If you’ve been with me long enough, you might remember when I published my Organic Basics Starter Pack Review at the end of 2019. You’ll be happy to know that I still wear the bra to this day – and other than a little bit of colour fading it’s pretty much as good as new. Well, I’m back with another Organic Basics review – this time of their TENCEL™ Underwear. I picked 3 items; the Tencel Lite Bralette, Tanga, and Singlet, all in the beautiful shade Dusty Rose.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that this is not a sponsored post and I have not received monetary payment for this post. I have been sent products from Organic Basics for personal use and to write a review if I wished. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. I am, however, an Organic Basics affiliate which means there may be affiliate links in this post and if you purchase anything from the Organic Basics website I will receive a small commission. If you’d like to know more, feel free to contact me.
Now, before I get stuck into my review I just want to give you a little info on the brand, their ethics, what they do to be sustainable, but also give you some background on what the TENCEL™ fabric is and why it’s a better alternative to bamboo-based silks and other materials.
Organic Basics are offering all my readers 10% off their full range (excluding multipacks) using the code GEORGINAOBC2. Scroll down for the full review. Please note that this code expires August 6th, 2021.
How Ethical Are Organic Basics?
Organic Basics are an organic and sustainable clothing brand based in Copenhagen, Denmark which offers a ridiculously stylish range of essentials for both men and women, all whilst looking after their factory workers and the environment too. They only work with certified factory partners based in Austria, Italy, Portugal and Turkey, which all share their vision on sustainability, reducing their environmental footprint. The factory working conditions are safe and free from forced labour and child labour, and all of their workers are receiving a living wage. All workers are also offered free lunches and childcare too. You can find out more here.
All of the Organic Basics products are PETA approved and therefore vegan friendly. Except for their SilverTech™ Active Socks and Recycled Cashmere accessories as they’re made from recycled wool. They also hit more than the minimum benchmark for sustainability using only sustainable materials and technologies such as; GOTS certified organic cotton, recycled nylon, TENCEL Lyocell, recycled wool, SilverTech, Polygiene, and seamless knitting. Every fabric is derived from either Class A or B fibres, have a great environmental footprint and lifetime durability. Everything is natural, biodegradable, renewable, and recycled with a low impact on the environment.
So far Organic Basics, in comparison to traditional manufacturing processes, have saved 2.43 tonnes of waste from entering landfills, and have prevented 3 kilos of 2000 different types of nasty chemicals and 3.23 kilos of CO2 from entering our beloved environment. They only work with factories and suppliers that run on clean and renewable energy, and they use materials and manufacturing methods that use a reduced amount of water. You can find out more about their Impact Index here.
It’s safe to say that Organic Basics are one of the most forward-thinking and transparent clothing brands that I know of. It’s not likely that you’ll be able to dig up any bad stuff on them
What is Tencel™?
With 73% of clothing ending up in landfill, and god knows how much of it is made from plastic-based materials that don’t degrade, it’s important to look for materials that are biodegradable. The fashion industry uses 1.5 trillion litres of water every year to produce your clothing, and this process often results in a large amount of environmental pollution – in fact it makes of for roughly 20% of industrial water pollution. Knowing these figures makes me want to do my part, and to be honest, I rarely purchase new clothing items – in fact, I’m a big Depop user. But, there comes a time when I finally have to give in and so it’s good to know what other sustainable options are out there.
TENCEL™ Lyocell: combining sustainability and comfort from LAG-Admin on Vimeo.
Tencel™ is an incredibly soft, biodegradable material made from the pulp of eucalyptus trees. It requires significantly less water to grow and process, unlike the often touted ‘eco-friendly’ bamboo-based viscose that actually requires a huge amount of water and chemicals to grow and manufacture. You might have heard of bamboo silks being used in intimates, well Tencel can mimic a similar™ feeling that’s almost second-skin-like.
The production of the fabric is super interesting to me – eucalyptus wood chips are sourced from sustainably managed forests, all of which are used, to create a pulp using renewable energy sources. Finally, water and non-toxic organic solvents transform the wood pulp into TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres. And what’s even more amazing is that more than 99% of these organic solvents are used in a closed-loop production process. What does all this mean? Well, Tencel™ is a super sustainable fabric that will leave you feeling guilt-free about your purchases.
My Organic Basics TENCEL™ Underwear Review
So much has changed since I published my last Organic Basics review. I’ve gained body fat and a whole lot of tattoos, lost muscle mass, stopped shaving, and started to try and love myself a little bit more. As a 37-year-old woman, and single mother of 3, this can be a sore topic for me. And I think it’s hard to navigate the fashion world when we see so many young things flaunting their super symmetrical bodies – and so they bloody should!
… for us middle-aged ladies who are imperfectly perfect, and especially those of us in the blogosphere, it’s hard to find that representation. I’m here today to share with you my thread veins, cellulite, armpit hair, leg pubes, jiggles, you name it. Because it’s so important to know that you aren’t alone.
