Why Made to Order?
Since 2008 we have been making every piece to order from our Melbourne studio. Alongside our founders Gaby and Domi, we have employed a small team of 3-4 skilled artisans to sew every single item one by one. We do all parts of the process here, from pattern making, sampling, grading, cutting, overlocking, sewing elastic, bows and posting.
This approach takes longer than mass-production or out sourcing, but we believe it's worth the wait to be able to offer all that we can with this business model.
Why we don't produce in bulk
No one really needs more stuff. We are already drowning in unworn clothing. We don't want to contribute to excess on a mass scale. Keeping our production in house means we only make what people want, and we are able to make it in the right size, the right fabric, and with any customisations you want to ensure it's something that will be worn and treasured for years to come.
Custom Sizing and a Better Fit
Mass production does not allow for any customisation or alterations. We are proud to offer a wide size range of XXS-5XL, and can also make any sizes outside or in between our size chart. This is just not possible when you order a product in bulk, and we believe this is one of the most meaningful parts of what we do. If you have struggled to find underwear that fits, we would love to help and customise any of our styles in any way you need.
Using What Already Exists
Many of our collections use deadstock and upcycled materials, and we also design styles to use the smallest of our studio offcuts. This is another process that isn't possible when mass producing.
How Long Does It Take?
Hopeless Lingerie is a true slow fashion brand. Our order time usually sits around 3-6 weeks, which fluctuates depending on busy periods and how many orders we receive in a given time. We batch processes where possible, such as cutting and overlocking, and this is also part of the reason why the majority of our styles are in black!
Why This is Worth It
For all the benefits, we think the wait time is only a small compromise to build a better fashion system. This model allows us to create with intention, support people who aren't catered for elsewhere, work on addressing waste problems, and hold a connection with the people who make your clothes.
Custom Orders
We love doing Custom Orders! As all Hopeless Lingerie items are handmade here in our studio, we can do a lot of customisations to help our customers achieve their lingerie dreams.
As well as offering alternative fabric and colour options, we can also do custom sizing if you fall outside our usual size range (or in between).
If you would like to enquire about this service please email info@hopelesslingerie.com.au and be sure to include your measurements, usual bra size, and which styles you are interested in.
Please note this service will be charged depending on the customisations you would like to make.