We all absolutely deserve to feel attractive and enjoy beautiful things. For many of us, lingerie is a big part of making ourselves feel special and confident. Something so simple can help you to feel powerful, sexy or even just at home in your body.
However, as with all fast fashion, many of the more popular brands use practices harmful to the environment and their workers. I must confess, in first year I was obsessed with Victorias Secret (VS). This was partly because I loved the confidence boost of having new matching lingerie and partly because they were the first place I found with bralettes that would fit me! However, when I became more aware of my shopping habits and the harm they could be causing, I began to look into the flaws with VS.
This mega-brand, with over 1600 stores worldwide, often uses environmentally damaging materials in their products (and seem to have no plan on stopping). Additionally, they have no greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. The brand also has no worker-empowerment initiatives, and has not even committed to paying their workers a living wage! On top of this, the brand has repeatedly been criticised for their lack of inclusivity, both in their sizing and in the models they hire, which was absolutely a conscious decision on who they believed could be sexy.
Ethical underwear can be difficult to find at a reasonable price. Despite my best efforts, I still find myself having to go to trusty M&S for the basics (although they certainly are not one of the worst high street offenders). There should be absolutely no guilt in buying underwear from somewhere in your budget and meeting your requirements. However, if you are looking to treat yourself to some new lingerie (maybe a late valentines present?) here are some ethical companies for you to get your fix.
ELB Handmade
ELB Handmade is my all time favourite. Everything is handmade to your sizing requirements, so is inclusive of all sizes. They have so many different styles and patterns, which are all absolutely gorgeous. Even better, the pricing is really reasonable, at around £15-18 for a bra and £25 for a set!
Luva Huva
https://luvahuva.co.uk/collections/lingerie-sets/products/emily-romance-bra-brief-set-1
This is a UK based brand, hand-making sustainable, environmentally friendly lingerie and loungewear. Luva Huva use a range of eco-friendly fabrics from local suppliers, as well as vintage options. The team work together in their Brighton based studio to create these pieces. Preset sizes range from a 30A to a 40E, but many styles also include a custom sizing option. This brand is a bit pricier with sets generally between £60 and £80, but are well worth a look!