A couple of years ago, I wrote an article on black-owned lingerie brands and it became one of TLA’s most popular articles to-date. Despite what many business experts or industry authorities have to say about the importance of “neutral” or “colorblind” companies, it turns out many people want to support underrepresented or marginalized designers. This is especially when these brands respond to a need the larger intimate apparel industry has neglected for decades.
Last year, I skipped doing the Valentine’s Day Shopping Guides. Between moving to California, traveling to the Salon International de la Lingerie in Paris, and then attending Curve in New York, I just felt too overwhelmed. But I realized, right around the time I usually would have been writing the guides, that I missed doing them.
The visual story of lingerie is everything, and a brand’s lookbook is one of the single most effective ways of transmitting that story. From a lookbook, you can learn if a brand is contemporary or traditional, luxury or inexpensive, French-inspired or American-influenced. A good lookbook conveys a brand’s identity, and it’s no exaggeration to say it can make or break a label.
I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Erica Young of EricaM, the bodywear line known for its intricate detailing, in her Brooklyn studio space. As she shared her designs, creative process, and inspiration, our conversation covered a host of other topics from our favorite podcasts and perceptions of the millennial generation to the glory days of shopping at Contempo Casuals and the influence of the Cosby Show on […]
Last month, industry professionals convened in New York for the lingerie market, centered around the biannual Curve trade show. A host of indie and big-name brands displayed their fall collections for buyers and press alike over a whirlwind three days. I always look forward to the show. It’s a chance to catch up with the designers I’ve known for years and to see how they have evolved their collections yet […]
