Before getting into the nitty gritty of what the differences are between designing for ‘ready-to-wear’ and ‘bespoke’ lingerie, it’s important to first nail down what these phrases actually mean. In a world dominated by fast fashion and half-truth marketing, a lot of the technical terminology around clothing has had its meaning diluted and distorted. This is particularly true of the language around luxury fashion, which is often co-opted by fast […]
It’s not easy to start your own lingerie line. But in 2021, it’s easy to pretend you’ve started your own lingerie line. I’ve seen an influx of “new lingerie designers” who are very obviously not designing the items they’re selling. In fact, they’re not even purchasing them like a traditional boutique. They’re just dropshipping them. How are Dropshippers Different Than Traditional Boutiques? What’s the difference between boutiques and dropshippers? A traditional […]
I’ve mentioned this once or twice on TLA, but I’m in love with the textile arts, especially embroidery. Long derided as women’s work (a way of devaluing the expertise and labor involved), I am fascinated by how simple threads can, over time, turn into art. It’s similar to the metamorphosis that turns thread into lace. I suppose, now that I think on it, this is the essence of fashion in […]
It’s an opinion that’s not always popular in the lingerie community, but I believe there is no such thing as truly original design. Lingerie design, by nature, is limited. There are only so many ways to interpret functional underwear. However, in my eyes that’s not a bad thing. The history of lingerie design is incredibly rich and varied, and I love seeing how techniques and cuts reappear in contemporary design. […]
As a lingerie designer, people often tell me my work sounds like a ‘dream job.’ An aura of fantasy and glamour surrounds the fashion industry. However, the reality is lingerie design can be pretty boring most of the time, with very little creativity involved at all.
