If I asked you to picture some truly fancy undergarments, your mind would likely land on something made of silk. Silk has been regarded as a luxurious fabric since its discovery in ancient China due to its delicate, lustrous nature.

By today’s standards, more factors are used to determine whether a fabric is actually “good” rather than just its feel, quality, and exclusivity. So, stressing the topics of sustainability, ethics, and personal health, today we’ll be answering the question “Is silk underwear bad?”

In the midst of a climate crisis, people are starting to favor slow fashion . This is especially important when it comes to underwear because slow fashion brands tend to use natural materials, low impact dyes , and prioritize minimizing harmful environmental impact. Polyester underwear and all its synthetic cousins have been proven to be detrimental to genital health and choosing natural, antibacterial underwear is the best way to avoid those risks. So, how does silk fit into this?

Well, silk is a natural fabric meaning that it is 100% biodegradable and creates zero plastic waste which automatically makes it a better option than synthetic fabrics. The issue comes when you start to look at the process behind producing silk. It can raise some ethical concerns making the answer to the question “Is silk underwear good?” largely subjective.

To help you come to your own conclusion, let’s get started on discussing the nature of silk and all its pros and cons!

Before we can decide “Is silk underwear good for you?” we need to get a better idea of what silk actually is and where it comes from. Silk is produced as a building material for cocoons or webs by several species of insects, most notably domesticated silkworms. The process of obtaining silk from farmed silkworms is called sericulture.

The discovery of silk and the start of sericulture took place in China around 2600 BC . The legend attributed to its discovery is that one day Lady Hsi Ling Shih (wife of the Yellow Emperor) was enjoying tea under a mulberry tree when a moth cocoon fell into her cup, sparking a fascination that kickstarted the age of silk. Today, China remains the most major silk-producing country in the world , followed by India in second place.

Silk has always been a highly coveted fabric due to its smooth, buttery texture and its natural shine. In addition, silk is considered the most luxurious fabric in the world due to the involved process required for harvest and production. The process of sericulture also involves farming mulberry trees to provide feed for the worms. The worms are then allowed to spin their cocoons and once the cocoons are complete, workers then boil the silkworms which is a process that kills the worm and loosens the filaments. Workers can then collect the loose cocoons and begin the process of reeling silk thread.

While some brands promote a “cruelty-free” version of silk that allows the moths to emerge from their cocoons rather than boiling them alive, there are no vegan alternatives for true silk. Silk-like textures can be achieved using other materials and some of those alternatives are great and made of natural fibers while others take us back to the world of synthetic fabric. 

As I just mentioned, there are alternatives to silk on the market. The most popular one is rayon which is a semi-synthetic fiber made from cellulose which comes from chemically treated wood pulp. It was developed in the 1890s and hit the market as the first successful artificial silk. Nylon and polyester are also used to make artificial silk, although those materials don’t imitate the appearance of silk as well as rayon.

Satin is a term that can easily confuse people. Up until this very point, I thought that satin was an alternative to silk. In fact, satin refers to a type of weave rather than a type of fabric. Weaving fabric in this way creates that trademark lustrous surface that silk is known for. Satin was originally made only using silk. Nowadays, any fabric woven with this specific method will have that glossy surface and can be referred to as satin.

Now that we’re familiar with all the satiny dupes, let’s get back to talking about the real stuff and weigh out the pros and cons to determine once and for all: Is silk underwear good?

There’s no denying that silk is so popular (and has been for centuries) for a reason. It’s a fabric with a totally unique texture and appearance. Silk’s natural origins also make it a good fabric for underwear. Here’s a more detailed look at the pros of silk:

• Feels luxurious: Silk is popular because it feels lovely. Period. No other fabric (even the really good dupes) can imitate the cool, slippery feeling of pure silk on the skin. This is made even better by the fact that silk is breathable and absorbent so you’re sure to avoid a sweaty vagina when wearing it!

• Lasts a long time: Silk is a very delicate fabric but, when cared for properly, it’s quite durable. Once it's time for your silk pieces to be retired, they can be composted since silk is a biodegradable material. 

