Any ideas for natural fabric underpants?

Casie Becker wrote:Cotton, linen and silk. Real rubber is both natural and biodegradable though I don't know if that's the standard material in elastics these days. There are actually some people who use ties or buttons on their undergarments.

A quick search on Google for all natural lingerie qickly produces several articles about companies that specialize in this area, such as this one http://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/ethical-lingerie-brands

Some of these companies recycle fabric to keep it out of the waste stream, so you will still need to pay some attention if you want to keep to natural fibers. Others only work with natural materials.  Maybe having particular brand names will help you find a local source,  if you're uncomfortable trusting online shopping for a comfortable fit.

Tyler Ludens wrote:Can you sew?  Here is a very simple pattern for pants, which can be made to fit using a drawstring:  http://www.renaissancetailor.com/demos_recpants.htm

This has become my favorite pattern for shorts, and it could be modified to make comfy undies for wear under loose pants or skirts.

Sheila Mleziva wrote:Going commando is not an option. Or is it?

Deb Stephens wrote:

Sheila Mleziva wrote:Going commando is not an option. Or is it?

I've been "going commando" for over 30 years

Thanks so much for 'fessing up!  I totally agree with your point of view. We have been sold a 'bill of goods' in not only lingerie but in many areas of 'hygiene'.

Have you ever had any situations over the past 30 years in which 'going commando' caused an issue? Like, hmm, bugs or ticks in the nether regions?

Do you wear pants or skirts?

Thanks.

Nicole Alderman wrote:I searched for "elastic-free underwear." I discovered two things.

(1) The elastic is usually made of latex, which is not plastic and is biodegradable. So, not terrible!

(2) I found 100% cotton underwear, some with drawstrings and some without.

Here's the link to the women's underwear. https://www.cottonique.com/collections/womens-bottoms

Here's the bikini underwear, made of organic cotton, no latex or spandex https://www.cottonique.com/collections/womens-bottoms/products/womens-bikini-2-pack

S Tonin wrote:This reminded me of an article I bookmarked a few years ago about fundoshi (traditional Japanese underpants) for women.  They look like they'd be pretty easy to sew, and a good way of upcycling anything like old t-shirts or bed sheets.

I also saw an article in the (now long-defunct) magazine Craft: about using your favorite underwear as a pattern to sew your own from recycled t-shirts.  It was basically just tracing each panel and adding a seam allowance, and I think the elastic was just zig-zag stitched on.  There are probably like a million different tutorials out there to do it, I think it was a "thing" like 10 years ago when trendy people were all over recycling last year's unfashionable t-shirts.

And here's a free printable pattern for mini bloomers.  You need to create a login with an email address to download the .zip file to get the pattern.

Personally, I like to go commando when I wear skirts, but I stopped doing that in public after I accidentally flashed a kid and probably scarred him for life (it was a calf-length skirt, too, but it got caught on a box I was lifting and it was comedic and mortifying and I still wonder if that kid grew up to think I was some pervert)

I don't like going without when I wear any kind of pants (except boxer shorts or super loose pajamas) because it's just physically uncomfortable for me, especially the seam of jeans, and also because I need to wash the clothes more often.  With underwear, I typically wear jeans a full week without washing (the jeans, not my bits!).  Without, I don't even like having them on a second day because I don't want bladder infections, which I used to get a lot more of when I was in my "totally commando all the time" phase in my mid-20s.  Everyone's undercarriage is different, though--try it a few times and see if you like it.  

Annette Jones wrote:All the others saying they are 100% cotton are not. Cotton DOES NOT STRETCH naturally or have "give in the fabric. Those panties show that they cling to the body so they MUST have some type of lycra or similar stretch fabric incorporated into the cotton, wool, silk or bamboo fabric, otherwise they could not cling to your shape like these are shown to.

Kai Walker wrote:Out of curiosity, what did women wear before underwear was invented?

Alana Rose wrote:The pair pictured is one made from a cozy men’s t-shirt. The T-shirt was also used to create a large comfortable elastic free waistband. Super cozy! These weren’t a perfect fit but wearable.

Sheila Mleziva wrote:

I would rather wash my underwear daily vs my pants so I am tending against the commando thing.

Ideally, 100% hemp would be the best.

Jay Angler wrote: I also like the idea of upcycling material that would have been trashed, and yet is perfectly functional still.

Alana Rose wrote: I’m curious if anyone has tried making their own period underwear? I’ll ask in the other forum too. When I was at the thrift store this week, I saw some of those small cotton felt baby blankets and thought they might work well for some kinda natural upcycled menstrual product. The patterns were also cheerful and fun.

Jay Angler wrote:

yes, truly "cotton" blankets might do fine upcycled, but I'd wash them several times as anything called a "blanket" may have been treated with nasty fire-resistant chemicals.

Alana Rose wrote:The pair pictured is one made from a cozy men’s t-shirt. The T-shirt was also used to create a large comfortable elastic free waistband. Super cozy! These weren’t a perfect fit but wearable.

Cindy Haskin wrote:
Do you have a link or any info on the pattern you used? I'd like to attempt a pair or 3, and maybe even look into weaving the cloth myself to make them! I've had looms on my mind, and wonder what shapes can be used to have the least amount of wasted resources to make different clothing items!  (see here for that thread... https://permies.com/t/174135/permaculture-fiber-arts-tools/fiber-arts/Shaped-loom#1367382 )

When I saw the white skinny undies pictured above, my thought was that those could be made using overlapping triangles of self-woven fabric. I used this very same concept years ago using a stretchy purchased fabric to create a one-piece bathing suit! Back when I could pull off that sort of style. haha

Rachel Royce wrote:Best undies ever from Allbirds. Wool. Yes, thin wool. Great in summer and winter. Pricey though. I ask for them for birthday presents. https://www.allbirds.com/products/womens-trino-brief-pitaya
I don't recommend their socks though, not good.

Rachel Royce wrote:Carla, it’s true that the wool content is 28%. Thank you for commenting. The rest is Tencel, a fiber made out of cellulose from trees. Tencel is considered by many to have a lower impact than cotton and it is biodegradable.