At Q for Quinn, our mission has always been to create the safest, softest, and most sustainable essentials for you and your family. From the beginning, we've been committed to using natural, certified organic materials that are gentle on the skin and kind to the planet.
So why do some of our products still contain a small amount of non biodegradable components?
It’s a thoughtful question—and one we’ve spent years researching and navigating. We want to take you behind the scenes to explain why some synthetics are still used in our trims, and how we’re actively working to reduce or eliminate them.
What’s important to know is that the use of synthetics—especially in trims like thread, elastic, and labels—is still very common across the apparel industry. While many brands highlight the main fabric content (as we do), most garments today rely on synthetic trims to provide the durability, stretch, and performance consumers have come to expect. Industrial manufacturing has not yet fully adapted to using biodegradable materials like natural thread—but we’re working to help change that.
It’s also important to note that any synthetic materials we use, no matter how minimal, are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified to ensure they’re free from harmful substances. All of our trims are also GOTS approved, meeting the strict standards required for products labeled "organic."
We’ve chosen to be transparent about every part of our process—even when it’s not expected—because you deserve to know exactly what you’re putting on your skin and supporting with your purchase.
The Tradeoffs We’ve Made—And Why
1. Durability
Durability is one of the biggest reasons we’ve used synthetic materials—specifically in trims like thread and elastic. Naturally derived materials like cotton tend to break down much faster under stress.
For example, we use recycled polyester thread in our underwear because it helps hold the seams together through repeated wears and washes. Without it, your underwear may only last a few months. With it, many of our customers report wearing theirs for 2–3+ years.
We believe extending the lifespan of a garment is one of the most sustainable actions we can take.
2. Availability of Natural Alternatives
The good news? Biodegradable options are on the rise. The less good news? They’re still in limited supply, and often don’t meet our standards for comfort, durability or performance—yet.
Take elastic, for example. Natural rubber elastics are not only difficult to source in the specifications we need, but they also come at a high cost, which could make our products inaccessible to many customers. However, we're currently testing biodegradable elastics in our underwear, and if they pass our rigorous standards for quality and durability, you’ll start to see them rolled out in future collections.
3. Fit and Comfort
Natural fibers have limited stretch. That’s why you rarely see all-cotton compression socks or sports bras. In certain garments, like our fitted underwear or bras, we use fabrics with a small percentage of elastane to provide the stretch and support needed to fit well and cater to different body types.
Fit is more than just aesthetic—it’s about making people feel confident, comfortable, and included.
Where We Use Synthetics (Today)
Transparency is a core value for us. Here’s exactly where synthetics show up in our products:
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Elastics: Our waistbands and cuffs (like those in our underwear and socks) use a blend of polyester and elastane, covered with fabric for comfort. All our elastics are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified to ensure they’re free from harmful chemicals. We are actively testing biodegradable elastic options and hope to begin rolling them out soon.
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Thread: Most of our thread is made from recycled polyester. While cotton thread exists, it can be weaker and break more easily—especially at stress points like seams. We are currently testing strong biodegradable alternatives here too.
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Bra Components: Bra straps and closures may contain small synthetic components for adjustability and function. We are exploring natural alternatives that provide the same level of performance and support.
Where we have replaced synthetics recently:
While we work on the future, here’s what we’ve already done to further reduce synthetics in our current lineup:
Coconut shell buttons on our Everyday Boxer Briefs.
100% organic cotton socks and underwear (for the body fabric) for many products - a rare find even amongst other organic brands.
Completely biodegradable packaging and labeling: 100% cotton biodegradable care labels to replace synthetic tags, paper, biodegradable packaging.
Our Vision: Biodegradable, Ethical, and Built to Last
Our long-term goal is to create a fully biodegradable line of essentials—without compromising on quality, durability, or fit. We’re making steady progress, from testing biodegradable trims to exploring low-impact alternatives in our supply chain.
The journey to a plastic-free future is not always straightforward—but it’s one we are deeply committed to. Thank you for holding us accountable, and for supporting a small business that’s constantly striving to do better.
If you have questions or feedback, please reach out—we’re always listening.
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