Sustainability
We're creating a bra revolution to make the planet smile. We realize this with socially responsible production, sustainability at the heart of our business and truly transparent communication. Read all the details about our impact in the report below or just keep reading on this page.
I’m creating a bra revolution to make every woman glow in lingerie
For me, sustainability is the very foundation of my brand. I constantly challenge myself to work more thoughtfully.
In 2024, I made significant progress, particularly on a social level. One of the highlights was launching the prosthesis bra, a product that holds deep personal meaning for me and one I’m incredibly proud of.
The most important lesson I learned this year? Don’t produce too much. Only create what is truly needed, and if demand grows, scale up responsibly. I’m continuously learning, from you and from the data, by analysing consumer behaviour and using those insights to optimise stock distribution, improve purchasing decisions, and reduce overproduction.
Let’s talk about what I’ve accomplished in 2024 in the impact report 2024.
Lots of love,
Michelle
Our lingerie is made with love, care, and a deep respect for craftsmanship in Latvia, Portugal, and Romania.
I choose to work exclusively with ateliers based in Europe. This decision helps me minimise the environmental impact of transport, while also ensuring that all production takes place under fair and safe working conditions, with proper wages for everyone involved. I maintain close, personal relationships with each of the ateliers I work with. Being close to my production partners allows for greater transparency and trust.
The atelier in Latvia, located in Liepāja, is a small, family-run workshop with whom I started collaborating in 2020. This year, I was able to expand that partnership. The atelier has specialised in lingerie for over 20 years, and its team is led by experienced female managers. Their incredible skills are the result of knowledge passed down through generations. They work in line with European labour laws, ensuring safe working conditions, fair pay, and ethical practices.
To help meet growing demand, I also work with a reputable lingerie factory in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This factory is also led by women, and 95% of its 200 employees are female. With over 20 years of experience, the factory is rated 'A' by the Business Social Compliance Initiative – an annual audit programme that recognises excellence in both employee care and environmental standards. From pattern making and cutting to sewing and quality control, each part of production is handled by dedicated teams with a high level of professionalism and kindness.
Across all locations, production is deliberately kept small-scale and quality-focused. This ensures that every item is made with the attention it deserves for you, and for the planet.
Sustainable materials
All the fabrics we use are certified and eco-friendly or upcycled and thereby saved from becoming waste. We source the following fabrics:
TENCEL™ from Turkey. It's made of renewable raw wood pulps, without harmful substances and certified with STANDARD 100 - nr. 1 by OEKO-TEX®. It has the EU Ecolabel due to its significant lower environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle. The wood pulps are coming from sustainable plantations. We source fabric in the specific amount of meters that we need, to minimize leftovers.
Lace surplus and recycled yarn laces from Italy, Latvia and Germany. These are surplus from other factories. By estimation, 40% of the world's fabric production is wasted before it turns into garment. We use this to minimize this waste, besides the fact that these fabrics are often gorgeous! Usually we have between 20-200 meters which we upcycle in our limited edition collection. In 2021 we also started using GRS (Global Recylce Standard) certified lace for some items, which means that we yarns used for the lace are recycled.
Pre-shaped cups from France, containing 65% recycled polyester (GRS- certified). It's the best that's currently available in the market.
High quality elastics from Spain and hardware from France, both certified with STANDARD 100- by OEKO TEX®. The hardware is also REACH certified, meaning the material will not harm humans nor the planet.
We use no animal products in our materials.
Products
A big issue in the lingerie market is the amount of bra's that are not being worn because of a disappointing fit soon after the purchase (women own on average 16 bra's). I designed a solution, using flexible sizing compared to traditional bra's. This means customers can enjoy their bra longer and better. Most importantly, they need less bra's in their lingerie drawer, because one bra will fit most of the time. However, producing garments and delivering them, I indisputable make an impact. These are efforts I'm making to operate as environment friendly as possible:
- Minimize transport. Sourcing of materials is always from Europe and whenever possible local. I always use slow road transport for supplies and products that I am sending to and from the factory.
- I work with a zero-waste method. Every tiny inch of fabric and elastic is used to make sure I produce minimal waste. I source in small quantities in order to buy exactly what I need.
- I always try to find left-over materials in the factory first, before I start buying new materials.
Packaging
We limit the use of packaging materials to the amount that is needed to ship the package with good care. The packaging material is environmentally friendly, meaning all packaging materials are sourced in the Netherlands and plastic free. We use a cardboard box that almost always fits through your mailbox which enlarges the delivery success rate. We use cardboard boxes and tissue paper (made of industry paper waste) on the inside for extra protection. The hangtags and thank you card are made of 100% recycled paper. Soft labels within the lingerie, made of 100% recycled polyester. Lastly, we always ask suppliers to limit plastic package materials when they ship supplies to us.
Giving back
At Savara Intimates, every item sold supports a cause close to our heart. Giving back is woven into my brand values, and each type of product is linked to a specific charity, allowing me to create impact in multiple areas that matter.
For the core lingerie collections, 2% of every sale is donated to One Tree Planted, supporting global reforestation projects. With every item, I help plant trees and restore natural ecosystems.
For the nursing bras, 2% of the proceeds go to Because We Carry – an organisation dedicated to supporting refugee mothers and children, providing them with care, dignity, and essential supplies.
The swimwear collection contributes 2% of each sale to Coral Gardeners, an initiative focused on restoring coral reefs and protecting marine biodiversity.
And with every piece of prosthesis lingerie sold, 2% is donated to Pink Ribbon, supporting breast cancer research and raising awareness for those affected.
Each garment not only makes you feel confident and supported – it also supports the planet and women around the world. Together, we make fashion more meaningful.
Social influence
At Savara Intimates, I believe that lingerie should do more than just fit – it should empower. My dream is to make every woman feel confident, comfortable, and radiant in her own skin, no matter her journey. Whether you have small or full breasts, are pregnant or nursing, or have been through something as life-changing as a mastectomy, you deserve beautiful, supportive, and sustainable lingerie.
But true empowerment goes beyond clothing. As women, we face so many deeply personal challenges that are too often left unspoken – from PCOS and miscarriages to the menopause, hormonal depression, and body image struggles. These experiences shape us, yet society rarely gives us the space to talk about them openly.
Through Savara, I want to be part of changing that.
Together with the Savara Sisters, I aim to break taboos and create a space where women feel seen, heard, and supported. Because when we stand together, we lift each other up.
In 2024, we held our True Beauty, True Comfort photoshoot – a celebration of real women, real bodies, and real stories. Seven incredible women, all Savara Intimates customers, stepped in front of the camera to share their truth and radiate confidence. These were not models, but strong, inspiring women who believe, just like I do, that beauty lies in authenticity.
At Savara Intimates, social impact is more than a value – it’s a movement. And this is just the beginning.
We are constantly working on improving our practices. If you have any questions or tips, please let us know!