WORDS Laura Morel
In these cold months, its hard to give much thought to your underwear unless it comes with in-built heating or a thermal layer. But new Jersey brand, Hidden Beneath Underwear, is set to get everyone a little hot under the collar, no matter what the thermometer says. Minimalistic, risqué and with an erotic art following, the lingerie label created by Kate Sloan could be exactly what you need this February to stoke those fires.
When I meet Kate, she had just arrived back from a lingerie show in London where she was testing the market for her designs. “I’ve got the trade show blues,” she sighed, known widely in the industry as that time where you sit beside the phone waiting for orders. But Kate’s time is not idly wasted, as she continues to make and promote her handmade custom underwear range from the comfort of her home.
A fashion graduate of Southampton University, Kate fell in love with the creativity of underwear during a trip to America where she studied the process of lingerie design through from conception to production. Having launched a successful kidswear label immediately following the birth of her two children, Kate became bored of being in a mum bubble and found herself drawn to designing lingerie once more where she could be more creative and risqué. “I wanted some simple bralettes to wear that still had an edge and couldn’t find any, so I decided to make my own.”
Kate’s aesthetic is all about minimalism and the challenge that comes with making plain look beautiful. “I think the answer is in getting people to embrace their body image and finding great underwear that will enhance that and give them confidence.” Many of her designs are pieces she would want to wear herself, something easy and practical, but still playful. The brand name is quite deceptive as it’s exactly the kind of underwear you’d like to expose for all to see rather than hide. With its athleticism feel, its easy to envisage the crop tops being layered over t-shirts as outerwear, or exposed cheekily under blazers and jackets.
The range has the simplicity of Calvin Klein underwear, but with a darker, more subversive twist. “I have a good following now from a more kinky clientele, my fishnet garments and open back briefs having been really popular with those into eroticism and porn art.” There is an element of bondage to Kate’s designs, which she plans to explore further in her future designs as well as looking to incorporate a line of underwear for men. “I’ve had lot of interest in my exposed back briefs from men and androgyny is something that really interests me as a designer, so I’d love to create a unisex collection.”
With her fourth collection just launched, things are certainly starting to hot up for Jersey’s kinky Kate Sloan. She’s successfully created a range of undergarments with wide appeal that allow you to feel comfortable underneath your clothes and in your own skin, whilst letting off that little bit of sexual steam we all have burning us up inside.
