Why You Should Be Wearing Breathable Bamboo Underwear
6 min read
Learn why breathable bamboo underwear is a great choice for you and the planet and discover Boody underwear – my favorite resource for bamboo underwear, bras, socks and shirts.
Shall we talk about underwear today? Why not, right? We put on our panties, socks, bras and camis every day without giving it much thought….but maybe we should.
When it comes to underwear I’ve always heard cotton, cotton, cotton – mainly because it is a breathable fabric. But cotton is a high resource crop, using a ton of water, land and pesticides. Turns out bamboo fabric beats cotton on many measures – both from a comfort and a sustainability standpoint.
Benefits of Bamboo Underwear for Your Body
Note: There may be affiliate links in this post including Amazon Affiliates. Full disclosure.
There are many reasons to consider bamboo as the fabric of choice for your underwear. Let’s take a look at some of them!
Bamboo is Breathable
You may be wondering – Is bamboo breathable? The answer is YES bamboo fibers are naturally breathable – in fact they are even more breathable than cotton. Most underwear on the market is made with synthetic polyester fabrics, which are not breathable at all. Believe me, you want the fabric to be breathable down there!
Bamboo has Moisture-Wicking Properties
Another big benefit of bamboo fabric is that it helps to wick moisture away from the skin. Unlike cotton, bamboo fabric allows moisture to evaporate into the air quickly. In fact, bamboo wicks water away from the body 3 to 4 times faster than cotton. So when you sweat, you won’t stay wet.
Bamboo Keeps You Cool
Bamboo material is also naturally thermo-regulating – meaning it keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. What’s not to love about that?
Bamboo Fabric is Soft
Bonus – bamboo fabric is super lightweight and silky soft too. Some say bamboo is even softer than cotton – and if there is one place you want SOFT, it’s your underwear!
Bamboo Fabric is Safe & Odor Resistant
Bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial, antifungal and hypoallergenic, making it safe and hygienic even for people with sensitive skin. The natural antibacterial properties help reduce the bacteria that can cause odor.
Read my complete guide to awesome organic underwear!
Benefits of Bamboo Underwear for the Planet
From a sustainability standpoint, bamboo has a lot going for it. Unlike cotton, bamboo requires very little water to grow and it yields up to 30 times more per acre than cotton, making it a much less resource-hungry crop.
Other eco-friendly benefits of bamboo include:
- no fertilizers, pesticides or irrigantion are required to grow it
- bamboo is an extremely fast growing plant
- bamboo can be continually re-harvested without harm to the environment
- bamboo fabric is biodegradable at the end of its useful life, making it a very sustainable material
Note: Bamboo is naturally grown organically, but the fibers can not be officially certified organic by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) because they are processed into viscose and therefore the fibers are no longer officially considered natural. Instead, look for the OEKO-TEX certification that ensures that the finished fabric contains no harmful chemicals.
Why I Recommend Boody Bamboo Underwear
So have I convinced you to check out bamboo underwear yet? Let me introduce you to a company that’s doing it well.
Boody is an Australia-born company that specializes in bamboo undergarments, shirts and other everyday essentials. What’s unique about Boody is that they use organically-grown bamboo and the finished products carry the OEKO-TEX certification, ensuring that the clothing is chemical free.
Boody’s closed loop production process uses a natural solvent instead of chemicals and is much more sustainable than some of the less responsible bamboo manufacturers you may have heard about.
A few more benefits of Boody bamboo:
- Organic bamboo plants are grown in FSC certified fields in the Sichuan province of China and rely solely on rainfall to grow.
- Boody’s closed loop production process uses less water and all liquid is recycled and all solvents are captured and removed.
- The finished fiber is OEKO-TEX 100 certified.
- Sustainable bamboo viscose is made from 80% to 95% organic bamboo with a small bit of polyester and spandex added to preserve shape and allow for better stretch.
- Designs are produced using a zero-waste design process.
- The company uses ethical manufacturing processes and only works with factories that are Fair Trade certified.
- Boody is a B Corp which means they are committed to social and environmental accountability.
Boody Underwear Styles
I’ve been wearing Boody underwear for years and I just love how silky soft and stretchy the fabric is. But Boody makes more than just bamboo panties – I’m also a huge fan of their bamboo socks, camisoles and pajamas. Plus, I totally appreciate the temperature-regulating ability of bamboo viscose underwear and tops – it’s great for layering on cold winter days and especially nice during a sweaty workout!
Boody has an amazing collection of bamboo underwear and other undergarments. So if you are looking to upgrade your underwear drawer, you’ve got lots to choose from!
Boody Women’s Underwear
Boody has some of the most comfortable and soft underwear I’ve tried. They have all the classic underwear options to choose from including the classic bikini, midi briefs (my favorite bamboo undies!), a full brief (for those who want full coverage), hipsters, boyleg briefs, g-strings and even the smoothing shorts that are so popular to wear under skirts. All Boody underwear is seam-free meaning no worrying about panty lines!
Boody Men’s Underwear
My husband loves Boody’s underwear for men because the soft bamboo fabric is so comfortable. Boody’s men’s styles include bamboo briefs, boxer briefs and long boxers.
Boody Bras
If you are someone that prefers wireless or seamless bras, you will love what Boody has to offer. My favorite Boody bra is the Shaper Bra because it has some structure to it but is completely seamless and has no clasps or hooks. They also have beautiful triangle bralette, a full bust wireless bra and racerback sports bras.
Boody Tops, Tees & Camis
Remember how I mentioned that bamboo is great for temperature regulation and moisture-wicking? That’s why it makes such great fabric for shirts and tops! Boody has a great classic t-shirt and I love layering their cami under my clothes to keep me warm in the winter. Their Goodnight Sleep Tee is my favorite sleep shirt ever! Boody also has branched out into bamboo clothing if you are interested!
Boody Socks
Boody’s everyday crew socks are the go-to socks in my drawer. I also love their ankle socks to wear with tennis shoes. If you like hidden socks and liner socks, they have those too. They’ve got a great assortment of bamboo socks for men as well.
Where to Buy Boody Underwear
You can purchase Boody directly from their website, on Amazon or at Whole Foods stores. Keep in mind you can get 15% off your first order when you sign up for the Boody email list and free shipping on orders of $60+.
Bamboo Underwear FAQs
Bamboo vs cotton underwear – which is better?
To be honest, I’m a fan of both bamboo underwear and organic cotton underwear – my underwear drawer is filled with both! But when you look at them side by side, I’d say bamboo comes out ahead. As I mentioned earlier, bamboo is softer, more breathable and has better moisture-wicking properties than cotton. Bamboo is also better than cotton from an environmental perspective.
How durable is bamboo underwear?
Bamboo fibres are very strong and resilient, making products made with bamboo fabric very durable.
How do you wash bamboo underwear?
Typically, no special washing instructions are required for items made from bamboo fabric. Boody recommends washing their bamboo underwear in warm water with similar colors. Be sure to use an eco-friendly laundry detergent too.
Have you tried bamboo underwear? Share your thoughts in the comments!
