
Is your underwear giving you cancer? Why the hidden toxic chemicals in our bras and knickers are a ticking health time bomb
L ooking at my underwear drawer, I yearn for a simpler time. I remember fondly my first bralettes – essentially two cotton triangles stitched together with a supportive band. Knickers were basic, too: cotton briefs in a choice of three different cuts.
But undies somehow became incredibly complex. Today, bras aren't just bras, they're 'posture facilitators'; knickers are sold with promises of moisture management, breathability, temperature regulation and leak control. And I am bombarded by a hundred types of shapewear garments guaranteeing everything from supporting my back muscles to firming my thighs. In fact, the shapewear market is predicted to rise by 37 per cent between 2024 and 2028. I'm all for progress but, really, who wants to be outwitted by their 'intelligent fibre' pants?
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