Designing and producing a sustainable, comfortable, and beautiful intimate apparel line is within reach thanks to the help of this in-depth Masterclass. Led by Nicola Hopkins, founder of expert product development studio Bold Intimates which focuses on sustainable lingerie and swimwear, the technical lessons guide you step-by-step through the key considerations for sustainable sourcing, pattern cutting, stitching and sizing for underwear. Nicola's approach places the focus on the body and comes from a place of mindfulness and consideration. Her ethos resonates with the nature of these intimate garments and you'll find inspiration to take forward and inform your own conscious underwear brand.
We're also joined by female founders who have also grown their businesses based on personal experience, strong values and a lot of trial and error. This is along with a tutorial on regenerated fibres, which are heading up a huge market share of the intimate apparel sector and consequently what you should be savvy about.
In this Masterclass you will learn:
- Why focusing on the details of an intimate apparel line will add up to a conscious and considered whole
- About the sustainable fabrics currently available, how to choose which one works for you and where to source them
- Opportunities for sustainable underwear brands in the market today
- About sizing systems and grades for underwear ranges
- Tips for working with a professional pattern cutter
- Stitching methods for underwear garment construction and how to work with manufacturers
- How to achieve accuracy in your fitting
- The importance of skin-friendly fabrics, dyes and trims for intimate garments
- Marketing strategies for communicating your responsible underwear brand
- Where man-made cellulosic fibres are placed in the sustainable underwear realm
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Building Meaning Through Consciously Constructed Underwear
with Nicola HopkinsSummary
Opening this Masterclass on Producing a Responsible Underwear and Lingerie Line, in this video, you'll meet Nicola Hopkins, founder of London-based design and development studio, Bold Intimates, and leader of this month's lessons.
Bold Intimates specialises in underwear, swimwear and activewear, with a focus on sustainability. Find out more about Nicola's experience and approach to creating meaningful experiences through consciously constructed underwear.
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Sustainable Sourcing For Intimate Apparel
with Nicola HopkinsSummary
Learn the key considerations designers should make when sourcing fabrics and trims for a responsible underwear line. In this video, Nicola Hopkins, founder of Bold Intimates, covers the qualities you should look for in fabrics to create long-lasting garments, where to source these fabrics and the most sustainable fabrics available on the market today.
This lesson comes complete with a guide to terminologies for materials and trims commonly used in underwear production. When you know what you want but the names are just on the tip of your tongue - this guide's for you!
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Understanding Sizing and Grading for Creating Sustainable Underwear
with Nicola HopkinsSummary
Sizing in underwear is make or break, so in this video, Nicola Hopkins reveals some of the industry's secrets to help you achieve super comfortable, well-fitting underwear designs that your customers will treasure.
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Pattern Cutting Specifics for Responsible Underwear and Lingerie
with Nicola HopkinsSummary
Although you'll almost certainly be working with a professional pattern cutter to create your underwear line, it's important to understand the process behind creating bras and briefs to ensure your designs work practically and meet the requirements of manufacturers and seamstresses. This video sets out nine considerations for brands preparing for the pattern cutting stage of designing your intimate apparel collection.
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How To Ensure You Get An Accurate Fit For Your Intimate Apparel Line
with Nicola HopkinsSummary
Getting the fit right for your intimates range will take several rounds, so make sure you know what to expect. Nicola Hopkins, founder of Bold Intimates, takes you through the process of a fitting session, including how to take measurements, what to ask your fit models and specific considerations for bras and briefs.
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Sewing Considerations For Producing Durable And Comfortable Lingerie
with Nicola HopkinsSummary
This video takes you through the most common stitches and sewing techniques used for underwear garment construction, where and when to use them and the effects they'll help you achieve in your designs.
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Normalising Chronic Skin Conditions Through Holistic Design + [Professional Member Highlight]
with Joanna BleinSummary
Joanna Blein, founder of Feel Good Couture™ and eczema skin warrior, joined us to explain the effect that clothing has on those suffering from chronic skin conditions. After another hospitalisation, Joanna's 40 years of experience with severe eczema led her to finally take the plunge and launch a lifestyle brand that would assess the needs of other skin warriors alongside her own. Aiming to normalise skin conditions, while increasing confidence and wellbeing through stylish yet comfortable designs, Joanna's business is genuinely bringing something new to market - it was not being able to find it aged 15, that got her juices flowing in the first place.
Tuck in to raise your awareness on a little discussed topic, and increase your knowledge in researching sympathetically for such a business.
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The Intimate Business of Sustainable and Ethical Lingerie
with Stephanie SteeleSummary
Underwear and lingerie is inherently personal, with markets across the board for functional or sexy, eco and quick. In this session we want to dive deeper into how underwear and lingerie can affect our mood, how sales have changed over lockdown and specifically how you go about launching a sustainable or ethical underwear and lingerie brand.
This live panel discussion first aired on 18th May 2020, 7-8pm.
Guest Speakers:
First guest: Nicola Hopkins, Bold Intimates
Bold Intimates is an expert product development studio for lingerie and swimwear brands, offering technical and sustainable solutions. After working for over a decade in the intimate apparel sector honing her technical skill and knowledge, founder Nicola Hopkins created Bold Intimates through her desire to consciously restore and regenerate a product development system that is relevant to our world today.
Second guest: Katie and Amanda McCourt, PANTEE
PANTEE is the world’s first underwear brand that gives dead and rejected stock a new lease of life by transforming pre-consumer t-shirts, that would otherwise go to landfill, into comfortable and stylish underwear. Founded in 2020 by sisters, Amanda & Katie McCourt, PANTEE products are designed and brought to life in the UK.
Third guest: Maïna Cisse, The Underargument
Maïna dreamt about bras from age 5. When others little girls dreamt of being princesses, she dreamt about being grown-up, being a 34C (very specifically) and having her first bra. Getting older, lingerie was therapy to her. It’s always been her go-to pick me up. Her rebellious attitude combined with her multicultural background helped shape a brand that thrives to empower women with their own individuality.
[Header image: shoot from Organic Basics]
Interviews
The Very Good Bra: The world's first zero post-consumer waste bra
Thursday Aug 1st, 2019
Bedstraw and Madder: Plant-Dyed Regenerative Underwear
Saturday Aug 1st, 2020
Kristen Anderson: Building A Meaningful Intimate Apparel Business
Saturday Aug 1st, 2020
Technical Tutorials
Follow on Masterclasses:
The Design Process: From Design To Product
Working With Sustainable Cellulosic Fibres
Additional Reading
Spring Summer 2022 Colour And Material Trends: Premiére Vision
Monday Feb 22nd, 2021
What Wellbeing Strategies Can You Implement To Be An Agile Business?
Thursday Dec 17th, 2020
How Fashion Retail Has Survived The Covid-19 Pandemic
Thursday Dec 3rd, 2020
Building A Healthy And Happy Work Culture After Coronavirus
Thursday Jun 11th, 2020
What is Fast Fashion and Why Is It Still So Popular?
Monday Jan 20th, 2020
Eco producers, manufacturers and innovators at Première Vision September 2019
Monday Sep 30th, 2019
Tips for attending fabric trade shows like Première Vision
Monday Sep 30th, 2019
The sustainable brands redefining luxury with made-to-order business models
Monday Sep 16th, 2019
Start treating your offcuts with respect with these creative upcycling ideas for fabric scraps
Monday Aug 19th, 2019
Sustainable Fashion Packaging Alternatives for Eco Businesses
Monday Jul 15th, 2019