All Maayu underwear is made from 100% organic cotton. No spandex, no lycra, no synthetic blends.

The fabric is unbleached and undyed, kept in its most natural form. Where we use colour, it comes only from plants: indigo, madder root (also known as manjistha in Ayurveda), and pomegranate peel. No azo dyes. No synthetic chemicals.

The elastic on the waist and leg openings is fully encased so it never touches your skin directly.

Our Kora Boxers use handwoven Kala cotton, an indigenous Indian variety, made by artisans.

It means the cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or GMO seeds. But that is just the farm.

Once the cotton leaves the field, most brands hand it to conventional textile processing. It gets bleached white. It gets dyed with synthetic chemicals. It gets blended with spandex. By the time it becomes underwear, the organic origin is almost irrelevant but the label still says organic. Most customers never know to ask what happened in between.

Certifications for organic fabric still permits the use of synthetic dyes and chemical processing after harvesting. A garment can carry that label and still be bleached and dyed with chemicals that make direct contact with your skin.

At Maayu we go further. Our fabric is unbleached. It stays the colour it naturally grows. Where we use colour, it comes only from plants: indigo, madder root, harda and pomegranate peels. No synthetic dyes. No bleach. Nothing synthetic touches the fabric from the field to the finished pair.

A certification tells you where the cotton started. We're telling you everything that didn't happen to it after.

Most underwear stretches because of spandex — a synthetic plastic blended into the fabric. Spandex traps heat, disrupts the skin's natural environment, and isn't something you want pressed against your most sensitive skin all day.

Maayu uses 100% organic cotton with a natural four-way stretch. It moves with your body and shapes to you over time — without a single synthetic fibre. It will not feel like elastane. It was never meant to.

If you are trying Maayu for the first time, we recommend starting with a single pair before committing to a pack. Most women don't go back once they have made the switch to Maayu underwear.

Not yet, but we wish to be. We are actively researching natural elastic alternatives. What we have done in the meantime is make sure the elastic never touches your skin directly. On all Maayu underwear, the elastic is fully encased inside the waistband and leg openings. It does the job of keeping the underwear in place without making any contact with your body.

It is not a perfect solution and we know it. But it is a deliberate one, and we think it is worth explaining rather than hiding.

We are working on a fully elastic-free range. When it is ready, you will hear about it.

Most underwear gets its colour from synthetic dyes, the most common of which are azo dyes. These are classified as carcinogenic and sit directly against some of your most absorbent skin all day. Chemical bleach is used before dyeing to whiten the fabric. Neither fully washes out.

At Maayu we don't use either synthetic or azo dyes.

Most of our underwear is undyed and unbleached, kept in the soft, natural colour that organic cotton grows in. The fewer things done to the fabric after harvest, the cleaner it is against your skin.

Where we do use colour, it comes only from plants. We use indigo for blue, Madder root, known in Ayurveda as manjistha, for pink, and pomegranate peel for gold/yellow. They herbal dyes with centuries of use behind them. They are also the reason our colour range is small.

Hand washing with a gentle detergent is the best way to care for Maayu underwear. It is also the kindest option for the planet.

If you prefer machine washing, a gentle cycle with a mild, natural detergent works well. When you do, please wash on a full load. It saves water and energy, and every small habit adds up.

Avoid harsh detergents. They are hard on the fabric, hard on your skin, and hard on the water system they end up in.

Air dry or hang dry where you can. It extends the life of the fabric and saves energy. Tumble drying on high heat will shorten the life of any natural fabric over time.

One thing worth knowing: washing is one of the biggest ways synthetic chemicals from clothing enter our water systems. Choosing gentler detergents is one of the simplest changes a household can make.

All Maayu fabric is pre-washed and pre-shrunk before it becomes a garment, so significant shrinkage after your first wash is unlikely. That said, we recommend washing any new underwear before wearing it for the first time. It is a good habit with any new garment.

To keep your Maayu underwear soft and lasting as long as possible, follow our wash care guide.

No. Maayu underwear is made from pre-shrunk organic cotton and holds its shape well with normal care.

The one thing worth knowing is that organic cotton without spandex fits and moves differently from underwear you may be used to. It does not cling or stretch back the way synthetic blends do. Some people need a wash or two before it settles into its best fit. That is normal, and most people find they prefer it once it does.

Follow our wash care guide to get the longest life out of your pair.

