cause.
Almost 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in the UK and more than 16,000 people die from the disease, making it the UK’s second biggest cancer killer. However, this doesn’t have to be the case, as early diagnosis could mean a better chance of successful treatment.
For more information about the #NoButts campaign, the symptoms of bowel cancer and how and where to get support, visit the bowel cancer website here.
Other charities Stripe & Stare have supported include the Ukraine Crisis Fundraiser, with 100% of proceeds from their Choose Love Charity Knicker Box being donated to help over 40 projects providing vital aid and services; Lady Garden Foundation in support of their mission to raise funds for gynaecological health – the bespoke knicker box included four designs with the words Lady Garden, Vajayay, Poonanie and Foofoo embroidered on them, with the proceeds being donated directly to the Foundation; and Smart Works – an organisation that helps give women the confidence they need to reach their full potential, secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives – 10% of each bespoke Smart Works Charity Knicker Box went towards helping and empowering even more women.
STRIPE & STARE ON SUSTAINABILITY
The Stripe & Stare brand was launched after six years of research and development – discovering the best fabrics and meeting reliable producers, which finally delivered the foundations of the brand enabling Stripe & Stare to create what they consider to be the world’s most comfortable and sustainable knickers with perfect the fit, shape and materials. Stripe & Stare are a Climate Positive Workforce and attained B Corp certification after undergoing rigorous assessment in all areas of their business.
WHAT IS B CORP?
B, stands for beneficial, and Corp, meaning corporation, is a certification which measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance and evaluates how a company’s operations and business model impacts on their workers, community, environment, and customers. B Corp certification is a rigorous process and is only granted to companies that uphold high social and environmental standards in all facets of their business; certification can take years depending on the size of the corporation.
For more information about B Corp certification check out my article called “Earth Day: Brands Helping to Save the Earth“.
TENCEL™ MODAL
Stripe & Stare knickers come in a wide range of styles from high-rise, Brazilians and thongs to unisex boxers and the original knicker. They also come in every colour of the rainbow (including a rainbow print) and a variety of colourful patterns.
It’s shocking to know that only 3% of underwear is sustainably sourced, which is why Stripe & Stare are passionate about making a difference; all their products are therefore made from TENCEL™ Modal, produced by Lenzing, which is an amazing eco-friendly fabric that represents a milestone in the development of environmentally sustainable textiles. TENCEL™ Modal fibres are extracted from wood pulp from naturally grown, from certified and controlled beechwood tree farms in Austria by an environmentally responsible integrated pulp-to-fibre process in a carbon neutral factory, which is self-sufficient in energy and recovers co-products from component parts of the wood reducing the amount going to waste, as well as minimized water pollution and emissions. The fibres are certified with the EU Ecolabel for textile products.
TENCEL™ Modal uses 95% less water in production than cotton and reuses 100% of the water from the production process. Fabrics made with TENCEL™ Modal display excellent colour retention, breathability, and moisture absorption and the fibres are renowned for being exceptionally soft to the skin, smooth to the touch, luxurious in shine and are scientifically proven to be twice as soft as cotton.
The softness of TENCEL™ Modal fibres lasts longer and is able to withstand repeated wash and dry cycles compared to cotton, plus they are made from natural fibres so they breathe with the skin; often customers with sensitivities find that these are the only knickers they can wear.
THE B-EDIT COLLECTION
Biodegradability is something that Stripe & Stare have worked so hard on – their mainline knickers are 95% biodegradable and compostable – the elastane is a reason that they are not 100% biodegradable (it’s needed so your knickers don’t fall down around your ankles), so once you are finished with your knickers you can cut off the lace and put them in the compost, because TENCEL™ Modal fibres are biodegradable and compostable under industrial, home soil and marine conditions, thus they can fully revert to nature.
This wasn’t good enough Stripe & Stare however, so in 2021 they created the world’s first 100% biodegradable lace underwear collection, which can be put straight in the compost rather than landfill. Recent developments and the latest science in fibre technology mean that their B-Edit Collection combines Lenzing TENCEL™, SeaCell™ and Roica V550, a biodegradable elastane alternative to traditional elastane. The biodegradable process releases no harmful chemicals into the soil and takes just 180 days to fully break down when buried in the soil.
SEACELL™
SeaCell™ is a blend of wood pulp fibres, and seaweed, which is naturally occurring and abundant in our ocean ecosystems. This is a plant rich in minerals, residual elements, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins, with anti-inflammatory and non-allergenic properties and is considered to be ideal for undergarments due to its anti-bacterial qualities and the high concentration of anti-oxidants which activates cell regeneration and has a soothing effect on the skin and is particularly well-suited for sensitive skin; it’s a comfortable, soft fabric, which also regulates body temperature and is breathable.
