9 Organic Cotton Bralettes Reviewed By Our Editor
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
I’ve worn cotton bralettes as a wardrobe staple for years. Below, I rank organic options based on comfort, size inclusivity, and affordability.
In recent years, I’ve left behind bras with uncomfortable underwire and straps that dig into my shoulders. Though it started as a pandemic-driven, work-from-home-related decision, wearing bralettes rather than traditional bras is now part of my everyday. It turns out I don’t need tight nylon and rigid wires to feel supported.
Unlike traditional bras, which typically involve padded cups, underwires, and synthetic materials, bralettes typically give your breasts just enough support while still feeling comfortable. They usually lack pads, giving your chest a more natural-looking shape — and usually feeling comfy enough to sleep in.
Why choose organic cotton for intimates?
Our favorite bralettes are made of nothing but cotton — a fantastic material for intimates for its breathability and softness to the touch.
Most traditional bras are made of synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and spandex, sometimes in a blend with cotton, since synthetics aren’t super breathable. While synthetic fabrics have their advantages — they can be silky soft to the touch, and have a much higher elasticity — they can be irritating to skin and they aren’t great for the planet. Synthetic production is polluting, and an increasing number of synthetics used in activewear and undergarments contain high levels of BPA, an industrial chemical linked to increased blood pressure, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and negative effects on children’s development.
We love to choose natural materials over synthetics whenever possible, to make choices that are gentler on the planet and our bodies, so organic cotton is an even better option. Organic cotton, especially when certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), tends to use less water than conventional cotton, and is grown without harmful pesticides or fertilizer. Other common organic cotton certs include Oeko-Tex Standard 100 which means a textile is free of 100 commonly used toxic substances and allergens, and Made Safe, which ensures a product is free of 6,500 banned or potentially hazardous substances.
Our methodology & criteria:
I was sent these 9 organic cotton bralettes for testing, and wore each of them for at least a full day. I judged them based on comfort, how supportive they were, what their straps and closures were like, plus their sustainability specs and pricing. Note that I wear a size 30C in conventional bra sizing, which translates to an XS in almost every bralette — but we’ve included options that make a large range of sizes so you can find something that suits you perfectly.
- ORGANIC COTTON | All of the options on this list use organic cotton, meaning they are breathable and hypoallergenic without trapping any sweat or itchy, uncomfortable lace or underwires.
- COMFORT | I wore each of these options throughout my normal day to see if there was any discomfort, and to judge how seamless the bralette felt under my clothes. I’ve included notes from my wears below.
- AFFORDABLE | Most options on this come in at a lower price than typical lingerie, and we’ve included brands that range from more affordable to premium.
- SIZE-INCLUSIVITY | We’ve included options that come in sizes XS–6XL, and noted the size range of each brand below.
For more organic cotton items, check out our guides to organic cotton clothing brands and organic cotton leggings.
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best Size Range
1. MATE
Best For | Comfort
Materials | Organic cotton, spandex
Size Range | XS – XL
Price Range | $38
Founded and run by women, MATE has some pretty impressive sustainability specs, including B Corp status and a Climate Neutral certification. They focus on creating comfortable basics with organic materials and non-toxic dyes in fair working conditions, and their Organic Comfort Scoop Bralette might just be the most comfortable bralette I’ve ever put on. I wore it for a day of working from home and could hardly even feel it — it’s a perfect lounging-around bra, too, keeping you lightly supported with its soft knit cotton and tank top straps. They made an Organic Comfort Triangle Bralette, too, with adjustable spaghetti straps that give the bra a little more support. In general, MATE’s bralettes fall on the comfier, less supportive end of the spectrum — perfect for folks with small chests like me.
2. Quince
Best For | Affordable
Materials | Organic cotton, spandex
Size Range | XS – XL
Price Range | $30/two-pack
Quince aims to bring its customers sustainably-made products without the typically high price tags, and are known for their affordable cashmere and even home goods like linen sheets. While their sustainability claims aren’t as transparent as other brands on this list, their bralettes certainly check the affordable box, likely because of the brand’s factory direct model. The Organic Cotton Scoop Bralette comes in two-packs that clock in under $30 — of Quince’s two organic cotton bralette styles, this one has adjustable spaghetti straps while the other is a tank style. One of the comfier bras I tried, the Scoop Bralette has a no-hook design and a smooth elastic band for all-day comfort while you’re out and about or lounging at home. It has a fuller coverage look, too, so it’d look so cute layered underneath a button-down in the summer. This one was just a touch more supportive than MATE’s bralette.
3. Pansy
Best For | Smaller chests
Materials | Organic cotton, rubber elastic
Size Range | XS – 5XL
Price Range | $52 – $56
Pansy creates organic cotton intimates and loungewear that’s almost 100% produced in the US, from its cotton grown in Texas fields to its North Carolina cotton mills and California sewing factory — the only exception is its organic cotton thread from India, since they haven’t been able to source organic cotton thread in the states. Of their four bra models, I tried out the brand’s basic “Bra” — an unlined, unpadded bralette made of nothing but organic cotton and rubber elastic, so it’s fully compostable. I was impressed with how well this one contoured to my body with zero gapping, and still felt super comfy and not too tight. Its cups were pretty small, so anyone with a larger chest than mine might want to opt for the brand’s Smile Bra, with slightly fuller coverage, or their Cross Bra, with thin, criss-crossed straps.
