The advent of the body positivity movements that call for people, especially women, to embrace their bodies no matter their shape or size, has tremendously reduced the popularity of big lingerie brands such as Victoria’s Secret. These brands have been known to be at the forefront of propagating Western body standards, which prefer thin White bodies. Now, from the ashes of the lingerie industry, small, body-positive brands have risen.
These brands focus on creating inclusive lingerie meant to empower women, no matter their shapes or size. Their designs also put women’s comfort, self-care, and pleasure front and center, as they cater more to the wants and needs of those who wear them. New York City-based Third Date Lingerie is one such brand.
What is even more interesting is the fact that on top of catering for everyday people with everyday bodies, the brand also champions a sustainable production process. They focus on creating lasting designs from scrap and remnant fabrics and other materials that they have collected from other garment manufacturers. This is why lingerie by Third Date Lingerie is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Gender Equality and Responsible Consumption and Production.
“I dig through bags of new discarded remnants and scrap that traditional manufacturing has deemed too small or irregularly shipped to be useful—they say it’s 'trash' and not useful,” explains Abigail, the creator and sole maker behind Third Date Lingeries. To source her scrap fabric, she cultivates close relationships with New York City-based design studios, making sure that she is able to get her hands on them before they reach landfills around the globe.
Abigail also further raises people’s awareness of fashion wastes by sharing educational content on the Third Date Lingerie Instagram account. She discusses how over 92 million tons of fashion waste are generated each year and that not all of these are discarded finished clothing items as most people commonly believe. A large portion of the waste comes from the production of clothing items to begin with, including everything from scrap fabric that was not included in the finished pattern, loose laces and ribbons, and even discarded thread and yarn.
To further extend the lifespan of their pieces, Third Date Lingerie has also launched BARBARELLA. This bra top is versatile enough to the point that it can transform into 20 different styles, ensuring that one piece can replace the need for the ownership of multiple different pieces that only generate even more waste in their production and sales.
Third Date Lingerie exemplifies the shift towards a more inclusive and sustainable fashion industry. By prioritizing body positivity, comfort, and self-care, the brand empowers women of all shapes and sizes. Through educational content and versatile designs like the BARBARELLA bra top, Third Date Lingerie advocates for a more conscious and sustainable approach to fashion, setting a commendable standard for the industry.
Find out more about sustainable lingerie by Third Date Lingerie and their other initiatives by checking their Instagram on @thirddatelingerie.