But, for us middle-aged ladies who are imperfectly perfect, and especially those of us in the blogosphere, it’s hard to find that representation. I’m here today to share with you my thread veins, cellulite, armpit hair, leg pubes, jiggles, you name it. Because it’s so important to know that you aren’t alone. It hasn’t been easy for me, especially as someone that likes to edit photos – it comes naturally to me to want to airbrush these things out to achieve a more conventionally attractive photograph, but this time I took a step back and said no.
Anyway – back to the amazing OB Tencel Underwear range. It’s available in 7 colours; Black, Dusty Rose, Soft Pink, Ocher, Navy, Cloudy Blue, and White. I opted for Dusty Rose everything, a sort of subdued pinky mauve, but please note that due to the horrific lighting in my bedroom the colour isn’t fully representative of the real-life thing. It’s much clearer on their website I promise. I have to say that since they launched more colours I would love to try out the Ochre – it is definitely a shade that would compliment my light olive skin perfectly.
The women’s size range is fairly standard and everything available in sizes XS to XL. I’m guessing this would be from around a size 6 to possibly a 16 or 18 but I’ll talk a little more in-depth about the sizing for each item. I would personally love to see more inclusivity in their sizes. I’ve had friends ask me in the past who would just about fit in the XL and maybe not so comfortably, so it’s something I think Organic Basics should look into.
All Organic Basics TENCEL™ items are made of 95% Tencel and 5% elastane at their partner factory in Apúlia, Portugal and are machine washable up to temperatures of 30°C.
The Organic Basics Tencel Lite Bralette, RRP £48
First of all, let’s talk cut – oh my lordy! I have to say that this is one of the most flattering bralettes ever. The triangle cut is perfect, the seams on the cups help to hide that awful cold nipple syndrome, all whilst creating a beautiful shape, oh and let’s not forget the cut-out detail in the middle which is both functional (think ventilation) and super stylish.
I’m one of those people that can be easily irritated by labels, certain materials, and stitching but there’s just none of that nonsense with the Tencel Lite Bralette. Firstly, Organic Basics don’t use labels but instead, print the information you need on the inside so you can kiss goodbye to any irritation. Secondly, Tencel is crazily soft. I’m probably going to keep saying this throughout my review but it’s so true. I actually haven’t been able to take this bralette off since I first put it on because it is literally the comfiest, silkiest smooth thing that has ever graced my skin – no joke.
If you’re a bit of a serial sweater or someone that gets too cold you’ll be pleased to know that thanks to the Tencel material there’s a lot of breathability and wicking but also it seems to regulate temperature very well too.
Size-wise I opted for a size M. The sizes range from XS to XL with an underbust of 32 to 40 and no larger than a DD cup, the smallest cup size is an A. Even though I’m a 34B, and technically would be classed a size S, I sized up because I have one boob bigger than the other and my bust can fluctuate throughout the month. The bust in inches for a medium is 35 1/2″ to 37″ and I can sometimes go up to 36″ around my period. Either way, I never felt like the bra was too big or too small and adjust the straps with my cycle was all that was needed. There’s also no way my left boob will fall out of the cup which is an ongoing problem for me.
The support on this bra is very minimal, although there are 3 rows of hook and eye closures, I think if you were larger busted you’d definitely want something more supportive. But if you’re looking for a no-bra bra then this is the one for you. There are no irritating pokey wires, you’re supported enough not to fall out of the cups due to the triangle style cut, and it looks super chic under loose-fitting tops and cardigans.
If you’re a bit of a serial sweater or someone that gets too cold you’ll be pleased to know that thanks to the Tencel material there’s a lot of breathability and wicking but also it seems to regulate temperature very well too.
The only niggle is that under tight-fitting clothes it isn’t particularly seam-free and when your breasts are bigger than an A cup you’re going to see a little bit of boob creeping out where there’s the cut-out but, to be honest, that didn’t bother me too much. Either way, the Tencel Lite Bralette is an absolute winner and I think I’m gonna grab myself a couple of different colours from the range.
The Organic Basics Tencel Lite Tanga 2-pack, RRP £42
Okay, this time around I didn’t take any butt shots so if you wanna see the back you’ll have to head on over to the product page (just click the header above) I thought I’d save you all from that beautiful, sweet nightmare. But, what you can see is that these Tanga, thong style panties fit like a dream.
The sizing ranges from waist 25 1/2″ to 33 1/2″ and hips 35 1/2″ to 43 1/2″. I went for a size large which has a waist of 31-32″ and hips 41-42″. The hip size is pretty similar to my own but my natural waistline is actually 28″ or less. Around the belly button I am more of a 31″.
