handmade lingerie

Looking at Helen Valk Varavin’s designs is like peering into a lush fairytale. There is definitely something magical about these luxe underthings, which are often named after famous mythological women and are designed “with modern goddesses in mind”.

My absolute favourite thing about Instagram is how often I discover new lingerie brands over there, and Love & Swans is one such treasure that made its way onto my feed shortly after its February launch. I was instantly besotted with their beaded embroideries.

The second I stumbled across Dorshelle Guillaume, I fell in love. The designs are simply breathtaking, every single one of them an ornate and unique showstopper. There’s a level of decadence and attention to detail here that is rare even amongst luxury lingerie brands, from lusciously-embellished fabrics to beaded fringing.

While I love Lydia’s design aesthetic, the main reason I enjoy her social media is her commitment to inclusivity when it comes to those she creates for. Every piece of lingerie is made to your own measurements, which you provide during the ordering process.

I first heard of Queen of Suburbia back in 2016, when the brand was just getting started. The designer behind the brand, Megan, was a lingerie blogger for a few years before she decided to start making her own lingerie, which she now sells through her website and Etsy store.

As September winds down, I can’t help but feel sad that summer is basically over, and with it those seaside days that make the season so special. Then I realised: why let the beachy vibes fade with summer?

When Impish Lee launched its customisation tool in 2015, it was a totally new concept in the lingerie world – getting to pick your own fabrics and colours, plus make design changes such as adding or removing bows, all without having to spend time communicating back and forth with the designer.

Nowadays, there is a ton of lingerie on the market that draws subtle inspiration from kink culture, whether it’s strappy knickers or bras with attached collars. And while it’s awesome to see these styles trending, let’s not forget about the many incredible, independent designers creating lingerie that is more ouvert in its kinkspiration.

Rapture and Repent immediately caught my eye for its darkly original, fetish-inspired designs. The designer, Monika Cibulskis, first started selling lingerie and accessories while studying fashion at Ryerson University in Canada.

Solstice Intimates is an independent, American lingerie brand based in Arizona. Bright and whimsical, it brings deliciously retro patterns to contemporary lingerie styles. Thanks to their unique designs and their prominent use of velvet, I’ve been a fan of Solstice for a while.