We recognise that in an ever-tempting fast fashion culture that combines both ease of access and cheap shopping hauls, our choice in sustainable fabrics needs to perform exceptionally to encourage changes in consumer habits. Over the past few years, founder Ayten has made it a personal mission to seek out materials that make our luxury lingerie and sleepwear worth every penny of your investment, for intimates that, unlike their throwaway fashion counterparts, will stand the test of time. In today’s blog post, we’ll dive deeper into the catalogue of ethical fabrics, and discover what makes them so special.
Organic Silk
As a long-standing silkwear brand, we, of course, had to primarily explore sustainable switch-ups in this arena. We have now responsibly expanded across our range, with organic silk featuring heavily within our best-loved designs. This eco fabric is made without the use of chemicals, pesticides and harmful dyes, while still remaining breathable, durable and always kind to skin. It also allows us to have a transparent supply chain, as there are questions about the ethics of conventional silk, with one study conducted by Human Rights Watch finding that child labour is sadly a common occurrence within the industry.
Our Selena range is made from Organic GOTS certified silk and Oeko-Tex lace: https://www.aytengasson.com/collections/selena
Selena Triange Bra and Side Tie Knicker
Bamboo Silk
Another ethical silk recently added to our arsenal uses bamboo fibres and far less intervention than its traditional equivalents. Historically, silk has been made using resource-intensive production, demanding great amounts of water and energy, alongside the use of chemicals and pesticides. Crafted from a renewable resource, bamboo silk instead retains a luxurious feel, while proving more eco-conscious, accessible and cost-effective. It’s also vegan, unlike classic, silk meaning it can be worn and enjoyed by all.
Bella Bamboo Silk Camisole and French Knicker
Oeko-Tex Certified, Recycled & Locally Sourced Lace
Intricate laces adorn almost all of our pieces, so it’s been a keen mission to source as many eco-friendly lace options as possible. We currently work with sustainable supplier Chanty Lace, who provide us with Oekotex® laces that embrace recycled materials and the highest standard of ethical production. Outside of this, we also source English laces from The Cluny Lace Company who have been producing lace in the UK since 1845. Finally, we love incorporating a range of vintage laces to play our part in ensuring fabrics are kept circular and out of landfills for as long as possible.
Dawn OekoTex Lace Bralette and Knicker
Bamboo Jersey
Some garment designs require even more stretch and comfort than others, and this served as the core foundation when creating our Ava range. Commonly, jersey material used when creating lingerie pieces is made from synthetic fibres like polyester, that when washed, release microplastics into our waterways, contributing to the pollution of our oceans and risking marine, and potentially human life. We chose instead to embrace bamboo jersey for its reassuring softness that seamlessly hugs the skin, alongside its breathability and absorbent properties. A renewable resource with rapid growth, bamboo requires no chemical intervention and is both biodegradable and antibacterial.
Ava Organic Bamboo Bodysuit
Organic Cotton
Despite being a natural fibre, conventional cotton isn’t exactly environmentally friendly. Its mother plant requires a heavy water supply to grow and thrive, with just one 1kg bag of cotton needing around 20,000 litres. To avoid working with a fabric that does nothing to relieve the water scarcity felt through many global countries, we chose to incorporate only organic, ethically sourced cotton in our designs. Our Lydia Range showcased GOTS-certified cotton that boasts all traditional properties (strength, softness and breathability) with minimal impact on our natural world.
Lydia Organic Cotton Bralette and High Waisted Knicker
The Importance of Shopping Sustainably for Lingerie
Now more than ever, consumers are urged to shop sustainably when looking to refresh their wardrobes - but what about your lingerie drawer? If we take a deeper look into the environmental impacts of our traditional industry, we can swiftly identify how desperately our buying habits need to change.
Conventional lingerie production typically involves the use of non-biodegradable, synthetic materials that harm our environment both in the present and future. A quick look at any fast fashion lingerie rail will feature fabrics like polyester, nylon and spandex, which not only lead to long-term pollution but are also sourced and crafted cheaply and without ethical considerations.
Ayten Gasson is proudly part of the slow yet growing rise of sustainable lingerie brands, but we need consumer help to bring our mission and businesses mainstream. The next time your underwear drawer needs a refresh, consider shopping with a small, responsible label. Consumer demand for a sustainable lingerie landscape has the power to invoke real change, and we can’t do it alone.
We also want you to direct your voice and demands to our inbox! Reach out to Ayten at info@aytengasson.com with thoughts and suggestions on our sustainable fabrics and what you would like to see from our brand in future.
