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The Italian brand is known for its lingerie and buzzy products like cashmere scoopneck tops, but how ethical are its practices, really? 

This article is based on the Intimissimi rating published in July 2025 and may not reflect claims the brand has made since then.

Cute lingerie, poor values

Founded in Italy in 1996, Intimissimi is known for its lingerie and buzzy products like cashmere scoopneck tops. Today, it’s part of the Oniverse holding company that also includes Calzedonia and Tezenis.

Intimissimi has capitalised on celebrity and influencer marketing in the past, with the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Chiara Ferragni designing guest collections. Its recent cameo in season five of Emily In Paris put the brand’s underwear front and centre, so as its profile grows, we’re digging into its ethics. Unfortunately, in reviewing how the brand works, Good On You’s team of analysts had a lot of questions, because most of its commitments are either vague, not backed up with results and progress, or they don’t seem to exist. That’s why we rate Intimissimi “Not Good Enough”. So is shopping there a good idea? Not really. Scroll on to learn about it rating and to discover some alternative brands making more sustainable lingerie and basics.

Environmental impact

Intimissimi uses some lower-impact materials but doesn’t publish a breakdown of the materials used, so it’s hard to say how meaningful this usage really is. There’s no evidence it’s set a target to manage water use in its supply chain nor is there evidence it’s protecting biodiversity. The brand does have a recycling scheme, it doesn’t report on its results. For the planet, we rate Intimissimi “Not Good Enough”.

Labour rights

For people, we rate Intimissimi “Not Good Enough”. Some of its final production stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities and it audits all of its final production stage.  These are positives, but there’s scope to go much further and trace its supply chain, for instance. There’s also no evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can have a big impact on the wellbeing, wages, and lives of garment workers—the more stable and lengthy the contract with suppliers, the more likely it is for workers to have job security.

Intimissimi audits some of its supply chain including all of the final production stage. The brand does not appear to offer living wages in its supply chain, which is disappointing.

Animal welfare

Intimissimi published a general statement about minimising animal suffering but not a formal animal welfare policy. And while it doesn’t appear to use leather, shearling, alpaca, mohair, or down, the brand is big on wool, cashmere, and silk, which make up many of its bestselling items, like its sheer “Ultralight” cashmere tops. We’d expect to at least see some certifications or alternatives to conventional materials here, like recycled wool and cashmere. For animals, we rate Intimissimi “Not Good Enough”.

Overall rating: ‘Not Good Enough’

Intimissimi is making very minimal efforts to work sustainably—and is doing just enough to appear as if it’s making real changes. The idea for making change is there but no actual effort appears to be put into making it happen. From living wages to animal policies, the sentiment is there but the follow-through is not.

On top of that, some shoppers have reported a drop in the quality of Intimissimi’s garments in recent years, and while these anecdotes aren’t something our analysts take into consideration when rating a brand, there is no doubt that declining quality is a sustainability issue. Fashion should be designed for longevity so users can wear and repair items for years to come, instead of growing ever more disposable.

For more sustainable intimates, we recommend these “Good” and “Great” brands.

More sustainable alternatives to Intimissimi

Meet the underwear and essentials brands rated highly by our experts for their commitments to people, the planet, and animals.

ColieCo

ColieCo is a Portuguese lingerie, underwear, and swimwear brand that uses a handmade to order process for creating the most premium pieces. Every single garment is manufactured exclusively using lower-impact and responsibly sourced fabrics.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop ColieCo.

Anekdot

Anekdot is a clothing brand that offers more sustainable designer underwear, swimwear, and loungewear handmade in Berlin. They create exquisite intimates upcycling materials from production leftovers, deadstock, and vintage trimmings giving them a new chance to be enjoyed in the process creating limited edition products.

Find most products in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Anekdot.

Shop Anekdot @ Shop Like You Give a Damn.

Underprotection

Underprotection is a Danish brand combining ethics and aesthetics, creating underwear, loungewear, and swimwear from lower-impact materials like organic cotton. All of its packaging, paper, and polybags are either recycled or biodegradable, and it only works with certified factories as it believes “fair working conditions and fair wages are human rights”. Underprotection exists to celebrate women of all kinds, and its goal is to make them feel as beautiful and comfortable as possible.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Underprotection.

Dorsu

Based in Cambodia, Dorsu creates everyday basics and key signature favourites that form the core of any conscious wardrobe.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dorsu.

Dora Larsen

UK-based Dora Larsen creates unique, colourful lingerie and sleepwear. The brand has a limited production run to minimise textile waste, and it incorporates a high proportion of eco-friendly materials.

See the rating.

Shop Dora Larsen.

Eco Intimates

Eco Intimates is a basics brand that features organic cotton lingerie, intimates, and sleepwear for women who care about their bodies and the Earth.

Find the loungewear in XS-2XL, and some lingerie up to 4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Eco Intimates.

Subset (Knickey)

Made in a Fairtrade certified factory, US brand Subset’s organic cotton underwear sets are some of the best in the responsible fashion market. Taking it a step further, the brand has also partnered with an NYC non-profit to recycle old undergarments, turning the fibres into insulation and rug pads. Sending in your old undies will not only help cut down on the amount of fibres that wind up in the landfill, but it’ll give you the freedom to buy new, responsibly made sets.

Find most items in sizes 2XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Subset (Knickey).

Organique

Organique is a Portuguese athleisure brand made for the contemporary woman. It is entirely produced in a high-end local atelier and promotes slow fashion by designing with longevity in mind. It uses high-quality, organic materials and lower-impact fabrics such as organic cotton and TENCEL Lyocell and is completely vegan.

Find the range in sizes S-L.

See the rating.

Shop Organique.

Shop Organique @ Immaculate Vegan.

HERTH

HERTH is an Italian lifestyle brand whose design philosophy combines sustainability and ethics with timeless aesthetics. It promotes slow fashion creating contemporary pieces characterised by clean silhouettes with meticulous attention to detail. Crafted by local Italian artisans with lower-impact materials, it embodies effortless luxury.

Find the range in XS to 2XL.

See the rating.

Shop HERTH.

NUDEA

NUDEA believes that the items you wear closest to your skin should be more sustainable, comfortable, flexible and stylish, so it crafts its sleep and underwear with this in mind. The British brand uses lower impact materials and partly traces its supply chain.

Find items in XS – XXL

See the rating.

Shop NUDEA.

CASAGiN

Italian brand CASAGiN designs apparel for those looking to foster a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle in their closet and beyond.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop CASAGiN.

Editor's note

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