Now, I’m someone with a gigantic butt and a waist that is 2 sizes smaller, so as you can imagine this causes me so many problems when buying pants. Thankfully the thick waistband seems to keep the pants sitting well, there is a little gap around my waist when I’m not on my period or near to having it, but it isn’t something that has bothered me at all. Funnily enough, as soon as I had finished shooting these photos I had actually started my period so this is me at my most bloated and when I carry a lot of water weight. So, anyway, the size discrepancy was no issue for me here. But, if I’m in a size L it does make me wonder how accessible a size XL really is.
The material is pretty thin and mildly see-through – if you carry a fair amount of pubic hair the shape of it will be visible but not so much the colour. I mean I’m a total 70s bush kinda gal so I can vouch for this. One problem that comes with not shaving off leg pubes is that they have a tendency to get painfully caught in the material but due to the softness of the material that doesn’t happen with the Tencel Lite Tangas. It’s a total of 10/10 again for comfort from me.
These pants are also totally seam-free under leggings which is always an added bonus. So overall, I was super happy with them.
The Organic Basics Tencel Lite Singlet, RRP £35
The singlet I received, unfortunately, had some sort of discolouration to it on the chest area to one side. I don’t think it’s that visible in the photos as I did manage to edit this out a little but basically, there were a couple of fairly large round patches that looked almost like the dye hadn’t taken. I can only guess that this was a very rare design fault as I’ve not seen any negative reviews anywhere and all of my other items were perfect. As it was gifted I’m not too fussed and have just been using it underneath other items of clothing – it really is great for layering – and to sleep in too due to the softness and comfort of the Tencel fabric.
With a suitable bra, it would look really chic with some mom jeans or jean shorts. It would also style well tucked into some looser style trousers (think puddle or sailor) or a nice maxi skirt, making it a pretty versatile piece of clothing to have in your sustainable wardrobe.
I opted for a size S which was a relatively good fit for me, I think I could have gotten away in a M too, but the length wasn’t too bad even though I’m almost 5’8″. It’s worth noting that I’m not particularly long bodied but rather ridiculously long-legged instead. The cami straps are adjustable at the back for a customisable fit which I think really helps when we all have different lengthed bodies. The measurements for the sizes XS to XL varies as below:
- Bust – 32 1/2″ to 41 1/2″
- Waist – 24 1/2″ to 33 1/2″
- Hip – 34 1/2″ to 43 1/2″
- Length ranges from 24 1/2″ to 27 1/2″.
The material is super see-through (sorry for the nip shots) and I do wonder if I had sized up would it have been less noticeable? I definitely would not be able to go bra-free with this which is a shame but it still makes for the most amazingly comfortable spring/summer sleepwear ever invented. I did try wearing the bra underneath but didn’t like the way the straps looked so if I ever invest in another Tencel Lite Singlet I’d opt for a darker colour and wear a similarly coloured strapless bra underneath.
With a suitable bra, it would look really chic with some mom jeans or jean shorts. It would also style well tucked into some looser style trousers (think puddle or sailor) or a nice maxi skirt, making it a pretty versatile piece of clothing to have in your sustainable wardrobe.
For me, comfort was a 10/10 again but the fit an 8/10 due to how see-through the material was. Overall I still loved the Organic Basics Tencel Lite Singlet and I’m keen to get one in Black or Ocher.
The Verdict
Organic Basics boasts some of the best sustainability and ethical practices, even for an ethical/sustainable clothing brand. They’re super forward-thinking and I’m yet to have tried an item of clothing from them that I didn’t like. Having said this I do believe that they need to be more accessible to smaller and larger sizes to fit in with the inclusive thinking of the brand and its prospective customers. Again its models are pretty thin too and I’d love to see more diversity.
Those small qualms aside the quality of the manufacturing is impeccable, and even after countless washes I haven’t seen any fading of colour, bobbling, or damage to any of the Tencel pieces I was gifted. This is a great sign of good quality and long-lasting garments and although upon first glance the items seem to be very pricey I can sort of see why. Making sustainable clothing isn’t cheap – which is a sad fact and it of course does stop certain socio-economical groups from being able to invest in comfortable and long-lasting clothing. Until the whole clothing industry takes a turn for the better I can’t see this issue going away fast. I certainly don’t expect Organic Basics to charge less and you shouldn’t either.
Organic Basics offers free CO2 neutral worldwide shipping (on orders over £70) which is really helpful when you’re strapped for cash and it’s not too hard to hit the free shipping target due to the high-value price tag of most products. All packaging is fully recyclable in your local paper recycling too which is always a relief.
When I first reviewed their products in 2019 they only had a few items of underwear so it’s great to see how much they have grown. Now they’re even selling Circular Denim and Cropped Sweaters which I would love to invest in once I have some spare cash. I can’t wait to see what Organic Basics has to offer in the future and I really hope you’ll give them a go.
Don’t forget that Organic Basics are offering all my readers 10% off their full range (excluding multipacks) using the code GEORGINAOBC2. Please note that this code expires August 6th, 2021. If you’ve tried the OB Tencel range please drop a little comment below and let me know what you think!. For more ethical clothing reviews please click here.
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