Currently, the sizes available are as follow:

Bikini: XS, S, M, L, XL

Hipster: XS, S, M, L, XXL

Kids’ Hipster: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12

Kora Boxers: S, M, L, XL

Bodies change, daily, monthly, across years. That is just how it works. We have kept our sizing as consistent as we can across all styles. If you are between sizes, we generally recommend sizing up for comfort.

If you are trying Maayu for the first time, we recommend starting with a single pair before committing to a pack. Most people don't go back once they have made the switch.

Use our size guide as your starting point: Women · Men · Kids

MAAYU PANTIES

On the basis of real customer feedback, we recommend a size up compared to the size you normally wear in underwear, as our fabrics do not have the extra stretch of spandex. 

MAAYU BOXERS

On the basis of real customer feedback, we recommend, the same size you normally wear for boxers. Refer to our size chart for guidance.

No, and this is one of the things our customers notice first.

Most underwear digs in or leaves marks because of tight synthetic elastic pressed directly against the skin. At Maayu the elastic is fully encased inside the waistband so it never makes direct contact with your body. The result is a fit that stays in place without gripping.

Organic cotton without spandex also sits against the body differently from what most people are used to. It does not cling or pull. Some people need a wear or two to adjust to a fit that simply rests where it should. Most find they never want to go back.

Please choose Maayu bikini for low-waist link here.

Yes, absolutely. A lot of us avoid wearing white while menstruating because of the taboo attached to periods and stains. But it is actually the healthiest time to be away from toxic dyes and chemicals. Synthetic dyes and bleach, commonly found in regular underwear, are carcinogenic and sit directly against your most absorbent skin. Maayu underwear is unbleached and undyed, which means none of these chemicals make contact with your body — during your period or any other time.

Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people make the switch to Maayu.

Synthetic dyes and chemical bleach in regular underwear sit directly against your most sensitive skin. They can disrupt the natural bacterial balance the body works hard to maintain. Maayu underwear is unbleached and undyed, so none of these chemicals make contact with your body.

Organic cotton also breathes naturally, regulating heat and moisture. A warm, synthetic environment is exactly the condition that encourages bacterial overgrowth. Cotton removes that condition.

Switching to organic cotton underwear is one of the first things a gynaecologist will recommend for recurring UTIs and infections. It is not a new idea, and it is not a small one. Many Maayu customers have written to us saying that recurring infections stopped after making the switch. We will never claim it as a cure. But we do think it is worth knowing.

The skin in intimate areas is some of the most absorbent skin on the body. What touches it all day matters.

Regular underwear is made with synthetic dyes, chemical bleach, and spandex. These sit directly against sensitive skin for 12 or more hours every day. Synthetic dyes, particularly azo dyes, can release harmful compounds on skin contact. Spandex is a petroleum-based plastic and a known endocrine disruptor. Bleach residue does not fully wash out.

Maayu underwear has none of these. 100% organic cotton, unbleached and undyed, breathes naturally and carries nothing artificial. It regulates heat and moisture, maintains the bacterial balance the body needs, and removes a daily source of chemical contact from your most sensitive skin.

The people who notice the most difference are often those managing recurring infections, hormonal imbalance, PCOD, or sensitive skin. But you do not need a condition to benefit from cleaner fabric. Removing unnecessary chemical exposure is a straightforward decision for anyone.

Our belief is simple. What is good for the planet is good for people, and what is good for people is good for the planet. It is never one or the other.

Maayu underwear is made to last. Our organic cotton and handwoven Kala cotton are durable materials, and with the right care they hold up well over time.

We have heard from customers that their Maayu underwear lasts up to two years. Worn twice a week, that is around 200 wears per pair. Over time, the cotton softens further and shapes gently to your body. The cost per wear ends up being significantly lower than synthetic underwear you replace twice a year.

To get the longest life out of your pair, follow our wash care guide.

Maayu underwear is designed to be composted at the end of its life.

Maayu Panties
Cut and remove the elastic from the waist and leg openings. The fabric can go straight into your compost. The elastic scraps can be reused as ties or, as a last resort, discarded with dry waste.

Maayu Boxers
Remove the elastic and labels from the waist. The rest of the fabric is fully compostable.

This is one of the things we are most proud of. Most underwear ends up in landfill. Ours goes back to the earth.

There is a lot coming and we are genuinely excited about it.

We are expanding across every range. New styles in our women's collection, new additions to men's, and a growing kids' range for both boys and girls. We are also working on cotton bralettes, organic cotton t-shirts, and a summer collection made for the heat.

And we are continuing to develop our naturally dyed range, using medicinally rich plants. More colours, made the same honest way.

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