While I shop secondhand for most clothes, underwear and swimwear are garments that I haven’t gotten around to thrifting. As an alternative, I’ve been seeking ethical and sustainable underwear brands so that I can slowly replace my undergarments when they get worn out.

Hara the Label is a conscious underwear brand based out of Australia. Their mission is to, “bring change and awareness to the human and environmental issues in the fashion industry while creating sustainable soft dreamy bamboo underwear that is both rejuvenating and empowering.”

Here are a few things that make Hara great:

• They only use OEKO-TEX 100 certified organic bamboo fabric to make their pieces. Bamboo is a more sustainable alternative to the cotton traditionally used for undergarments as it requires fewer pesticides and less water to grow, and regenerates more quickly. The OEKO-TEX 100 certification ensures that no harmful substances are found on the textiles.

• Hara uses natural plant dyes so that no toxic runoff is created. The components used are then composted so that no waste is generated.

• Hara’s garments are manufactured ethically in Melbourne. Workers are contracted under the Australian Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award 2010 which guarantees a living wage. Hara traces every step of its supply chain and regularly visits its suppliers to ensure ethical work conditions.

• They ship their garments with Better Packaging “Dirt Bags”! These bags are fully home compostable!

Hara sent me four pieces to try on with no expectations for a blog post or any social media content. Here are my thoughts on these pieces!

Overall:

I really enjoy how the bamboo fabric feels. The fabrics are a little looser around the body and give a more casual and comfortable feeling than some other undergarments. 

Cherry Stella Low Cut Bra - S

I usually wear a 32/34 A and this bra fits perfectly. I like that there is no clasp in the back but worry about whether or not it will stretch out as time goes on. The cups are very comfortable (no underwire) and this bra feels more like a bralette than a traditional bra. That being said, this bra offers very little support so it might not be the option for others. I love the color and intend to wear it both as innerwear and outerwear.

Cherry Lena High Waist Undies - S

Super comfortable! I experienced a little bit of gapping around the hips but much prefer that to excessive compression. This piece embraces the shape of your body and doesn’t cut (much) into the butt.

Powder Blue Bumi Leotard - S

One of my favorite pieces! I absolutely love the color and cut of this garment. The exposed back is a fun detail and makes it easy to style on a night out. The butt area does rise up a little so I personally choose not to pair it with any tight pants or leggings. This bodysuit does not feature a snap crotch so using the bathroom is a little more complicated but it’s very comfortable all around.

Charcoal Gabi Bike Shorts - S

My first pair of bike shorts! I can’t believe that I haven’t shopped this trend before; they’re so comfortable and practical! These bike shorts are actually a little loose around the hips and don’t give you the compressive feel that you come to expect with athletic shorts or leggings. Despite this difference in expectation, I still really love the shorts and find that they’re great for everyday wear or even when you’re working out.

Final impressions:

I really enjoyed the garments that Hara sent me! Due to the COVID backlog, the process did take a while--I placed the order in January and didn’t get the package until March, but regardless, I would definitely order from them again. The bamboo fabric is so soft and the colors happen to work extremely well with my closet.

Have you tried this brand out? What do you think?

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