Brands

Ask me to name any one robe I’d love to wish into my wardrobe, and there’s a good chance I’d pick one by Apilat. This independent Ukranian brand is creating some of the most breathtakingly beautiful loungewear in the industry, and they only seem to get better with each passing season.

Sustainable lingerie options are becoming increasingly easier to find – and increasingly stylish too. But if you’re thinking ‘sustainable’ automatically equals expensive, and that’s out of your price range, then you’ll be glad to know that there are brands making eco-friendly lingerie accessible for all budgets.

German brand AIKYOU creates timeless, minimalist lingerie for small cup sizes using regionally-sourced fabrics and ethical production standards. Their brand mission is in two parts: to create beautiful lingerie for small busts, and to do so with the highest caliber of sustainability.

I am delighted to be delving into my local Barcelona lingerie scene today by introducing you to another fabulous indie lingerie brand: ai!culotte by Paula Botana. This ethically-produced, slow-fashion label creates underwear which comes in vibrant colour schemes and uses fun and unexpected combinations of prints.

Founded in 2017 by Kadrija Rušitović, shortly after she graduated from a design course, Beba’s collection is awash with gorgeous fabrics, eye-catching silhouettes, and metal logo hardware which is lavished across many of the pieces in multiple designs and sizes.

What Dorina does best is ‘not-so-basic basics’, ultra-wearable everyday pieces that will still make you feel chic and pretty. It’s the kind of thing you can treat yourself to for Valentine’s, without worrying that it’s only going to get worn once and then forgotten about.

Online retailer Lovehoney keeps on upping its lingerie game with its in-house collection, with each season bringing ever-more stylish, eye-catching and trend-focussed designs to lust after. And their latest release, the Captivate range, may just be my favourite Lovehoney offering of all time.

Even in a pandemic, creativity can thrive, and one of my favourite things to come out of 2020 was the newly-launched lingerie label Elena di Cuori which debuted online in June. It’s a luxury line centered around two things: sensual and sophisticated design, and “traditional, Made in Italy craftsmanship”.

Last Thursday, Zara made a bold entry into the lingerie industry with a 158-piece debut collection. While around a third of those have yet to be unveiled, the launch is titled “The Female Gaze” and so far seems to be a push-up free, padding-free product range that focusses on embracing comfort.

When I think of French lingerie designs, delicate feminine pieces usually come to mind: Chantilly lace, wispy tulle, and elegant embroidery. Impudique by Catanzaro definitely has these components, but there’s also an added edge of daring cut-outs and strap details, and wet-look swatches mixed with lighter textiles.