A few days ago, I attended an intimate fabric exposition that was hosted by industry leaders Eurovet and Invista™. It was an elegant party replete with a beautiful venue, excellent food, plenty to drink and superior resources. We will be touting its virtues in another blog soon. What struck me most was the technology demonstrated by the presenting brands and the promises they offered for the future of Lingerie product development. They will help designers break many barriers and keep Intimates securely on the fashion map. But even as I absorbed the innovations offered by Lycra® driven product, I could not ignore the roots of the intimate apparel industry, silk. Silk, even as scientific research catapults this business into a prosperous future, is making a very big comeback. Silk drapes a woman’s body and remembers her shape. Silk is seductive, a luxurious delicacy in a competitive market exploding with change.
When I was young, I would scavenge vintage shops for silk underwear and nightgowns. They were an art form to me, worthy of collection. But it was when I discovered Samantha Chang’s silk at Bergdorf in the 2000 that I understood the contemporary potential of this sensual fabric. Hers were a modern interpretation, gorgeous prints and rich colors that begged to be touched. At that time, they were research for me, expensive .but worthy of their heritage. Today, Samantha has continued her silk legacy in classic styles worthy of her signature, aspirational in design but palatable in price. If “Lingerie is the poetry in a woman’s wardrobe” then silk is its Shakespeare.
“We Are All Adam’s Children, But Silk Makes The Difference” ~Proverbs
