Julie May: Solving the Issue of Allergies in the Lingerie Industry
By ESTELLE PULESTON
Over the past five to ten years, there has been a boom in the number of brands catering to niche areas of the lingerie industry such as stylish mastectomy bras, adaptive lingerie, or period underwear. One area that I haven’t seen much conversation about however is hypoallergenic or allergy-friendly focused lingerie, despite the fact that studies have found that one third of all people suffer from a skin condition of some kind.
In the lingerie industry, synthetic fibers are big business: nylon laces and tulles, polyester satins, seamless microfibers, spandex added for stretch… Even brands or products that do make use of natural fibers such as silk and cotton will, in almost all cases, use synthetic elastic trims, and may also use harsh chemical dyes. And so, when your skin is sensitive to these things, finding underwear that won’t be irritating can be a real challenge.
Tiffany Chiu is an entrepreneur trying to change that, after her mother Julie began experiencing new skin irritations following the birth of her second child. Driven to develop a solution both for her mother and all of the many other women out there in similar situations, she left behind a law degree to create a lingerie line instead, which launched in 2018: JulieMay.
JulieMay promises ultra-comfortable, sensitive skin-friendly bras and underwear in which absolutely nothing synthetic touches the skin. Only pure, GOTS-certified organic Pima cotton or pure, Fair Trade mulberry peace silk. And regardless of the primary fabric, the linings in bra cups and in underwear gussets are always 100% silk. There’s never any added spandex.
Of course, some stretch is typically needed in lingerie to get a good fit. Other brands approaching spandex-free design from a sustainability angle – such as The Very Good Bra – have chosen to use natural tree rubber (latex) elastics, but that can come with its own allergy issues and is also less durable than synthetic elastic. So at JulieMay, synthetic elastics are used but they’re double-wrapped in Pima cotton, to ensure that’s the only thing touching your body.
This Pima cotton is made from fibers measuring almost three times as long as ordinary cotton, and which are tightly woven together. The result is incredibly soft, smooth, pill-resistant fabric that, like the mulberry silk, is naturally breathable. This avoids trapped moisture in summer or while exercising, minimizing the risk of rashes. Other comfort-enhancing, irritation-reducing features include silk-wrapped underwires, tag-free interiors, and no nickel-containing hardware; all hooks, rings and sliders are made from acrylic.
Despite what may come to mind when you think ‘comfort-centered lingerie brand’, JulieMay isn’t at all boring. As well as lace, the brand uses plenty of color, and prints too. Naturally, these are achieved using very mild dyes; there are no azo dyes and no phosphor bleach for example. Long term, Chiu intends to incorporate plant-based dyes into the process.
JulieMay may have been created with skin conditions such as allergies, eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis in mind, but it’s also great for sensitive post-surgery skin. Plus, thanks to its breathability, it has developed a loyal following of menopausal women experiencing hot flushes.
The bra range covers many different types of needs in addition to allergy-friendliness. There are back support bras, front-closure ones, low-impact sports bras, cute fashion bralettes, everyday bras for both light and dark skin tones… So even if none of the skin sensitivity stuff applies to you, with its stylish designs, exceptional comfort and varied design options, you may well love this brand regardless!
Plus, there’s a lot to like about JulieMay from an eco-conscious perspective. Beyond the innate sustainability of organic, natural fiber fabrics processed without the use of harsh chemicals, the company also sources materials locally to its factory to reduce transport, supports organizations that plant trees or redistribute unwanted/unsold bras, and even turns its leftover fabric scraps into decorative bows. Chiu also takes an evergreen approach to her product offering, rather than chasing trends or seasonal ‘newness’. It’s a lingerie brand that’s kinder to your skin and kinder to the planet.
JulieMay collections are all scientifically tested and dermatologically approved, and the brand is accredited by Allergy UK. It’s available for bra sizes 30B through 42DD (up to US H cups on some band sizes) and US brief sizes 4-14. Bras are priced from $72-$96, briefs from $26.50 to $32.
Contact information:
Website: https://juliemay-lingerie.com/
Instagram: @juliemaylingerie_uk
Email: cs@juliemay.co.uk
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