As Earth Day 2026 fades into memory, its theme - "Our Power, Our Planet" - lingers like a well-fitted corset: supportive, demanding, and impossible to ignore. For those of us who study the history of intimate apparel, the call to action resonates with particular urgency. Lingerie, after all, has long been a battleground between natural comfort and synthetic constraint. From the whalebone stays of the 18th century to the nylon stockings of the 1940s, each era's undergarments reflect its material priorities. Today, we face a new frontier: shedding petroleum-based fabrics in favor of fibers that breathe, decompose, and honor the planet.
Enter Stewards, a Los Angeles-based performance apparel brand that challenges the long-held belief that synthetics are necessary for athletic wear. Founded by David Allyn and Brandi Andres, the company recently launched its second collection featuring AV MAX™ technology - a proprietary blend of 100 percent recycled cotton infused with aloe vera. This marriage of natural fiber and botanical innovation regulates temperature, reduces odor, and extends garment life by cutting down on washing. "Fewer washes mean less water use and lower energy," Allyn explains, "and because the base is natural cotton, it's biodegradable at end of life." The approach echoes lingerie's own evolution: the shift from rigid, non-biodegradable materials to softer, circular systems.
Meanwhile, Jiwya, founded by textile scientists Aishwarya Lahariya and Adhiraj Shinde, offers a soil-to-soil ecosystem that rejects animal and plastic inputs entirely. Their use of indigenous Kala cotton - a drought-resistant variety grown in India's arid regions - recalls the resourcefulness of early 20th-century lingerie makers, who relied on local, renewable materials. "The natural feel of a fiber is true luxury," says Lahariya, "not the plastic-coated version."
This movement toward circularity is not merely nostalgic. According to Cotton Incorporated's 2026 Global Sustainability Survey, 71 percent of U.S. consumers now consider sustainability important when purchasing apparel - up from 65 percent in 2023. And 76 percent actively seek garments made from natural fibers. Yet barriers remain: a lack of clear information, limited options, and the lingering cost of ethical choices. Brands like Stewards and Jiwya are threading the needle, proving that performance and planet need not be adversaries. For the lingerie industry - historically a pioneer in fabric innovation - this is not a trend. It is a return to first principles.
As we curate the future of intimate apparel, let us remember: the most honest fabric is the one that returns to the earth as gracefully as it once touched the skin.
Originally reported by WWD