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.
I don’t talk much about activewear on TLA and that’s honestly because most activewear campaigns are kinda boring. Impeccably made-up models going through vaguely athletic motions? Nah. Hard pass. But Lane Bryant’s new Livi Activewear Collection? Well, that had me grinning from ear to ear.
One of our previous “Best of Lingerie” winners, Tisja Damen first caught our eye with intricate patchwork lingerie that was more akin textile art than intimates. I fell in love with their unique, directional approach, and I’ve been checking in on the brand ever sense. In a way, it’s almost harder when you debut with such a strong perspective. People expect brilliance, and that can be a difficult bar to achieve season after season. Fortunately for the lingerie world, Tisja Damen manages to clear it easily.
Trusst Lingerie launched on Kickstarter in the Spring of 2015 and met its goal in 5 days. The bra was designed to “actually support” full-bust women by using an alternative to the underwire: a 3D-printed bra core called the BAST, which stands for Breast Advanced Support Technology. Trusst says their BAST is more supportive and more comfortable than a traditional underwire by reducing shoulder strain and, according to their website, “eliminating the pinching, poking, and discomfort commonly associated with underwires.” Their goal was to create a bra for women who hate underwire bras and find them uncomfortable. I was super excited for the opportunity to review it as I have a lot of varied thoughts on this concept.
Here it is: the finale, the coup de grâce, the closer to 2016. Speaking personally as Editor in Chief for a moment, I take our best lingerie brands of the year post very seriously. I start making notes on certain companies as early as January, “checking in” on them, so to speak, throughout the year.
