(Filed Under wholesale Lingerie News). “I sell silk and French lace lingerie pieces, all of which are inspired by lingerie of other eras,” explained Stephanie Bodnar of her romantic and unusual collection, Evgenia Lingerie.

“I often collaborate with illustrators on custom prints and use antique embellishment techniques. Prices range from $46 for a silk and lace Sleep Mask, to $410 for the Floralia Petal Chemise, which features custom printed silk crepe de chine and hand-set insertion lace details. My best selling piece, the Janus Ribbon Corset, retails for $188.”

“Evgenia is all about the dichotomy of strength and delicacy; while all my pieces are made of fine fabrics, they’re sturdily constructed, and meant to last a long time. They’re feminine and vintage-inspired, yet fashion-forward, in essence seasonless,” explained the designer in response to questions from BODY.

“I’m inspired by vintage and antique fashion and lingerie. I also draw inspiration from music, dance, storytelling, poetry and nature.”

“I’m a big proponent of versatility, so it’s important to me that my customers be able to wear my pieces not only as part of a boudoir ensemble, but also out and about. For example, the Evgenia Deco Camisole looks fantastic with jeans, and the Ribbon Corset makes a beautiful belt when cinched over a cocktail dress. I also hand-make all my pieces myself in my West Marin atelier, which allows for a unique customer experience. I can customize pieces based on fit and style preference, and love meeting with clients in person.”

The designer sells direct to consumers in an Etsy.com store, but also through a limited number of retailers. “Two of my best boutiques are French Theft Lingerie in Los Gatos, California and A La Folie in Oakland, California. I’d love to add more to the roster, especially on the East Coast. I have pieces at Esme in Shanghai, as well as at Closet 13 in Romania,” she added.

“I primarily sell online and through trunk shows and events. Wholesale is part of my business, but not the majority of it. I just had a baby in August, so I’m on a hiatus from events until at least February 2018, but I’m excited to ramp back up. I’d love to add more wholesale clients, and am currently finishing up a brand new shop/atelier space on my property in Northern California.”

Bodnar added she is looking for a sales representative. “If there’s a good match for someone who deals with indie designers in an high end environment, I’d be interested to meet them.”

The designer has “a degree in Fashion Design from FIDM in San Francisco, before which I earned my Creative Writing BA from Carnegie Mellon University. I worked as a fitter and assistant buyer for A La Folie when it was in Berkeley, and worked as a freelance apparel designer for several Bay Area companies. I started my business as Honey Cooler Handmade in 2011,” she continued. “HCH was focused on one-of-a-kind pieces, using vintage laces and limited stock silk fabrics. In 2014, I was accepted to the Fashion Incubator of San Francisco at Macy’s Union Square, where I was a designer in residence for 2014 and 2015. It was there that I rebranded my line as Evgenia and I’ve been the owner and designer since the get-go.”

“My next official collection will launch for Fall 2018. In the meantime, I’ll have two limited-edition corset styles launching for Valentine’s Day. I try to release two collections each year, but obviously with the arrival of my daughter, things had to slow down for a while.”

What sets her designs apart? “I touch every piece I sell, from cutting, to sewing, to finishing. When stores work with me, they can often order pieces one at a time, and request custom pieces for customers with a quick turnaround. I don’t skimp on materials, and the high quality of my lingerie is evident when experiencing them in person. I also love to host trunk shows with my boutiques!” — NM

Contacts for Evgenia: hello@iamevgenia.com; iamevgenia.com; twitter.com/evgenialingerie; facebook.com/iamevgenia

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Published 12-28-2017 by Nick Monjo