Portugal-based label ColieCo is challenging what founder Nicole Neaber calls a "very vanilla mainstream sustainable underwear market." The brand's aim is lingerie that doesn't force a choice between style and sustainability, from color-blocked sets to open-backed panties and a vegan alternative to silk.
In January, Good On You rated ColieCo among the world's top 50 sustainable clothing brands. The label has also earned SANE Standard certification for its products and its Portugal studio, where every garment is sewn to order to avoid surplus stock. Materials mix recycled fibers, reclaimed deadstock and sustainably processed fibers including TENCEL™ Lyocell and a closed-loop bamboo satin meant to rival silk in feel and breathability.
Elastics come from European OEKO-TEX STeP certified suppliers, and prints are handled by a local partner offering zero-waste sublimation printing. Optimized cutting reduces fabric waste, with leftovers sent for textile recycling, and customers get free alterations and repairs.
Signature styles include the cutout Poppy set, the ruffled Salema set and the Aster set, plain in front and striking in back. The latest launch, Kaleidoscope II, is patchworked from contrasting color panels, a design approach Neaber says reflects both the brand's waste-cutting goals and its bold aesthetic. She also framed the collection as a tribute to female artists who historically received less credit than their male counterparts, naming Sonia Delaunay, who died in 1979.
ColieCo skips wholesale markups to keep prices in line with mid-range mainstream brands. Separates start at 20€ (about $22.50), and a five-piece bamboo silk set reaches 152€ ($171). Sizes run XXS to 3XL, with custom sizing available.
Originally reported by LingerieBriefs