Article: Back to School Underwear: How can organic cotton make a difference for girls and teens every day of the week?
Back to School Underwear: How can organic cotton make a difference for girls and teens every day of the week?
It’s already that time of year to start getting sorted for back to school supplies!
The school uniform comes out of the cupboard, shoes suddenly look far too small, skirts are mysteriously three inches shorter… and then there’s the underwear drawer. What fitted perfectly in June somehow doesn’t quite make the cut in September.
Back to school shopping usually means school supplies, new shoes and of course stocking up on everyday underwear. And while underwear might not be the most exciting item on the school supplies list, getting the right fit and fabric really can make a difference to how comfortable your daughter feels throughout the day.
Why is organic cotton underwear an essential for girls’ back to school supplies?
For something that sits next to the skin all day, every day, we think the fabric really matters.
Our girls' knickers and girls' bralettes are made from super-soft, GOTS certified organic cotton. Cotton is naturally breathable, which makes it a particularly good choice during those warmer days at the beginning of the school year, when children can spend hours running around, playing sport or simply sitting in a classroom that feels far too warm.
It can also be a lovely option for children with sensitive skin. Organic cotton is soft against the skin and our girls' bralettes and knickers are designed without unnecessary irritating details. Our bralettes have soft, seamless cups, a comfortable chest band and no clasps digging into the back. We even use heat-pressed labels rather than scratchy sewn-in tags.
Because, as any parent will know, one tiny itchy label can somehow become the biggest problem in the world!
Our fabric is 95% GOTS certified organic cotton and 5% elastane, giving it that soft, stretchy feel that moves with them rather than digging in. It's comfortable enough for a full day at school, PE lessons, running around at break time and everything else that makes up a busy school day.
So whether you're looking for everyday underwear or something that will work as active underwear, we think keeping it soft, breathable and comfortable is a good place to start.
How do we know girls actually want these fun undies for going back to school?
Comfort is obviously important, but we also think girls should have a say in what they wear.
When we developed our girls' bralettes and knickers, we didn't just make a smaller version of an adult bra and assume it would work. The original idea actually came from two sisters, Phoebe and Flora, who were 11 at the time. They got in touch with us because they were struggling to find a bra that felt right, not a crop top, but not a padded or structured bra either.
They helped us think about what girls actually wanted from their first bra: something comfortable, not too tight, no itchy seams or labels, and something that could be worn underneath a school uniform without being bulky or uncomfortable.
They also wanted something fun. As they put it, just because you're at school doesn't mean your underwear should be boring!
The result is our girls' organic cotton bralettes, with soft, seamless cups, a wide chest band, adjustable straps and no fiddly clasp. They're designed to provide gentle support and coverage while still feeling like a really easy first bra.
And yes, there are matching knickers in pretty prints and colours too, because choosing your own underwear can be one of those small ways of feeling a little more grown up.
How can I find girls’ pants with a perfect fit after yet another growth spurt?
This is the bit that can make Back to School underwear shopping feel slightly complicated.
Girls don't all grow at the same rate, and we really don't like the idea of putting an age or a number on a changing body. That's why our girls' underwear sizes aren't simply labelled by age.
Our girls' knickers come in four sizes: Jinja, Kira, Lira and Masaka are named after Ugandan towns. They roughly cover ages 7-9 through to 13+, but we recommend measuring rather than choosing purely by age.
For girls' knickers, you'll want to measure around the waist and hips. For our bralettes, the key measurement is around the chest, just underneath the bust. The four bralette sizes are Jinja, Kira, Lira and Masaka, with band measurements from around 23 to 29 inches.
And if you're between sizes, we'd always recommend sizing up for a little extra comfort.
It might sound like a lot to think about when you're trying to get everyone ready for September, but getting the right fit is worth it. Underwear shouldn't dig in, ride up or need constant adjusting. Ideally, they should put it on in the morning and forget about it.
If you're not sure which size to choose, our size guide can help, and our team is always happy to help if you're stuck.
We also have shops in both Oxford and Brighton, if you want to try the items on in person.
How our fun underwear will help beat your September blues every day of the week
There is one thing that makes shopping for Y.O.U underwear a little different.
Our buy-one-give-one model means that when you buy a pair of girls' knickers or a bralette, we donate underwear to our charity partner, Smalls for All.
Smalls for All collects and distributes underwear to people who need it across the UK and Africa. So while you're making sure your own daughter has comfortable underwear for the new school year, your purchase can help another girl have something as basic and as important as a clean pair of pants.
We think that's a pretty good reason to feel positive about something as ordinary as buying underwear.
So, as you tackle the school supplies list, replace those suddenly-too-small shoes and try to remember where you put the school bags, don't forget the underwear drawer.
Soft, breathable cotton. A comfortable fit. Something she'll actually like wearing. And, with Y.O.U, something that can make a difference to someone else too.
Here's to a comfortable start to the new school year!
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If you want to read more about girls' underwear, how to measure a girls' first bra, or why organic cotton is so important, check out these other blog posts:
Written by Sarah Jordan
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