4. Subset
Best For | Supportive, larger chest sizes
Materials | Organic cotton, elastane, recycled polyester
Size Range | XS – 3XL+
Price Range | $48 – $62
Specializing in high-quality underwear made with organic cotton, Subset was formerly called Knickey. I’ve worn (and loved) the brand’s cotton underwear for years, so I was thrilled about the chance to try out one of their bras, too. Their Triangle Soft Bra is one of the most supportive wireless bras I’ve ever tried — it has a thick-ish band and shoulder straps, and felt comfortably snug, great for a day of work or errands. It has darted double-lined cups and a sturdy hook-and-eye back closure, too. The body fabric is made of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane, while its straps and band are made of synthetics like spandex and recycled polyester. The bra even comes in “more cup room” sizes, too, so it’s really made to be super supportive and to fit an inclusive range of bodies. Bonus: my order came in completely plastic-free packaging!
5. Organic Basics
Best For | Snug and invisible
Materials | Organic cotton, elastane
Size Range | XXS – XXL
Price Range | $30 – $41
Organic Basics is exactly what it sounds like — they create basics like undies and loungewear from sustainable materials in ethical factories. They have pretty transparently ethical manufacturing processes, and they make bralettes in a wide range of styles, some of which are cotton and some of which are synthetic. I tried the Flex Bralette, made of 91% organic cotton and 9% elastane — and it sure was flexy. The XXS looked too small for me out of the package, but its fantastic stretch made it both snugly supportive and comfortable. It has adjustable spaghetti straps and is designed with less coverage than some other options on this list, so it felt invisible under my t-shirt, too.
6. Thunderpants
Best For | Limited-edition patterns
Materials | Organic cotton, spandex
Size Range | S – 3XL
Price Range | $42 – $48
Founded in New Zealand in the ‘90s, Thunderpants makes comfy cotton underwear in cute, limited-edition patterns. Today, Thunderpants USA manufactures in Portland, OR and uses a slower growth business model “that prioritizes well being and is rooted in our local economy,” says their website. Their Bralette, made of the same 90% organic cotton and 10% spandex blend as their underpants, lives up to its claims of comfort. It has extra elastic under the bust which gives it a moderate support without feeling too tight at all, and it comes in so many different fun colors and patterns (even though the boring black was more my speed). This style was pretty full coverage on my body — I could wear it as a sports bra for low-impact workouts — but they make a Longline Bra, too, with a higher neckline and a longer, sleeker look.
7. Pact
Best For | Full coverage
Materials | Organic cotton, elastane
Size Range | XS – 3XL
Price Range | $25 – $35
We love Pact for how affordable its cotton basics are, and its bralettes are no exception. Besides creating clothing with organic cotton, the brand works with only Fair Trade factories and is even carbon neutral, too. Made in a Fair Trade certified factory of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane, their Lace Smooth Cup Bralette feels like a cross between a sports bra and a bralette — supportive and covering with removable pads, but with flirty lace detailing and a comfortable fit. It would work just as well under a t-shirt for yoga class as it would under a sweater during the workday. But since it provides more coverage than I look for in a comfy bralette, I’d probably wear it mostly to the gym and workout classes —the brand’s Everyday Strappy Scoop Bralette is practically the same thing, but with no lace and straps that can criss-cross in the back. Its 5% elastane makes the bras stretchy and moisture-wicking.
8. Oddobody
Best For | 100% organic Pima cotton
Materials | Organic cotton
Size Range | XS – 3XL
Price Range | $45 – $56
Making nothing but basics made of 100% organic cotton, Oddobody couldn’t be more deserving of a spot on this list. Woven with a natural four-way stretch, their organic Pima cotton is gentle on skin and on the environment, and they use it to make underwear, bras, and loungewear. They make a spaghetti strap Triangle Bra, which is already on a waitlist, and a Shelf Bra, of which I tried the olive color. The racerback bra is made of a slightly thicker fabric and gives gentle support, perfect for relaxing at home for some folks, and providing enough support to be a sports bra for others. It had a lower-cut neckline on me which means it wouldn’t really function as a sports bra, but it’s incredibly comfy — and super impressive that that stretch and comfort comes from nothing but organic cotton with no synthetics.
9. Brook There
Best For | Pretty colors
Materials | Organic cotton, spandex
Size Range | 32ab – 38cd
Price Range | $58 – $78
Sewn in a Massachusetts factory from organic cotton fabric milled in California, Brook There’s cotton bralettes prioritize ethical production. The brand makes underwear and loungewear, too, along with three styles of bralettes. I tried their Pixy Bra, a more supportive style with a double lining, room for larger cup sizes, and a composition of 94% organic cotton and 6% spandex. I chose their size 32bc, which was just a tad big for me in the band, straps, and cups — but their Triangle Bra, which I’ve tried in the past, was a little too small for me at size 32ab. Their Curve Convertible Bra, with support that falls in between the Triangle and the Pixy, would probably be perfect for someone my size and shape. Plus, their color options, full of pastels and nature-inspired hues, can’t be beat.
Natalie Gale is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a Boston-based freelance journalist. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!
