The Guide To Non-Toxic Underwear.

Most of us spend a lot of time thinking about what we put in our bodies. Less time thinking about what we put on them - specifically, the thing we wear closest to our skin, every single day.

Underwear touches your most sensitive skin for up to 16 hours at a stretch. The fabric, the dyes, the finishing chemicals - all of it matters more than the industry has historically let on. Here's what you need to know.

What does Non-Toxic Underwear mean?

Non-toxic underwear is made without harmful chemicals. No heavy metals, no formaldehyde, no azo dyes that can break down into carcinogens, no PFAS (so-called "forever chemicals") and no pesticides or fungicides commonly found in conventional cotton.

Your skin isn't just a barrier. It absorbs. Research has shown that chemicals in clothing can pass through the skin and remain in the body for days, so it's worth knowing what your underwear is made from.

What is the safest fabric for underwear?

Natural, breathable fibres that are certified free from harmful substances.

TENCEL™ Modal - our fabric of choice at Stripe & Stare, is made from sustainably sourced wood pulp (actual trees). TENCEL™ Modal is naturally moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial, breathable and scientifically proven to be 2–3 times softer than cotton. It's also fully biodegradable.

What to avoid: synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon trap heat and moisture, creating the opposite of what underwear should do.

Is 100% cotton underwear the healthiest?

Cotton is a common choice - it's breathable and natural. But conventional cotton is also one of the most chemically treated crops on earth. Unless it's certified organic, the cotton in your underwear may have been treated with pesticides and finished with chemicals that remain in the fabric.

TENCEL™ Modal performs better than cotton on most measures that matter for underwear: it's softer, more moisture-wicking, and 10–20 times less water-intensive to produce. For everyday underwear, it is a better fabric.

What underwear do gynaecologists recommend?

Gynaecologists consistently recommend underwear that is breathable, moisture-wicking and made from natural fibres. The reasoning is straightforward: the vaginal area needs airflow to maintain a healthy bacterial balance. Synthetic fabrics that trap heat and moisture can disrupt this.

Thats why all our cloud-soft underwear is carefully crafted from TENCEL™ Modal.

Which underwear should you avoid?

Underwear made from untreated synthetic fabrics, or natural fabrics without certification. Specifically:

Polyester and nylon: poor breathability, often chemically treated, not biodegradable
Unlabelled cotton: likely treated with pesticides unless certified organic
Brightly dyed underwear without OEKO-TEX® certification: dyes can contain harmful substances
Tight, non-breathable styles worn continuously

Where to find non-toxic underwear in the UK?

This is where we come in.

Every pair of Stripe & Stare knickers is made from TENCEL™ Modal. Naturally moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial, breathable and certified OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. Meaning it has been independently tested against over 1,000 harmful substances, from yarn to finished product. No heavy metals, no formaldehyde, no forever chemicals. Nothing that shouldn't be there.

We're also B Corp certified, use a plastic-free warehouse and plant a tree with every order. Because what's good for your body and what's good for the planet shouldn't be two different things.

The result? Underwear that feels like a second skin, lasts properly and doesn't ask anything of your conscience.