It’s a huge shame that modern society is keener on buying fast fashion than investing in custom clothing like we did in the past. Clothes became cheaper, trend cycles sped up, and shopping became a hobby. Other than dresses and suits for the most memorable day in your life; your wedding, most people rarely consider having something bespoke handmade to their measurements.
We are all guilty of grabbing items off of the rack in a store and assuming that they will fit based on the size on the label, but more often than not these mass-produced items of clothing have been designed to fit a generic shape which often leads to sizing inconsistencies, especially between different brands which use different generic sizes. As well as being damaging to self-esteem when a garment doesn’t fit, poorly graded sized clothes add to the likelihood of returns and waste.
Sadly, when you return a fast fashion (cheap, trendy clothing) garment due to incorrect fit they’re not always packed back up and put back on the shelves as this can be pricy so instead, returns are often sent to landfills. In the US, 5 billion pounds of returned goods end up in landfills each year, creating 15 million tonnes of carbon emissions. Is that not just horrendous?
I have to admit that I am one of those people that just buy items from shops and crosses my fingers that they will fit when they arrive. As a plus-size lady, I am sadly very aware of the issue around sizing as they wildly differ from brand to brand and it’s always hard to remember which size to purchase from which shop. That being said, I recently had the opportunity to review custom, bespoke garments from Identity Lingerie where you can discover an astonishing range of handmade items, and I am starting to think my habits need to change.
Identity Lingerie is a small family-run, ethically minded business from the UK but they offer high-quality, environmentally friendly products including a mind-blowing custom design service. Each garment is a unique, handmade item made by a happy team of highly skilled artisans and comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Fast Fashion is a race to get the newest styles on the market as fast as possible, so shoppers can snap them up while they are still at the height of their popularity and then, sadly, discard them after a few wears. The beautiful, bespoke garments from Identity Lingerie made from sustainable materials could not be further from this ethos. Each item is handmade to order, meaning they can efficiently manage their stock levels without hurting the environment by unnecessary overproduction and consequent disposal of unsold goods.
I was offered the chance to review items from the Identity Lingerie range. I chose these Burgundy Paisley Satin Shorts Pyjama Set, this Black Supportive Longline Lace Bralette and matching Black Lace Strappy Panties and their Black Satin Lace Dressing Gown.
Although I have experienced satin sheets, I don’t remember owning sexy satin pyjamas before. The set from Identify Lingerie is comfortable, flattering and gorgeous. They make me want to wear them all day – which I could do as I work from home! It’s particularly nice to slip the black lace-trimmed robe on top of the pyjamas for luxurious satin from head to toe.
As I work from home I prefer to wear comfortable clothes rather than more structured office garb, and this ethos includes my underwear. Rather than struggling with underwire I much prefer supportive but comfortable bras like the lovely lace bralette which offers a wide underband, padded cups and soft straps for added comfort. The matching panties are made from the same soft material with matching strap details.
All of the items sent to me were made to my measurements, making them unique to me – a big step away from my usual ‘off the rack’ choices. I can tell from the detail and quality of the garments that a lot of care has gone into making them and I certainly recommend Identity Lingerie to anyone looking to upgrade from highstreet basics to bespoke pieces. I promise you the investment is worth it!
