Subset
Rated: Excellent
Price: $
Location: USA
Quick verdict
Subset is best for anyone looking for organic, ethically made intimates and basics that combine strong certifications with genuinely accessible pricing. Their standout innovation is the world's first intimates recycling program, 1.8 million items collected since 2018. The main caveat is that soft organic cotton inherently creates visible panty lines and doesn't suit seamless-style preferences, and some reviewers report durability issues when machine-dried.
Key info
- Headquarters
- New York City, USA
- Founded
- 2018 (originally as Knickey; rebranded to Subset in 2023)
- Product categories
- Underwear, Loungewear
- Price range
- $
- Key certifications
- GOTS, Fair Trade, Oeko-Tex, FSC
Subset sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Over 95% of their fiber portfolio is GOTS-certified organic cotton from Gujarat, India, supplemented by TENCEL, recycled polyester, and recycled nylon. All products free from heavy metals, carcinogens, PFAs, and formaldehyde. Fully vegan.
Fair Trade certified factories ensure living wages, safe conditions, and workers' right to unionize. Workers vote on how Fair Trade premiums are spent. Supplier Code of Conduct covers Tier 1 and Tier 2. Annual factory visits; avoids subcontracting.
Historically carbon-neutral via offsets (which the brand acknowledges are a "stop-gap"). Primary supplier generated 40% of power from solar in 2024. 100% plastic-free, FSC-certified packaging. The intimates recycling program is a genuine circularity innovation.
Full supply chain traced and disclosed from farm in Gujarat through ginning, spinning, knitting, dyeing, and sewing. Per-product impact data on every product page (carbon, water, pesticides). Participates in Fashion Revolution Week. No formal annual impact report published.
Women's underwear at $18–22 individually or 3 for $48 (~$16/pair) is among the most affordable GOTS-certified organic cotton intimates on the market. Bras at $48–62 are competitive for the ethical category. First Pair Guarantee reduces purchase risk.
What they do well
- Pioneered the world's first intimates recycling program (2018), collecting 1.8 million items from any brand: partnering with Trashie, SuperCircle, and Green Tree Textiles to recycle or donate
- Quadruple certification stack (GOTS + Fair Trade + Oeko-Tex + FSC) is rare in the intimates space and covers the full lifecycle from farming through packaging
- Per-product impact disclosure on every product page showing specific carbon emissions, water savings, and pesticide reduction: a level of transparency most brands don't offer
- Completely bootstrapped and women-led: no outside investors, proving ethical intimates can be commercially viable at scale
- Inclusive sizing from 2XS to 4XL with diverse models and a slow-fashion release cadence that improves existing styles rather than chasing trends
Room for improvement
- No B Corp certification, despite strong GOTS and Fair Trade credentials, the brand has not pursued B Corp, which competitors like Organic Basics and Cou Cou Intimates hold.
About Subset
Cayla O'Connell Davis and Lauren Sagadore co-founded Knickey (now Subset) in 2018 after Davis learned about the harmful chemicals in conventional "chemical cotton", pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, formaldehyde, and carcinogens that remain on garments worn against skin. They launched from Davis's apartment with four organic cotton underwear styles and simultaneously introduced the world's first intimates recycling program, which has since collected 1.8 million items.
All products use GOTS-certified organic cotton sourced from a farm in Gujarat, India, with the entire supply chain (ginning in Erode, spinning and manufacturing in Tirupur) operating under GOTS and Fair Trade certification. The primary supplier generated 40% of power from solar energy in 2024. Subset discloses per-product environmental impact on every product page and traces its supply chain from farm to finished garment.
The 2023 rebrand from Knickey to Subset reflected expansion into men's underwear, loungewear, bras, and socks. Pricing makes ethical intimates accessible: women's underwear runs $18–22 per pair or 3 for $48, bras cost $48–62, and men's boxer briefs are $30–32. The brand remains completely bootstrapped with no outside investment. Sizing runs 2XS to 4XL, and a First Pair Guarantee allows US customers to try risk-free. Free shipping kicks in at $75.
Product highlights
High-Rise Brief
95% GOTS organic cotton, 5% elastane; maximum coverage and comfort
$18–22 (3 for $48)
Widely cited as the best-fitting style by reviewers; elastic at leg holes prevents wedgies
Mid-Rise Brief
95% GOTS organic cotton; medium coverage, mid-rise waist
$18–22 (3 for $48)
Everyday staple described as "barely there"; available in multiple colorways; 2XS–4XL
Triangle Soft Bra
Organic cotton body with recycled polyester/nylon straps; hook-and-eye closure, double-lined cups
$48–62
Called "one of the most supportive wireless bras" by The Good Trade; standard and "more cup room" sizes
Men's Boxer Brief
Organic cotton body with recycled material waistband; breathable, no-chafe design
$30–32 (3 for $75)
Subset's entry into menswear; described as comfortably between boxers and briefs
