SUSTAINABLE
MATERIAL SOURCING
AT LUCIELA

All Luciela garments are made from high-quality materials, responsibly sourced and ethically manufactured in Europe according to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 regulations.

Every single one of our materials includes recycled or biodegradable fibres and all our designs are digitally printed. This consumes much less water than traditional dyeing methods.

Luxurious Italian laces and meshes are meticulously pieced together by a lingerie atelier based in Lisbon. We are proud to collaborate with suppliers who share our vision of ethical practices and work continuously to improve the sustainability of their materials.

All materials used in our packaging are 100% biodegradable.

Read more about our commitment to crafting responsible intimates here.

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE
SOURCING?

NATURAL MATERIALS

When thinking about materials used in sustainable lingerie, fibres with natural origins such as organic cotton, Tencel or bamboo usually come to mind, well known for being environmentally friendly. But nowadays fabrics commonly used in high-end lingerie such as lace, embroidery or tulle mesh are almost exclusively made with synthetic fibres, namely polyester and nylon.

While cotton or silk alternatives do exist, they are comparatively much more expensive—up to 20 times as much!—which makes them prohibitively costly for most brands and sees them typically reserved for haute couture or luxury bridal wear.

RECYCLED MATERIALS

So if you are looking for intimates made from natural materials, you will be limited to the basics. If you want something more decorative like a lace trim or a bit of embroidery, you will have to consider synthetics. There are a couple of eco-conscious options for synthetic fibres, the most common and well-known of which is the use of recycling to achieve regenerated nylon and polyester.

Waste reduction, conservation of resources and a lower carbon footprint are just some of the benefits of recycling, and natural fibres can be recycled too, which makes them an even more sustainable choice than virgin natural materials. Bear in mind that the recycling process can weaken fibres, which is why recycled fibres are often mixed with non-recycled fibres to increase their strength and why it is common to find recycled blends in responsibly-sourced lingerie.

BIODEGRADABLE SYNTHETICS

Still very new, biodegradable synthetic fibres are a recent eco-innovation with huge potential in the fashion industry. These fibres maintain the characteristics of traditional synthetics such as strength, durability and softness, but have a vastly accelerated natural decomposition process and do not leave harmful substances behind.

They represent the best of both worlds: the properties of nylon and polyester, and the biodegradability of natural materials without the exploitation of natural resources. Examples include Amni Soul Eco® and NYLEO® 4EARTH® for nylon and CELYS™ and Eco-An® for polyester, while others are in development; increased availability of these types of fibres means that they should become more and more accessible, and their use by eco-responsible lingerie brands more widespread.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

When intimates brands talk about using sustainable materials in their garments, most of the time they are referring to the main fabrics.

However lingerie is made up of an astoundingly large number of different components, most of which are generally not referenced in garment composition descriptions.

An underwire bra, for example, can be composed of up to 20 different materials found in the fabrics, straps, fastenings, accessories and more.

When a brand says that they are using eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or recycled lace, it is important to bear in mind that often this only refers to the main fabric, and does not include all of these smaller components.

We believe that responsible sourcing should take all elements into account, which is why every single component of our lingerie is carefully studied and selected for its sustainable credentials. We want to be fully transparent about the origin and composition of all materials used in our garments, so you will find a full breakdown of each of them on the individual product pages in our shop.

AND THEN THERE'S ELASTANE

Even basic briefs made from organic cotton or bamboo contain elastane. And elastane is a synthetic fibre that can take up to 200 years to decompose. It is present in fabrics, straps, waistbands, trims and thread, and provides the elasticity that is a crucial characteristic of underwear for comfort, fit and support.

It is possible to use elastic made from natural tree rubber, but this is currently not easily accessible and unsuitable for those with latex allergies. The good news is that there now exist next-generation recycled, biobased and compostable alternatives that are making waves in the fashion industry and that will become more and more common in the lingerie sector with time.

Examples include ROICA™ EF, creora®regen and LYCRA® EcoMade for recycled elastane, creora® bio-based for biobased elastane and ROICA™ V550 for compostable elastane.

SPOTLIGHT ON SOME OF OUR MATERIALS

Amni Soul Eco®

The first fully biodegradable polyamide (nylon) yarn that, once in landfill, decomposes completely into biomass and biogas within 5 years, leaving no harmful substances behind. It retains all the properties of traditional nylon. Used in our Poppy Briefs and Bralettes.

Q-NOVA®

A recycled and eco-sustainable polyamide (nylon) fibre obtained from regenerated raw materials, made up of waste materials from the company’s main production cycle and classified according to the criteria and requirements of modern traceability. Used in our Thistle collection.

ROICA™ V550

The world’s first compostable elastane with Cradle-to-Cradle certification, which degrades into CO2 and water without releasing harmful substances. Used in our Poppy Baby Dolls.

ROICA™ EF

A recycled stretch innovation re-made from pre-consumer materials and containing more than 50% pre-consumer recycled content. Used in our Wisteria collection.

PACKAGING

All materials used in Luciela packaging are
100% biodegradable.

They are: recycled cardboard, FSC-certified pulp, sugar cane and cotton.

Inks are soy- and water-based.

Adhesives are non-toxic and biodegradable.

WHAT TO KNOW

Most are recycled and recyclable.

Absolutely no plastic is present in any of our packaging.

All of our packaging materials are sourced in Europe.

We are part of the Noissue Eco Packaging Alliance.

DISCOVER MORE

What materials are commonly used in sustainable lingerie?

Common materials used in sustainable lingerie include:

Organic cotton: grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.
Tencel: a biodegradable fibre produced from sustainably sourced wood pulp.
Recycled fabrics: made from post-consumer waste such as recycled polyester or polyamide.

New innovations for eco-friendly materials include:

Biodegradable synthetics: newly developed fibres with the same properties as traditional synthetic materials such as nylon or elastane, but which biodegrade into organic matter, leaving no harmful substances behind. These fibres are already used in some of our collections.

At Luciela we are completely transparent about the materials we use, and you will find a complete breakdown of the origin and composition of each garment’s materials on its product page.

Switching to more eco-friendly lingerie choices offers several benefits:Environmental impact: reduced carbon footprint and waste.Ethical production: support for fair labour practices that don’t exploit workers.Better quality: high-quality materials that are gentle on the skin and longer-lasting.Healthier choice: reduced exposure to harmful chemicals often found in conventionalunderwear