There's a good reason to buy underwear from German and European brands: when underwear is made closer to you, you can control it. Standards are higher. Transparency is greater. In this guide, we honestly present what defines sustainable brands, and which brand is right for you.
The underwear you wear doesn't come from just anywhere. It comes from somewhere. The question is: Do you know that place? Do you know the people who make it?
This is why European and German brands make a difference. Not because "European" automatically means better, but because it gives you and the producers justice and control.
Why German and European Brands?
Control
If your underwear is made in Europe, you can visit the factory and check the working conditions. Distance makes transparency more difficult.
Higher Standards
Europe has stricter labor and environmental standards than many other countries. This is an advantage for the people who make your underwear.
Local Value Creation
European production means more value creation and jobs in Europe. This is good for local communities.
Shorter Distances
European production means shorter transport routes. This is better for the environment.
But beware: European production is not automatically sustainable or fair. You still need to check if the brand is transparent and has good practices. Europe has advantages, but it's not the only metric.
What Matters for Sustainable Underwear Brands
Before we introduce you to brands, here's what you should pay attention to:
Transparency
Where is the underwear made? Which materials are used? What certifications does the brand have? A good brand answers these questions openly.
Certifications
Certifications like OEKO-TEX, independent verifications, not just claims.
Material Quality
Organic cotton, Lyocell, Modal: are good materials used? Or is there cheating?
Design and Inclusivity
Does the brand offer various sizes? Are the designs intended for different body types?
Price
Are the prices reasonable for the quality and sustainability? Or is something suspiciously cheap?
Authenticity
Does the brand feel authentic, or just like a marketing gimmick? Subjective, but important.
erlich textil: Fair Basics from Cologne
This is us. So we'll keep it short and honest:
Founded in 2016. Sustainable basics and underwear made from organic (kbA) and CiC cotton, Lyocell, and recycled polyamide. Production in Germany, Portugal, Hungary, and Turkey.
What we do well
Maximum transparency, certified materials, fair wages. Basics that last, because durability is sustainable.
Our Strength
The balance between sustainability, quality, and price. Not the cheapest, but not absurdly expensive either. Consciously basics: less, but better.
Who buys from us
People who are tired of fast fashion. People who want to know where their underwear is made. People with sensitive skin.
Other Brands Worth Knowing
Besides erlich textil, there are brands doing good work. Here are four of them, each with what makes them strong and what you should know going in.
ARMEDANGELS
Founded in Cologne in 2007, so a Cologne brand like us, just considerably bigger. The range goes far beyond underwear, but briefs, boxers, bras and socks in organic cotton are part of it, including a seamless line. Strong at: choice, brand recognition, breadth of design. Worth knowing: underwear is one area there, not the core. If you want a brand that does nothing but underwear, a specialist will serve you better.
Living Crafts
The veteran of the field. Founded in 1985 by Peter and Jean Younger, the first product was an organic cotton sock sewn in a garage by Lake Constance. Today the brand sits in Selbitz in Upper Franconia and makes underwear, nightwear, socks and home textiles. Strong at: longevity, timeless cuts, experience with organic cotton going back to 1985. Worth knowing: the design is deliberately classic. If you are after modern lingerie, this is not the first place to look.
Dilling
A Danish family business in its fourth generation. Sells direct only, with no retail layer in between, which keeps prices low. They work with organic cotton and merino wool, dye in their own dye house and produce exclusively in Europe. There is children's and baby underwear too. Strong at: value for money, wool, family needs. Worth knowing: the thinking is functional rather than fashionable. And you can only buy from their own shop, not in stores.
Anekdot
A Berlin label founded in 2015, because its founder could not find lingerie that combined design, sustainability and transparency. It works with surplus fabric, overproduction and deadstock from other operations, sewn in its own Berlin studio and in a small woman-owned workshop in Poland. Strong at: design, handwork, one-off pieces. Worth knowing: because the material is finite, collections are limited. Once a piece is gone it does not come back the same way, and restocking your size is not guaranteed.
Which brand suits you?
There is no single best brand. It depends on what matters to you.
| If this matters to you | Then look here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency, with underwear as the core subject | erlich textil | Underwear and basics are our core business, material and production location are listed on every product page |
| Wide choice and a well-known name | ARMEDANGELS | Broad range beyond underwear, Cologne, since 2007 |
| Classic cuts that last | Living Crafts | Specialised in organic cotton since 1985, timeless design |
| Low price and wool | Dilling | Direct sales with no retail layer, merino wool in the range |
| Distinctive design and one-off pieces | Anekdot | Lingerie from surplus fabric, hand-sewn in Berlin |
The main thing to take away: the difference between these brands is smaller than the difference to fast fashion. If you buy from any of them, you have already made the decision that counts.
Frequently asked questions
Which sustainable underwear brands come from Germany?
From Germany there are erlich textil in Cologne, ARMEDANGELS in Cologne, Living Crafts in Selbitz in Upper Franconia and Anekdot in Berlin. From the wider European field, Dilling in Denmark is relevant. The brands differ less in ambition than in focus: choice, price, design or a specialisation in underwear.
How do I tell whether an underwear brand is genuinely sustainable?
By three things. First, verifiability: does the product page state what the piece is made of and where it was made, or does it stop at slogans. Second, material quality, because what lasts is what is sustainable. Third, consistency: a brand running one sustainable capsule next to a conventional main collection works differently from one where this applies to the whole range.
Which brand is best for sensitive skin?
Skin friendliness depends less on the brand than on the material and the finishing. Smooth fibres like lyocell and modal rub less than coarse qualities, and flat seams with few labels help too. If your skin is sensitive, look at the composition and at styles without a lace edge. More on this in our piece on underwear for sensitive skin.
Discover sustainable basics
At erlich textil, you'll find fair, transparent underwear made from sustainable materials. We make it easy for you to know where your underwear comes from, and that people are paid fairly.
Transparency is not just a buzzword. It's the foundation of true sustainability.
