Stripe & Stare
Regenerated fiber underwear that's softer than anything you've felt before
The British Brand That Spent a Decade Perfecting a Pair of Knickers
Stripe & Stare was founded in 2017 by Katie Lopes and Nicola Piercy, though the brand's origin story stretches back much further. Lopes, who had spent years running fashion boutiques on London's King's Road selling brands like Rag & Bone and Zimmermann, could never find underwear she wanted to recommend to her customers. After six years of dedicated research into sustainable fabrics and manufacturing — an unusually long development period for a product most brands don't think twice about — the two launched with a singular claim: the world's most comfortable knickers.
What Makes Stripe & Stare Different
The secret is the fabric. Stripe & Stare partnered with Austrian fiber company Lenzing to develop underwear made from regenerated beechwood fiber — specifically, a blend of TENCEL Modal that is scientifically proven to be three times softer than cotton. The beechwood is sourced from sustainably managed forests, and the closed-loop production process reuses 99% of the water and solvents involved. The result is underwear with a hand feel that genuinely startles people the first time they touch it — a silky, almost liquid softness that doesn't degrade with washing. In 2021, the brand created the world's first 100% biodegradable knicker.
Key Product Lines
The Original Knicker Box is the hero product — a set of four coordinated underwear in seasonal prints, packaged in a reusable box that has made Stripe & Stare one of the UK's most popular underwear gifts. Thongs, Briefs, and Bikinis cover all silhouette preferences in the same regenerated fiber. Bralettes extend the softness philosophy to the upper half. Limited-edition print collaborations keep the lineup fresh and collectible.
Who Stripe & Stare Is Best For
Stripe & Stare is for the comfort purist who also cares about environmental impact. If you've accepted that cotton underwear is "fine" and never questioned whether something better exists, this brand will recalibrate your expectations. It's also a gifting phenomenon — the boxed sets in seasonal prints have become a go-to for birthdays, holidays, and the kind of thoughtful present that people actually use and love.
Price and Sizing
Individual pieces from $14 to $28, boxed sets of four from $55 to $75, bralettes from $38 to $55. Sizes run XS through XL. The pricing is remarkably accessible for a B Corp-certified, sustainably produced product with fabric this premium.