The fibres are made from renewable resources, which are entirely natural and untreated. The seaweed is harvested from naturally occurring seaweed fields using careful, sustainable methods, and only the top part of the plant is removed, allowing the seaweed to continuing growing. The seaweed harvested is then roughly cut, ground and blended with sustainably sourced wood pulp fibre in a closed loop process.
TREE PLANTING
For every order placed Stripe & Stare plant a mangrove tree in Madagascar and are partnered with Ecologi, an amazing initiative helping to take on the climate crisis in the form of planting trees and reducing our carbon footprint. Mangrove trees are considered to be the carbon storing superpower of the natural world, because they can store more carbon per unit area than any other ecosystem on Earth and have the ability to store up to ten times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests; three quarters of tropical fish also rely on their root systems for nurseries and shelter.
Madagascar is a nation with over 20,0,000 species of plants and animals that don’t exist anywhere else in the world, however more than 90% of Madagascar’s original forests have been destroyed, displacing entire animal species, and taking away the Malagasy’s ability to farm and live on the land. Entire mangrove estuaries have gone, leaving the bare earth to wash away into the sea.
Donations from Stripe & Stare help Ecologi support the non-profit Eden Reforestation Projects as they continue to reforest the island. Eden are world leaders in responsible reforestation, having already planted 26 million trees and created 2.6 million workdays for local communities.
Reforestation is widely understood as a major natural climate solution, and Ecologi was initially founded by a group of environmentalists in Bristol, UK. They were frustrated that many of us are not able to contribute enough to the colossal climate problem, so created a solution for individuals and businesses to plant trees and offset their carbon; so far Stripe & Stare have planted over 83,500 trees. Stripe and Stare also offsets the carbon footprint of every employee’s life, as well as offsetting any business travel and working with Ecologi has offset 202.47 tonnes of CO2e through certified offsets from renewable energy and other projects they’ve supported.
For more information about Stripe & Stare visit their website or follow them on Instagram or TikTok @stripeandstare
FLISSIE.COM
Flissie is a UK based brand that was inspired by female community and sustainability. Their mission is to help women feel comfortable and grow the sustainable fashion movement, whilst giving back to female-focused causes. I spoke to Co-Founder of Flissie, Mathew Banks about their new brand and everything there is to love about them.
WHAT DOES FLISSIE REPRESENT?
Mathew told me that when he and his partner Phillippa had their daughter (Felicity) she inspired them to build a business for good, that made a positive impact on society and the next generation of women; a brand that celebrated body positivity and built a community that is confident in themselves.
Mathew and Phillippa did this by designing a range of boxer shorts that are inclusive of all female body shapes and develops self-confidence. Mathew explained what’s so special about the design of their boxers…..
” WE DESIGNED THE BOXERS SO THAT WHEN YOU WEAR THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY’RE THE COMFIEST UNDERWEAR YOU’VE EVER TRIED ON, SO IT CREATES AN EMOTION OF WANTING TO WEAR THEM, WHICH IN ITSELF TAKES CONFIDENCE TO DO, AS IT’S NOT THE “NORM””.
Women’s boxers can be seen as unconventional and for some wearing boxers rather than other traditional underwear styles requires a bit of a mind shift. Mathew explained that they wanted to create something that women can wear to be comfortable but also confident in the way they look, breaking down the societal stereotypes of needing to be thin to be pretty or always stressing about dieting and what you’re eating, as crash diets are unhealthy for your body and that negative body shaming is bad for mental health.
FLISSIE AND THEIR FEMALE COMMUNITY
Flissie believe that clean, comfortable underwear is a basic human right, so, they initiated their “Giving Back Programme”, which is at the core of their business model and aims to make customers feel confident in their ethical purchase, knowing that they’re helping other women whilst supporting sustainable fashion.
Through their Giving Back programme, for every three pairs of women’s boxers purchased, Flissie donates one pair of boxers to a women’s refuge; this is the brands first year of trading and Flissie donations will be going to Derby Women’s Centre, whose mission is to empower women to lead more independent lives and aims to reduce economic inequality, improve mental wellbeing and facilitate personal development.
With female community being at the heart of the brand, Mathews believes this really builds on the feeling of women supporting women – the more pairs of boxers Flissie can sell, the larger their community will grow and the more support they can offer to women in need.
FLISSIE & SUSTAINABILITY
” WITH US WANTING TO MAKE WOMEN’S BOXERS WE WANTED TO STICK TO OUR VISION OF CREATING A BETTER FURTURE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN. TO DO THAT WE NEEDED TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FASHION MODEL THAT DOESN’T HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO EDUCATES CONSUMERS ON HOW TO PURCHASE ITEMS AND LIVE DAY TO DAY MORE ETHICALLY”.
