
This post was sponsored by WAMA Hemp Underwear and I received an item for review. Styling and research are my own.
I feel like I should start this post off with a disclaimer that I’m probably not your typical underwear model, nor do I have any desire to be.
But I liked the idea of styling a pair of full coverage undies both for the challenge of getting over my modesty qualms and because underwear is one of the few garments that really does feel like a necessity. And since we’re likely to go through dozens if not hundreds of pairs in a lifetime, it’s one of the most important sustainable switches we can make.
In my Ethical Undies roundup, I mentioned (or rather implied) that I tend to prefer cotton thongs or full coverage boy shorts over other styles because the specific shape of my butt and hips makes bikini and “cheeky” panties ride up, causing discomfort and an awkward panty line. Under thinner and more form fitting clothing, I go for minimal coverage.
But with vintage denim, trousers, and bias-cut dresses, full coverage is where it’s at, which is why I am excited to introduce you to WAMA…
After a successful Kickstarter campaign, WAMA released a limited collection of thoughtfully designed and produced underwear for men and women.
If there’s one thing that sets them apart from other underwear brands, it’s that WAMA makes their undies with hemp.
An increasingly popular textile in the sustainability world, hemp is prized over more traditional fabrics like cotton because it is less resource intensive:
- It takes half of the cropland to produce the same amount of finished fabric
- It uses 1/3 to 1/2 of the water needed to grow cotton
- It is pest resistant, requiring fewer pesticides
- It causes less soil depletion
- It is considered more durable and long-wearing than cotton
So why doesn’t everyone use hemp?
WAMA ethically produces their undies in a carefully managed, GOTS-certified (an organic textile certification) factory in China, a country where hemp is expertly cultivated for textile use. To ensure proper regulation, one WAMA team member is based in China so that they can access the factory whenever they need to.
About the Hemp Hipsters
Shop WAMA here.
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.