MANUS x MACHINA

The Manus x Machina exhibit was on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan from May 5th – September 5th, 2016. It explored the changes in fashion design from the early 20th century to present day, focusing on the relationship between hand-made garments and those made by machines. The distinction between haute couture, garments that are designed to fit a singular model, and prêt-à-porter, garments that are mass-produced to fit a variety of body types, has faded from the traditional manmade vs. machine-made definition as technological developments thrive. Rather than presenting the practices as a dichotomy between man vs. machine, Manus x Machina celebrates how the collaboration of techniques has been advancing the future of fashion.

The traditional haute couture garments on display shared a glimpse into the cultural divide of manmade and machine-made garments from the early 20th century. During a time of fiscal turmoil, machines were known to be used for the mass-production of affordable clothing that was accessible to all classes. Only the high class could afford to commission haute couture garments, made to their unique measurements. It was a great luxury to have your garments carefully sewn together by the hands of a renowned designer, made to serve you best as an individual. read more

CurveNY: Intimate Apparel and Swim Trends for Spring/Summer 2017

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The 18th edition of Mode Lingerie and Swim, CURVEXPO New York, took place from July 31st to August 2nd, 2016 at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Hundreds of exhibitors shared their Spring/Summer 2017 collections and more on the show floor! This season’s show featured a great variety of garments, rich in bright colors and tropical patterns to celebrate the aesthetic of warmer seasons.

Swimwear for 2017 is beaming with multicultural imagery with patterns inspired by cultures across the globe, created primarily by Brazilian brands. African designs like Moroccan and Kenyan prints are very trendy this season, but there is no shortage of traditional beach imagery like Hawaiian palm leaves and nautical stripes. The demands of full-bust customers have prompted many swimwear brands to implement cup-size technology into their bathing suits, making beachwear that is both gorgeous and supportive for a wider range of body types. read more

Underwear as Outerwear

Model Gigi Hadid wearing the underwear as outerwear trend.

Summer 2016’s hottest trend is giving lingerie lovers a chance to show off their most luxurious garments in sophisticated style. Underwear as outerwear has been reaching new peaks in popularity over the past few years, led by fashion icons and celebrities who bare their intimate apparel as statement pieces in their outfits. This has been giving lingerie brands and designers more visibility than ever before among fashion lovers everywhere.

Le conical corset by Jean Paul Gaultier, worn by Madonna during the “Metropolis” sequence of The Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990, photographed by Emil Larsson.

“Underwear as outerwear” is no new fad, as it was first coined in the 1980’s by Malcolm McLaren when his winter 1982 collection showed a 1950’s-style bullet brassiere worn over a sweatshirt. This offbeat fashion statement was a huge inspiration to the industry, provoking designers like Jean Paul Gaultier to create some of their greatest lingerie-inspired works and performers like Madonna to wear the look out on tours. Since then, bold and beloved celebrities like Britney Spears and Rihanna have kept underwear as outerwear in vogue with barely-dressed appearances. read more

“Modern Allure” Parsons School of Design Contest

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For the first time, The Underfashion Club worked with Parsons School of Design to hold an intimate apparel design contest! Students competed over the theme “Modern Allure,” which prompted them to design lingerie that speaks to today’s woman. The Underfashion Club awarded cash prizes to the top two designers. On May 17th, 2016, five gorgeous garments, designed by Parsons School of Design seniors, were displayed at The Gallery in The Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan for the club to witness and vote for.

Design #1: Chicago Collection by Tianyang Li read more

SENIOR BFA STUDENT DESIGNS: FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

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On April 20, 2016 the abundance of talent that was represented by the FIT students was truly extraordinary.  Several of the SAIG committee members from the UNDERFASHION CLUB observed with delight the garments designed by the BFA Intimate Apparel students.  These garments, as well as eveningwear, sportswear, knits and children’s wear were on display in the John E. Reeves Great Hall at FIT as a preview to the FUTURE OF FASHION….the fashion show the graduating seniors will present on May 5th.

These BFA students will be graduating in May and kudos to Professor Alexandra Armillas and her students!  We were thrilled to be invited to the preview and wondered how many of the 23 Intimate Apparel garments represented here would be in the fashion show…….we vote for all of them! read more

Sketch Night Recap

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Thanks to everyone who joined the Underfashion Club for “Sketch Night” on April 13th, 2016 with Bil Donovan, the artist-in-residence for Christian Dior Beauty! We hope you enjoyed experiencing figure drawing with a practiced professional in the industry.

Bil gave a comprehensive breakdown of how to create stylistic figure drawings with simple, deliberate brush strokes. He urged artists to simplify each figure and pose into straight and curved lines with a series of exercises. Beginning with contour drawings and slowly introduced additional details, participants transformed these complex images into defined pieces of art. Lingerie models Pearl and Dhana were fantastic references, holding a variety of poses for practicing artistic techniques. read more

Sketch Night with Bil Donovan

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Would you like to sketch beautiful fashion figures from live lingerie models while networking with others from the industry?

Join the Underfashion Club for “Sketch Night“ with acclaimed illustrator Bil Donovan who will help guide us through the art of fashion illustration! read more

CurveNY February 2016

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The CurveNY trade show on February  21st – 23rd, 2016 gave 350 lingerie and swimwear brands a platform to showcase their Fall/Winter 2016 collections at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The environment was improved with a royal purple carpet to match the theme of the show, plenty of rest areas with new furniture, and goody bags with water and healthy snacks to refuel visitors and exhibitors between appointments.

There were a great variety of brands on the show floor this season. New brands that have only been around for a few months were exhibiting alongside brands that have been in the industry for over a century. The cost of a single garment ranged from under $30 to nearly $1,000, appealing to buyers at all price points. Manufacturing styles among the exhibitors included authentic vintage methods from the 1940s to techniques inspired by the latest 3D printing technology. read more

2016 FEMMY Awards Gala: Recap

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The Underfashion Club, Inc. hosted the 2016 FEMMY Awards Gala on February 2nd at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, which was attended by intimate apparel industry executives from all over the world. In addition to record-breaking attendance, the event raised approximately $600,000 for this 501(c)(3) charitable organization and its mission of “Education today for a better industry tomorrow.”

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Dita Von Teese, Host of the 2016 FEMMY Awards

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We’re delighted to have the legendary burlesque dancer, costume designer, and beauty guru Dita Von Teese join us to host the Underfashion Club’s 2016 FEMMY AWARDS GALA on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City! read more