Sustainability is therefore also at the heart of this brands core values and to ensure their boxers are sustainable, Flissie use Tanboocel™ bamboo viscose, which is produced by extracting cellulose from bamboo canes, which are a very low-impact plant because they grow quickly without any need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides; in fact, ten times more bamboo can be produced per square meter compared to cotton; it also absorbs more carbon dioxide than any other plant on the planet. As a natural cellulose fibre, it can be completely biodegraded in soil and the decomposition process doesn’t cause any pollution to the environment.
Some facts about the environmental impact of the fashion industry:
- Fashion is responsible for 8-10% of global Co2 emissions (that’s more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined)
- The fashion industry emits as many greenhouse gases per year as the entire economies of France, Germany and the UK combined
- The fashion industry is the 2nd largest consumer of the worlds water supply
- The textile and apparel industry consumes 98 million tonnes of non-renewable resources every year
- Cotton farming is responsible for 24% of the worlds insecticides and 11% of pesticides despite using only 3% of arable land
- One of the thirstiest fibers is cotton, an average of 8000 litres of water is needed to grow 1kg of cotton
TANBOOCEL™ BAMBOO VISCOSE
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable fabrics in the world; Tanboocel™ bamboo viscose fabric is manufactured in a closed loop process, meaning that 100% of the excess chemicals that are used are trapped, contained and recycled, and not released into the factory, environment, or atmosphere.
Another key factor that makes Tanboocel™ bamboo viscose sustainable is that it does not use carbon disulfide (which is a neurotoxic, colourless, volatile liquid) in the extraction process and the alkali used for processing the bamboo chips is also recycled. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), exposure to carbon disulfide can cause dizziness and headaches; it can also harm the eyes, kidneys, blood, heart, liver, nerves, and skin.
Tanboocel™ bamboo fabric conforms with the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, which is one of the best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances and guarantees no harmful chemicals are used.
Tanboocel™ bamboo viscose is also organically certified and it’s hypoallergenic making it wearable by those with sensitive skin conditions. Tanboocel™ source their bamboo from an FSC® certified forest and the harvesting of the bamboo is controlled and does not affect the overall health of the forest itself.
WHAT IS FSC®?
FSC® (The Forest Stewardship Council) is an international non-profit, multistakeholder organization established in 1993, after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio failed to produce an agreement to stop deforestation. It was founded by a group of environmentalists including Greenpeace, indigenous peoples, NGO’s, forestry producers and workers, scientists, and forest technicians to promote responsible management of the world’s forests via timber certification, responsible sourcing, conservation and restoration, therefore buying from an FSC® certified company guarantees that the product does not contribute to destruction of forests.
THE ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO
Bamboo fabrics are also known for their antibacterial, moisture wicking and odour resistant qualities and as the fibres have far fewer little barbs than other fabrics, it’s also incredibly comfortable and up to three times softer than cotton. Bamboo fabrics are also cling-free and do not give off a static charge unlike some synthetic fabrics and boast advantages of breathability as the smoother fibres greatly increase airflow and create zero friction:
” DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN, OUR BOXERS HAVE THE LENGTH TO COVER YOUR INNER THIGH AND THE SPECIALIST FABRIC TO SUPPORT OUR DESIGN “SECRET RECIPE” THAT MAKES FLISSIE UNDERWEAR REMOVES THIGH RUB FROM YOUR LIFE”.
PLANT-BASED PACKAGING
In addition to their sustainable fabric, Mathew told me that Flissie packaging is made out of corn starch PLA. PLA is made out of renewable plant-based resources and is therefore sustainable, plus it’s also biodegradable and compostable. Corn starch PLA is manufactured with a lower environmental impact than traditional petroleum-based plastics, and it doesn’t release harmful toxins when it’s disposed.
To dispose of our corn starch PLA packaging, you can put it in the normal rubbish bin; not the recycling bin. Alternatively, if you have a home compost you can put it in there. It will degrade to water and carbon dioxide around 3 months later.
Flissie boxers come in singles or a bundle of three colours (3 Pairs Purchased = 1 Pair Donated); They’re just the right length; long enough on the leg so that they don’t ride up but short enough so they won’t show with a premium waistband that comfortably conforms itself to your body shape whilst sitting close enough to hide away visibility lines. All without digging in so you’ll forget you’re even wearing them.
Flissie have great reviews on their website and some interesting blog posts too. You can also find Flissie on Instagram and Facebook.
I just read “Why “New Year”, new me fails: 10 tips to embrace yourself and life as it is”, which is all about embracing yourself and living life with love without any resolutions or pressure from society telling us we need to be better – just what I need for 2023!
