Ethical Men’s Underwear – The Best UK Brands for 2023
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Looking for the best eco-friendly and ethical men’s underwear? Read on for my top recommendations – from the brands that use organic cotton, to ethically sourced bamboo, hemp and more.
Recently I did a run-down of where to buy ethical women’s underwear. In it, I promised I would write a guide to men’s ethical underwear too. So, true to my word, here is a guide to the best ethical options for men’s pants, briefs, and boxer shorts, depending on your preference. I’ve also updated the article for 2023 – updated in March 2023 – so it is bang up to date.
The Ethical Men’s Underwear Brands to Check Out
As always seems to be the case when it comes to men’s ethical clothing, the market for ethical men’s underwear is considerably smaller than the women’s ethical market. So you are a little more constrained. But don’t despair – the market is growing. As such, I’ve tracked down some great men’s ethical underwear companies for you today.
Allbirds
Price Range: £20 – £24
Size: S – XXL
Available directly from Allbirds
Allbirds, the ethical shoe retailer, has a small but perfectly formed range of men’s ethical underwear that is made responsibly from sustainable materials.
Its trunks and boxer briefs are made from a blend of sustainable Tencel and mulesing-free merino wool. This makes for a silky-smooth fit that feels barely there. The breathable materials help to wick moisture away, keep you comfortable all day, and help to minimise odour. What’s more, its collection is available in a wide range of colours.
Allbirds say that offering a carefully curated product range fit for all seasons, means that it can maintain a small, tight-knit supply chain.
Need to stock up on undies? Allbirds has a great mix-and-match deal, where if you buy three pairs of socks or underwear, you get 20% off.
BAM: Bamboo Clothing
Price Range: £12 – £18
Size: S – XXL
Available directly from BAM
Plymouth-based BAM’s collection of briefs, boxer shorts and sports trunks are made of exactly what the name suggests: bamboo (as well as being blended with a bit of cotton!). These have rave reviews from sportsmen and outdoorsy types looking for ethical high-performance technical men’s underwear.
Available in a range of patterns and colourways, the breathable bamboo fabric provides supreme softness for your nether regions. The bamboo also wicks any moisture away to keep you dry and prevent chaffing.
Their boxers and pants are ethically produced in Europe and Turkey, with prices ranging from £12 to £18. Additionally, sign up for the BAM mailing list and get 10% off your first order.
Boody Ethical Men’s Underwear
Price Range: £12.95 – £24.95
Size: S -4XL
Available directly from Boody
All Boody garments are made from organically grown bamboo and are produced adhering to the highest standards for both the planet and their workers.
In fact, Boody is certified as both Ecocert Approved – which guarantees Boody meets the best environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices – and is PETA-approved vegan.
Boody is also a certified B-Corp. This means the brand has been independently verified as meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
With inclusive sizing available on some styles, going up to 4XL, these super soft, highly functional, and unfussy designs are perfect if you’re looking for plain pattern-free underwear. With briefs, boxers, and long boxers, there is something for every preference.
Take 15% off your first order when you sign up for Boody’s mailing list.
Colorful Standard
Price Range: £17 per pair
Size: XS – XL
Available directly from Colorful Standard
If you want your ethical underwear in every colour of the rainbow then head straight to Colorful Standard.
As well as boxer briefs in classic shades, including black, white, navy and grey, you can also find its boxers in cheeky colours such as kelly green, bubblegum pink, lemon yellow, and sunny orange.
With 21 different colour options on offer, this is ideal if you want to brighten up your underwear drawer.
There’s no compromising on ethics either. All of Colorful Standards underwear is ethically made in Portugal using organic cotton. This is then dyed using only environmentally friendly dyes. Its undies are also PETA Approved Vegan, for extra peace of mind.
Thought
Price Range: £14.95
Size: XS – XL
Available directly from Thought
Thought’s range of ethical men’s underwear, comprising bamboo boxers and briefs, is available in both eco-friendly bamboo and GOTS-certified organic cotton jersey fabric choices. These come in an array of colour choices to suit your mood.
The bamboo underwear is breathable and comfortable, whilst soft to the touch.
The GOTS-certified organic cotton jersey versions have similar properties. However, organic cotton has the highest social and sustainability accreditation out there. The independent certification means that every stage in the supply chain has been considered, and every person involved has been treated well.
Thought’s boxers are available on a buy 2 get 1 free deal, and you can get 15% off your first order when you sign up to Thought’s mailing list.
Nudie
Price Range: £70 for a pack of three
Size: XS – XXL
Available directly from Nudie
Nudie’s range of men’s underwear – from its loose-fit boxer shorts to its briefs and trunks – are made entirely from soft, certified organic, and Fairtrade cotton.
In plain black, white or grey, these are a great choice if you are looking for basic styles that have been made fairly.
For a clever touch, there’s no annoying care label to itch you. Instead, the care labels are printed on the inside of the underwear. The packaging is also plastic-free – your pants arrive in a recycled cardboard box.
Project Pico
Price Range: £20.00 per pair
Sizes: S – XL
Available from Brothers We Stand
For ethical men’s underwear made from Fairtrade organic cotton, then head straight for Project Pico.
These soft and comfortable boxer briefs are ethically made in India using Fairtrade organic cotton that is sourced directly from Fairtrade farmers’ cooperatives.
Project Pico’s tailors receive a living wage which is far above the legal minimum wage in India. Workers can also apply for interest-free loans so that they can buy land and build their own houses.
In addition, the Fairtrade fund supports various projects within local communities. This includes projects such as creating safe drinking water sources, funding further education and organising women’s self-help groups.
The dye used is also OEKO-TEX certified – meaning it has been proven to contain no harmful substances. Project Pico also cleverly recycles all of its dye water, to ensure that no water is wasted.
I hope you’ve found this guide to ethical men’s underwear helpful! I keep this post updated so do check back later for more suggestions.
Main Image used c/o BAM
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