Do not be alarmed, but if you haven’t noticed, your panties have turned Chinese.
The answer to your bewilderment lies in a quick head turn back to last year, when Aussie manufacturing company Pacific Brands shifted their manufacturing operations to China to ‘remain competitive’. They stripped us bare. Right down to our knotted knickers.
Pacific Brands is the company behind labels such as Bonds, King Gee, Holeproof and Berlei. Back in the thick of the economic downturn, they cut more than 1,850 jobs, closed seven factories and bit into our bums. Literally.
Lest we forget our Aussie main-brand knickers. We now have Chinese undies. Buying Australian means supporting Australian jobs and the economy and it prevents outrageous things from happening, such as the nationality change of our briefs.
Not following? Turn over the coffee cup beside you, the exercise book, probably even the pen you’re writing with and no doubt you will see the little imprint that reads; ‘Made in China’.
Meanwhile, let us not be disheartened, the underworld sector of underwear is so much more interesting. It’s bustling with innovative creations to keep you supporting Australia, while you dance around with the hairbrush, in nothing but your panties.
In order to be unique, you have to search for those little stores tucked away behind the bombarding of the main-brand billboards.
LITTLE SALON
Little Salon, on Fitzroy Street in Melbourne, is a ‘bite size boutique’, filled with designer items from all around Australia. Homeware, art, scarves, handbags, socks, frocks and of course that special pair of knickers you’ve been on the prowl for. The vintage wallpaper, drop down lights and the odd bits and pieces make it a well-worth stop during a busy day of shopping.
HATSUMI’S LAUNDRY
A talented Australian seamstress, who has caught the attention of all girls who love to dress up, is Jemma Aickin. Her label Hatsumi’s Laundry is 100% Australian handmade and independent. Inspired by Japan, Hatsumi translates to ‘beginning of beauty’. These delicates encapsulate this look completely, being feminine and subtle.
One piece that really says it all is a white sheer cotton pair of undies which do not cling, are frilly and gently scrunched, with an oversized bow covering the rear. Each piece is elasticised with shirring so that it is light against the skin – the result – they won’t ride up. Exuding elegance and simplicity, you won’t want to cover them with anything else. They are detailed with hand sewn buttons, frills, beads and bows. One look and you are an instant fan.
EMILY JANE
Australian lingerie designers can assure that after peeling off all those winter layers, you can still look fabulous. Emily Jane is ribbon and lace, sassy and sheer, patterned and playful. She is a Melbourne based designer, who hand makes her own stunning seams. Her collection includes a tie-dye range – softened with frills, lace and bows. And a metallic gold range – a striking collection which maintains that girly, delicate look. A stand out number is a set of flimsy soft pink underwear, detailed with black lace around the bra and a little black bow on centre at the panties, which are elegantly finished with thin white ridging.
THE VOYAGE
Melbourne designer Gabrielle Adamidis has produced possibly the cutest, most quirky collection of knickers you will see, as part of her new collection ‘The Voyage’, under her ever-excelling brand, ‘Hopeless Lingerie’. Interestingly, Adamidis was influenced by Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, taking inspiration from the shark’s teeth, the waves of the ocean and the blood which stains the endless blue. The result, though, is far from a vision of horror.
The range is cheeky and very feminine– designed to be worn with nothing else. Her organic cotton and soy knickers will have you not only bumming in Aussie top-notch designs, but eco-friendly ones. The range is a vision of bold patterns and colours, predominately in navy, white and red. From high waisted designs, to jumbo chiffon frills you’ll be set to hit the high seas.
CUSTOMISE YOUR BUM
The internet has opened up doors to ‘virtually’ anything. Foghorn is an Australian web-based business which allows you to ‘customise your bum’. Jane Wing, Director of Foghorn says, “We love the idea that through Foghorn people can use their own body to say anything they want to, and not have to wear what the bloke next to them wore yesterday.”
Foghorn is a ‘flash based virtual design shop’. You are able to rotate, flip, size and add designs to the front or back of your chosen gear. A wide range of print effects are offered including fuzzy, glitter and metallic. There are also thousands of symbols and the ability to add whatever text that tickles your fancy. “The idea is that you don’t need to be a designer to get your own look”, says Jane.
D.I.Y
Better yet, make them yourself. Rummage through your home and grip your hands on any kind of satin, silk, cotton, nylon, mesh, lace, leather or lycra thing you can find. An old top works well. The next step is cutting it up. Use a good-fitting pair of undies as a stencil to cut the shape. Construction is typically of two pieces (front and rear) joined by seams at the crotch and sides, often with an additional gusset in the crotch, and elastic at the waistband and leg openings. Once the base shape is cut and stitched, detail your new Aussie undies by sewing on some lace, frills, buttons or bows. Bada-bing, bada-boom!
IN YOUR GRANNY’S DRAW
In relation to most garments, fashion today is moving backward, not forward. Scrounging through second-hand stores to find that perfect ‘one-off’ item can be addictive. However this is not the case for our underwear. Mimicking historic trends will leave you looking like your grandmother.
Pull on undies were invented around the 13th Century, followed by a creative boom in Europe. Men would wear stockings, long-johns, drawers and cod-pieces. Women’s underwear was awfully intricate. It included hoop skirts, corsets and bum rolls. Around the 1700’s – 1800’s came the introduction of garters, lace corsets, stocking suspenders, petticoats and our beloved knickers. The lady of the day was suffocated in amidst fabrics and layers.
The 1940s thankfully marked a time of change and innovation. The creator of the push-up-bra, Frederick Mellinger opened up Frederick’s of Hollywood, a shop which sold corsets and lingerie with fashion appeal. These new styles were glamorized by models such as Bettie Page, the iconic figure in pop-culture characterised by her jet black hair and appearances in Playboy magazine. Panties soon became more than a simple hygiene necessity worldwide.
Whether you’re wearing boy-briefs, French laced, high tops, g-strings, frilly or kinky Aussie panties, we no doubt can appreciate how the fashion of our undergarments has evolved.
Although the mainstream sector of underwear doesn’t look bright, there is a whole new world waiting to be discovered. Make them yourself, or hunt down Australian hand-crafted originals. The point is: have your underwear support your country.
