Date: c. 2010
Origin: New York, United States
Fabric: Silk
Brand: Jean Yu
This pair of black georgette silk briefs is deceptively simple. What appears to be a relatively ordinary design from a distance uses luxurious and skilful construction techniques (such as a narrow rolled leg hem and French seams) and avantgarde cutting. The front of the briefs features two panels of fabric crossed over, using the selvedge of the georgette fabric as a finished edge and construction detail. The selvedge is the manufactured finished edge of a bolt of fabric to prevent the weave from unravelling, and is normally cut away when clothing is manufactured. This design is unusual in that it not only uses the selvedge, but places it as the centre design feature in a product at an undeniably luxurious price point.
Designer Jean Yu was born in South Korea and grew up in Los Angeles, USA, later moving to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1990. Initially designing womenswear, Yu launched her first collection of silk lingerie in 2001. She has received numerous awards and accolades within the industry including being a finalist in the 2005 CFDA award. Yu’s lingerie designs were characterised by lightweight fabrics, an architectural cutting approach and couture construction techniques. The brand now appears to focus exclusively on swimwear, carrying the same styling and aesthetic approaches as past lingerie designs.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
