Hanky Panky Brand Started as a Gift to a Friend

August 24, 2017

It all Started as a Gift. 40 years ago, in 1977, Designer Gale Epstein created a bra and panty set out of hand-embroidered handkerchiefs as a birthday gift for her friend, Lida Orzeck. Inspired by this ingenious concept, the friends became business partners and named their new company after the original design… Hanky Panky. Introduced in honor of Hanky Panky’s 40th anniversary are new styles inspired by Gale Epstein’s original lingerie designs, expertly crafted in New York from vintage hand-embroidered handkerchiefs.

Discussion about this post

Lisa Cecchettini says:

August 24, 2017 at 9:37 am

Excellent idea…i have collected hankys forever!!!
Always a well received gift.

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About UsHanky Panky is an underwear and sleepwear brand founded in 1977 by Gale Epstein and Lida Orzeck. The company revolutionized comfort for women across the globe, liberating women to feel nothing but confidence. Hanky Panky is sold in over 70 countries through a network of international distributors, in addition to department stores and boutiques across the U.S.

When Gale transformed a Victorian-era handkerchief into a bra and panty set for friend Lida, Hanky Panky was born. In 1986, we changed underwear history by inventing a thong that achieved then imaginable; it could not be felt. Women, liberated by its nothingness, told friends, mothers, sisters, daughters, creating a cult following. Converting even the most ardent non-believers, The World’s Most Comfortable Thong® has sold over 46.5million units, with a pair selling on average every 10 seconds globally.

Hanky Panky offers over 15 panty silhouettes, in addition to bralettes, sleepwear, extended sizes, bridal and ‘After Midnight’. Exclusive and patented fabrics include our famously soft Signature Lace and Breathe, our ultra-lightweight microfiber. An industry-beating stitch count keeps us top choice for lasting, quality lingerie; our small but mighty thong boasts 30 yards of thread. We debut five seasonal print and color collections a year with a design archive of over 500 colors and 270 prints.

Prioritizing sustainability from its founding days, Hanky Panky offers eco-friendly, domestically grown fabrics and uses sustainable packaging and non-toxic dyes. Supply chain transparency is a guiding principle for the business.

What lies at the heart of our business is a genuine passion for underwear. We comfort test every line and triple check every stitch. We follow the catwalks and seasonal trends. We employ color gurus, print fanatics and fit experts. We operate an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and live by the belief that a good idea can come from anyone.