Asymmetrical Pore Design of Sustainable Underwear for Improved Intimate Comfort

Abstract The large amount of waste underwear generated has a considerable impact on the environment. Searching for more sustainable underwear materials and designs is important for effective air, thermal, and moisture management. However, sustainable cotton underwear is much less effective in moisture transport and in inhibiting the growth of bacteria and mites. Here, a hierarchically porous knitted fabric (HPKF) made from sustainable cotton and polylactic acid (PLA) fiber materials, constructed using an asymmetrical knitting pore design, is developed. The HPKF not only shows excellent moisture management compared to cotton fabric but also achieves a remarkable 27% increase in water evaporation rate. Furthermore, this design outperforms existing directional water transport fabrics by introducing antibacterial and antimite properties in its inner layer. The sustainable design and manufacturing processes align with the current textile industry infrastructure, offering enormous potential environmental benefits.