Subset

Organic cotton innerwear with textile recycling program

Subset sells women's innerwear, underwear, bras, and loungewear made from certified organic cotton. Known originally as 'Knickey,' it rebranded in 2023 to expand its line of sustainable essentials designed for daily living. Partnering with Supercircle, it has recycled over 1 million items through its innovative textile circularity program. Subset prioritizes environmentally responsible processes, ethical manufacturing, and low-impact fabrics, ensuring its products are free from harmful chemicals. Certified by GOTS, Oeko-Tex, Fair Trade International, and FSC, Subset is committed to making better products for the earth and its people, focusing on integrity and accountability.

How is Subset sustainable?

Based on our sustainability criteria, Commons rates Subset as a Best brand.

Materials: We’re big fans of organic cotton, especially when it comes to underwear. Subset’s underwear are 95% cotton. Over 90% of Subset’s material profile is GOTS Certified Organic cotton, which is a natural and eco-friendly fiber. Subsets’s sustainability efforts are grounded in materials and that expands to packaging too. Orders ship in 100% plastic free and recyclable packaging, made with FSC-certified paper.

‍Supply chain & ethics: The brand works with GOTS and Fair Trade certified factories. These certifications works to ensure living wages, safe working conditions, the right to unionize, and no toxic substances. Subset also has its own Supplier Code of Conduct that Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers sign onto.‍

Circularity: Subset works with Supercicle to take back used innerwear from any brand so that the’yre properly recycled. Lightly used bras are cleaned, sterilized and donated to communities in need. Other innerwaer is sorted by material. Garments that are predominantly cotton are made into recycled yard for apparel manufacturing. Garments made with predominantly synthetic fabrics are broken down into fiber lint to be used in furniture, insulation, and more. When you recycle with Subset, you can get up to $25 to use at the brand.