Which Fabric for Underwear? Material Guide

In this guide, we categorize the most important materials by purpose so you know which fabric suits you and when.

An overview of the most important materials

Before we sort by intended use, here are the fibers that truly count when it comes to underwear, and what they can do.

Organic Cotton

Cotton from controlled organic cultivation (organic cotton) is absorbent, robust, and feels neutral on the skin. The fiber is easy to care for. At erlich, depending on the item, the cotton comes from organic farming, from the transition to organic farming (Cotton in Conversion), or in individual cases from conventional farming. The exact information is provided on each product page. You can read more about this in our guide to organic cotton.

TENCEL Modal

Modal is a cellulose fiber made from beech wood. We exclusively use TENCEL Modal from Lenzing, sourced from FSC- and PEFC-certified wood. Modal has a silky-smooth drape, is lightweight, and feels soft. At erlich, Modal is only used in our women's range. See details in the guide to Modal.

TENCEL Lyocell

Lyocell comes from the same fiber family as Modal but is produced in a closed-loop process. According to Lenzing, over 99 percent of the solvent is recovered during this process.

Lace and Mesh

Our lace and mesh fabrics come from Germany or Turkey and consist of different polyamide and elastane blends, depending on the collection. In addition to stretch and light support, both offer a fine, elegant look and feel soft against the skin. The exact composition is listed on every product page. We explain how lace is constructed as a fabric and how it wears in our guide What is lace?. We explain in detail how mesh is knitted and why the fabric is so lightweight to wear in our guide What is mesh?.

Which fabric for which use?

Now for the practical part: which material fits which situation?

For every day

For everyday wear, organic cotton and Modal/Lyocell are the obvious choice. Cotton scores with absorbency and durability, while Modal offers a silky feel and low weight. Both are easy to care for. If you are looking for basics for everyday wear, you will find them in our Casual Cotton and Light Touch collections. Our lace lingerie is also excellent for everyday use: the bottoms are equipped with cotton or Modal gussets and the lace is so soft that it feels wonderful against the skin, just like a basic slip.

For movement and light sports

For light workouts and active days, take a look at our activewear. A note on honesty: erlich makes everyday basics, not specialized ski or functional underwear for high-performance sports.

For sensitive skin

If your skin is sensitive, smooth cellulose fibers like Modal and Lyocell as well as soft organic cotton are a good choice. Our production facilities are tracked via Retraced and evaluated before they are brought on board. You can read about what else is important in our article on underwear for sensitive skin.

Comparison: Fabric, properties, use

Material	Feel	Care	Best use
Organic Cotton	soft, natural	easy-care, 30-40 °C	everyday, daily
TENCEL Modal	silky, light	delicate, 30 °C	everyday, year-round
TENCEL Lyocell	smooth, cool	delicate, 30 °C	movement, active days
Lace / Mesh	fine, elastic	laundry bag, 30 °C	visuals, stretch

Which fibers we actually use

Instead of general promises, we give you the facts: cotton, which is either from controlled organic cultivation or Cotton in Conversion depending on the item (in individual cases also conventional), TENCEL Modal and Lyocell from Lenzing made from certified wood, and in the case of Lyocell, a closed-loop process with over 99 percent solvent recovery, according to Lenzing. In addition, our production facilities are tracked via Retraced and evaluated before being accepted.

What we leave out: unverifiable claims or promises that sound good but that our products do not actually offer. We prefer to state the specific fibers and processes so you can decide for yourself whether they meet your criteria.

Our recommendation based on your needs

If you want robust basics for every day, the Casual Cotton Basics with cotton, which is from controlled organic cultivation depending on the item, are your starting point. For a silky-light feel, it is worth taking a look at our Modal underwear.

Frequently asked questions

Which fabric is best for underwear?

That depends on the use. Organic cotton and Modal are strong for every day, Lyocell for movement. All three feel soft against the skin.

Which fabric is suitable for sports and movement?

TENCEL Lyocell. It is ideal for light workouts. For high-performance sports involving hours of sweating, technical functional fibers are designed, which we do not carry.

What is the most sustainable fabric for underwear?

In fact, every fiber has advantages and disadvantages. Organic cotton avoids chemical-synthetic pesticides, and TENCEL Lyocell runs in a closed-loop with over 99 percent solvent recovery according to Lenzing. Whether this is the most sustainable option for you depends on your own criteria.

Is cotton or Modal better?

Both are good, just different. Cotton is more absorbent and robust, Modal is silkier and lighter. For absorbent everyday basics, go for cotton; for a smooth, soft feel, go for Modal.

Which fabric is good for sensitive skin?

Smooth cellulose fibers like Modal and Lyocell as well as soft organic cotton, ideally from materials with verified supply chains. Additionally, look for flat seams and a low synthetic content.

How do I recognize good underwear fabric?

By the material composition (high-quality natural or cellulose fibers), verified supply chains, clean workmanship, and a fit that does not pinch or press.

Which underwear is made from natural fibers?

Natural fibers come straight from a plant or an animal as fibers, and for underwear that mostly means cotton. Modal and lyocell are made from wood, but they count as man-made fibers from natural polymers, because the wood is first broken down into pulp and then spun into a new fiber. Lace and mesh are usually made from polyamide with elastane, so they are synthetic. At erlich textil we make underwear from organically grown cotton (kbA) as well as from TENCEL™ Modal x Micro and TENCEL™ Lyocell, depending on the style with a share of elastane for stretch and fit. The exact composition is listed on every product page.