Black Lives Matter
From the myth of bra-burning feminists to the historical lack of ‘nude’ underwear for any woman who wasn’t light-skinned, what we wear beneath our clothes is inherently political. So why not buy what we need from Black-owned brands? Your body will thank you for it.
Here's the ultimate list of Black-owned lingerie and swimwear brands to support forever:
We apologise in advance for the amount of time you'll waste staring lovingly at the mirror in an Edge o' Beyond set.
Aside from simply being a brand that makes covetable lingerie, Love, Vera also exists to close the opportunity gap for Black women in the fashion industry.
Half Baked will be of no help whatsoever if you're missing foreign travel. We can't wait to cross borders in one of their bikinis.
Professional dancer Erin Carpenter founded Nude Barre in 2009 after years of struggling to find hosiery and undergarments that matched her skin tone. Her pieces are durable enough for active performance but still suitable for wearing every day – Nude Barre is probably what we'll be wearing when we enter a club again, whenever that happens.
Anya Lust is more than just nice lingerie – it's escapism. Launched in 2015, its founders didn't just want to create a website from which lingerie was selected and shipped as quickly as possible, but a digital destination for lingerie lovers to experience. Today, the Anya Lust experience includes sensuality classes and an intimate pleasure category.
If you've got a bigger bust, we recommend Azaira Intimates – exquisite lingerie made with exceptional craftsmanship in back sizes 28-36 and cup sizes DD-H.
Blue Reign – designed by Alyx Jordan and manufactured in London – specialises in vegan leather lingerie in a wide range of sizes. This is a brand for women who want their underwear to match their – fearless, fun, passionate and creative – mindset.
Founded by Destiney Bleu – a former cheerleader and journalist – d.bleu.dazzled is a range of customised lingerie and swimwear. The brand's clients include the likes of Beyoncé, Cardi B, Shania Twain, Lady Gaga – and possibly you too.
The Underargument is a brand adamant about the power of individuality. They don't know what their models look like – or their sizes – until the shoot day, casting them instead from the authentic and original stories these women choose to tell in their applications.
We recommend Eugene Taylor Brand for exceptionally good - and affordable - bikinis.
Designed by former Fashion Editor Brittany Kozerski Freeney, Jade Swim is your best bet for simple swimwear that could never be deemed basic.
Based in London and founded by Ade Hassan (who has an MBE), Nubian Skin do nude underwear for women of colour.
Proclaim are "expanding the definition of nude, one ethically-made bra at a time" – sometimes even in "the Beyoncé of fabric", TENCEL™.
Lingerie designed by Rihanna is bound to look good, isn’t it? The fun never stops with Savage x Fenty – especially when figures such as Adam Selman and Megan Thee Stallion are involved.