A Guide To Ethical + Sustainable Basics For Men
By Ella Hackworth
Image: Etiko
As we replace fast fashion pieces in our wardrobe with sustainable options, basics often fall victim of becoming an afterthought. However, due to the growing number of ethical essentials brands that carry boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, tees, and socks, it’s one of the easiest elements in your wardrobe to switch. Comfort level is the most important for garments that sit closest to the skin and these brands ensure that you will stay comfortable without sacrificing the well-being of our planet. As you continue to filter out those fast fashion essentials, you can turn to our recommendations in this guide of 7 sustainable and ethical basics brands.
PACT
Simple, affordable basics
Pact is the perfect go to for the simple man looking for comfortable and sustainable basics. They excel at creating basics that are comfortable and versatile for everyday wear. Their menswear collection is clean and effortless making Pact the perfect go-to brand for basics for men.
Location: USA
Sustainability Efforts:
Fair trade factory certified
Organic cotton GOTS certified
Ships product in recycled and compostable packaging
Uses non-toxic dyes
Accepts old and used clothes through its own clothing donation program
Price: $$-$$$
Our Picks:
Extended Boxer Brief ($12)
Trunk ($12)
MIGHTY GOOD BASICS
Premium, minimal basics
Might Good Basics provides premium underwear and essentials for the consciously minded man.
Location: AUS/UK
Sustainability Efforts:
Partner with the world’s best ethical factories
Supply chain located in India. They all carry certification under the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO), the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and SA 8000 social accountability standard.
Source the finest organic Fairtrade cotton
Chetna Organics (based in Hyderabad)
Suminter Organics (based in Mumbai)
Noble Econtech (based in Madhya Pradesh)
Compared to conventional cotton, Mighty Good fair-trade cotton has
46% less co2 emissions
65% less water from irrigated sources
70% reduction in pollution that creates acid rain and soil acidification
61% less energy use
Price: $$
Our Picks:
Boxer Trunks ($21)
Boxer Brief ($21)
ETIKO
Classic, timeless basics
Etiko’s mission is to make the transition to sustainable fashion as seamless as possible.
Location: AUS
Sustainability Efforts:
GOTS certified cotton, fair-trade, vegan
Uses eco-friendly materials to limit amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater used in production
Products certified by Fairtrade international
Price: $$
Our Picks:
Unisex V-Neck T-Shirt ($30)
WAMA
Chic, modern undergarments
WAMA aims to make the best hemp underwear in the world and vows to constantly be improving fit and function.
Location: USA
Sustainability Efforts:
Organic cotton and hemp
Hemp is naturally antibacterial, soft and breathable
Read more about the benefits of organic cotton here
Use of eco-friendly materials limits the amount of chemicals, waste, and wastewater used in production
Hemp grown on small family run organic farms in China
Price: $$
Our Picks:
Men’s Boxers ($24)
RAPANUI
Basics for the laid-back, quirky lad
Rapanui products are made ethically for the sustainable, surf-minded guy. It’s important to Rapanui that your basics reflect your personal style.
Location: UK
Sustainability Efforts:
Orders are produced in real time, one at a time, to eliminate waste
Use of 100% organic cotton
Made in India at an ethically accredited wind powered factory
Offer a program to return your worn out Rapanui clothes so they can recycle them and make new clothes
They know sustainability is bigger than them so they share access to their supply chain and the technology they’ve developed. Anyone can use their systems and tech to start their own brand, build their own store, and connect automatically to their real-time production facilities. The platform they put all of this information on is called Teemill.
Price: $$
Our Picks:
Bamboo Socks 7-Pack ($42)
BOODY
Versatile, easy-to-wear pieces
Boody gives customers soft, everyday essentials with optimum comfort. They make sure customers don’t have to choose between style and feeling good, while investing in a sustainable purchase.
Location: AUS
Sustainability Efforts:
Products made with bamboo fabric
Grown organically without pesticides, insecticides or fertilizers.
Bamboo is grown without artificial irrigation (uses only rain water). All of the water used in the production process is recycled and reused.
Bamboo plantations produce 30% more oxygen than an equivalent area of trees and absorb more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases.
Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world, with some species of bamboo growing as much as one meter a day.
Price: $
Our Picks:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ella Hackworth is a Brand Account Manager and Contributing Writer for SISTAIN and has a background in design, dance, and visual arts. She celebrates her love of nature, beauty, and connection through her passion for living mindfully and sustainably.
