The First Layer Matters: Underwear, Sleepwear and What Touches Your Skin

What should we think about when clothing sits directly on our skin for hours?

In this solo episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria looks at the connection between fashion, skin and the body — and why the garments closest to us deserve more attention.

The episode focuses on the “first layer”: underwear, bras, leggings, tights, sleepwear, base layers, activewear and children’s clothing. These are the pieces worn closest to the body, often with heat, sweat and friction, which means fabric choice, dyes, finishes and certifications matter more.

Maria explains why the fibre label is only part of the story, and why terms such as wrinkle-free, stain-resistant, water-repellent, anti-odour, antibacterial, easy-care, coated, bonded and super-stretch can be clues that additional processing or chemical finishes may be involved.

The episode also looks at textile contact dermatitis, disperse dyes, formaldehyde-based wrinkle-resistant finishes, PFAS in water-repellent and stain-resistant products, and what certifications such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GOTS, bluesign and ZDHC can — and cannot — tell us.

A practical episode for anyone who wants to understand what sits closest to the skin, how to read clothing claims more carefully, and where to be more selective without overthinking every purchase.

In this episode:

• Why the first layer matters most

• How dyes, finishes and coatings can affect clothing

• Why “easy-care” and “performance” often mean more processing

• What PFAS are and why they matter in textiles

• Why activewear deserves extra attention

• How to approach underwear, sleepwear and children’s clothing

• What OEKO-TEX, GOTS, bluesign and ZDHC actually tell us

• Simple steps for shopping more carefully