• Good for sensitive skin: The delicate nature of silk makes it an excellent option for those with sensitive skin. While other fabrics can chafe and cause irritation, silk is generally soft and smooth, and undergarments made from it are never too tight or restrictive. 

   

While silk fabric comes from natural origins and has a unique beauty, the process behind creating it raises a lot of ethical and ecological concerns. These concerns deter a lot of people from purchasing silk at all. Here’s a closer look at all the cons of silk:

• Not an ethical product: Probably the biggest downside of silk is the use of silkworms. At least  420 billion are killed per year to produce the fabric. While a “more ethical” option called “peace silk” exists in which the process is altered to allow moths to mature and hatch from their cocoons, there’s no evidence to suggest that, even if allowed to hatch, the moths are not subjected to cruel treatment. On top of that, the production of silk exposes workers to harmful chemicals. 

• Difficult to care for: Silk fabric comes with a pretty extensive care guide to ensure that it remains intact for as long as possible. You should never put silk (especially items as delicate as underwear) in the washing machine. Learning how to hand wash underwear properly will come in handy when dealing with silk but dry cleaning is the recommended method. 

• Expensive: The reason for the hefty price tag associated with silk is not the cost of the materials themselves but rather the painstaking process that goes into extracting silk threads from the cocoons. This fact circles us back to the ethical concerns. Most of the production of silk takes place in countries known to have sketchy labor laws and inhumane working conditions. So, not only is the process labor intensive, but the workers are likely not being compensated enough to make up for the exorbitant price. 

• Sustainability is questionable: While silk is a natural fiber and is in and of itself a sustainable material, the traditional process for producing it is not the most environmentally friendly. This is because silkworms feed off mulberry leaves and growing enough trees to feed them all uses a lot of land, water, and power.  

HEMP

If you’re simply looking for an alternative to traditional, fast-fashion, cotton underwear look no further than hemp underwear! Hemp is a natural fiber derived from the stalks of hemp plants (the non-intoxicating cousin of the cannabis plant) which makes it a biodegradable, sustainable fabric. While hemp bears no resemblance to silk, it has a lot of the same qualities that make silk so attractive. Hemp underwear is breathable, antibacterial, and naturally wicks away moisture. On top of that, hemp is one of the strongest natural fibers so underwear made from it is sure to last you a long time!

ORGANIC COTTON

Cotton is often hailed as the best fabric for underwear and even silk underwear sometimes contains a cotton gusset. Cotton is soft and breathable so it’s great for coming into contact with your most intimate parts. That said, there’s a significant difference between organic cotton vs cotton when it comes to sustainability. The traditional production of cotton uses a lot of water and energy so it’s always best to opt for the organic stuff!

MERINO WOOL

Ok, so we’re getting a bit far from silk with this one but merino wool is among the most popular natural fabrics for underwear so it deserves to be included! Merino wool comes from a special breed of sheep that have much softer wool than the scratchy stuff you’re probably imagining. While, like silk, merino wool is technically an animal product, no sheep are harmed during the production of this fabric. Merino wool underwear is perfect for colder days because of its breathable nature and temperature-regulating capabilities.

MODAL

If you’re looking for a truly vegan alternative for silk, modal is probably the closest you’ll get. Modal is made from cellulose aka pulp derived from beech trees. Modal is breathable and more resistant to moisture than cotton. Its biggest draw is its light, buttery texture which is reminiscent of silk. In fact, the most popular type of artificial silk, rayon, is made using cellulose as well. 

So, what do you think? Is silk underwear good for you? Or are you feeling more inclined towards any of the plant-based options? No matter what you prefer, always make sure to do some research before purchasing. The more transparent a brand is about how its products are made and where they come from, the more trustworthy they are. Vague sourcing and lack of labor information are never a good sign!

Do you already own any silk products? Do you still plan on purchasing silk after learning more about the process of how it's made? Share your thoughts in the comments!