Ethical Basics – sustainable clothing by Organic Basics

I’ve never given much thought to how the clothes I’m wearing are produced, who makes them and what’s in them, until last year when I watched ‘The True Cost’ on Netflix. It just wasn’t really on my radar before that. Given that the major reasons behind my vegan diet are animals, health and the impact on the environment, I was shocked to learn the huge strain fast fashion has on our planet. I couldn’t believe how much fast fashion companies contribute to worldwide pollution, not even talking about unfair labor conditions and the harm that is done to the people producing our clothes. Once I educated myself a bit more on the topic (e.g. this video or this TED talk), I decided to stop buying and actively contributing to this unethical industry.

Instead, thrift shops and ethical brands became my go-to! One of those brands is Organic Basics – a Danish company dedicated to creating the highest quality, responsibly made essentials that are honestly the comfiest undergarments I’ve ever worn! 🙂

When thinking about clothing and specifically undergarments, it’s interesting how we are really worried about what we put into our bodies but not really that concerned with what we put on it. Given the fact that the skin is our largest organ, we really should care about what chemicals and fabrics we clothe ourselves in. We tend to forget about the garments hugging our skin all day long and the chemicals we absorb from the pesticide-sprayed crops of cotton. That’s why Organic Basics makes sure that all of their cotton is organic and non-GMO (get more info here). Apart from that they ensure that the people involved in the process of creating these clothes are treated ethically. This includes fair wages, quality working conditions, and having a personal relationship with the people behind the brand.

Before understanding the consequences of my consumption and the fact that I’d be actively supporting this industry, my go-to for basics, including simple t-shirts, panties, socks, bras and active wear was always H&M. I’d buy the simple “3 for 10€” panty boxes, only to find that 3 months later they’d be filled with wholes due to their shitty quality, loose shape or get damaged otherwise.

When it comes to underwear, I feel like we all have those few pairs of fancy lingerie for ‘special occasions’ and then our comfy, everyday stuff. When it comes to the everyday basics – I now swear by Organic Basics! They were created in 2015 with the objective of changing how the fashion industry works: buying, wearing, washing, and throwing away the big branded underwear. This system is clearly unsustainable, bad for the environment, and a big waste of time and money. So Organic Basics decided that it could be done much better. Buying better made means investing in quality that lasts. Despite their reasonable prices you can get an additional 14€ off every order if you use the code THETXOBCO14!

By now I have a good collection of their basics and I’m loving them all, so below is a quick review of my favorites:

Women’s Tee: basic cotton shirts are such an essential item in my wardrobe, as I style and match them with almost everything! Normally the cotton shirts I buy from the big brands quickly loose their shape after a few times in the laundry machine. Not these ones!!! I’ve had the organic cotton tee’s in black and white + the silvertech everyday tee (also in white) for months now and they still look like new (I have them in XS, S and M depending on the fit I want)! They’re also extremely comfy and feel very soft and smooth on the skin.

Hipster Brief: I can’t rave enough about these panties! They’re legit the comfiest underwear I’ve had so far. Compared to your average Brazilian cut panties, they are much more generous with the fabric and are kind of high-waisted which I love. With a wide, snug band at the top and super soft fabric, they feel like a gentle self-care ritual every time you wear them. The silvertech panties are a bit more stretchy and even more comfy in my opinion, while the cotton ones gently surround your belly and give it such a nice feel – so I love alternating between them!

Basic Bra: same high quality organic cotton like the briefs, and equally comfy! Personally I use this one as a yoga top, just because most days I go braless since I’m part of the ‘itty-bitty-titty-committee’ 😀 – honestly though my 75B cup rarely requires stability, so I mostly wear bras for support during workouts/yoga or with certain clothes.

Silvertech Active Bra + Leggings: these pieces are part of the active wear and are made from the same awesome breathable fabric like my favorite hipster briefs. Super comfy, extremely stretchy and odor-absorbent. Have been wearing these for months now for my yoga and running practice and love them!

Ankle Socks: there’s not much to say about socks – just that they’re made from organic cotton, have a great fit (sometimes I find that ankle socks sit too low, although they’re supposedly in my size) and don’t deform after washing.

Did I mention that they also have a collection for men? So next time you’re frustrated with your low quality underwear and are looking for a high quality, ethical alternative – check them out! Despite their reasonable prices you can get an additional 14€ off every order if you use the code THETXOBCO14! 🙂