Cheeky burlesque fun with Pants to Poverty

The Fairtrade underwear label Pants to Poverty released their retro-inspired new Spring/Summer collection last week, but it wasn’t just any normal launch. Striped, bright and ethical pants were everywhere at the PanTEAse event as tea and cake was mixed with burlesque dancing. If you had turned up expecting a quiet cuppa, it may well have been a shock! George Walker tells all.

The launch of Pants to Poverty’s new range of underwear was held at London’s Pigalle Club on 27 February. Pie fights, cheeky ball games and ‘boy-lesque’ (that’s right, even the Pants to Poverty boys got dancing) made for an afternoon tea that was anything but traditional.

Julian, an investment banker at the event, said: “Wow! That was the most exciting Fairtrade event I’ve ever heard of! It wasn’t just the gorgeous acts and pants models that got me excited, but the abundance of Fairtrade products that were swapped at this trendy London hotspot.”

The new retro range of Fairtrade underwear comes just in the middle of Fairtrade Fortnight. It’s a colourful and slightly kitsch range which is both sexy and individual. Breton stripes and red hems give a perky beside-the-seaside look to the pants, with ‘Hello, sailor’ jokes being hinted at with models wearing sailor caps in the advertising campaign.

From skimpy knickers to funky pants with a tomboy edge, the girls are certainly set. As for us guys, the mix of traditional fitted boxers and more playful styles certainly ticks all our boxes. (Pants to Poverty seem to realise we guys think men’s briefs are just a bit, well, pants.)  The pants range from around the £10-£15 mark, so they’re pretty affordable for beautifully made, Fairtrade cotton underwear.

Pants to Poverty has become a highly successful Fairtrade company which now sells across 20 countries. They support over 5000 farmers in India and their factories use renewable energy sources to cut down on emissions. One pound from each pair of these pants sold will go straight to the company’s child labour free programme and each pair comes in recycled packaging made from factory waste.

If you fancy a cheeky pair of pants for the bedroom, head to the Pants to Poverty online shop.