DESIGNER ON THE RISE: FORTNIGHT LINGERIE

A FEVER FOR FORTNIGHT

Underpinnings have evolved over time and if Toronto-based Fortnight Lingerie has any say, they too will be part of this evolution. With a current collection of retro styles that echo a more elegant and glamorous era, its become a quick favourite for stylish insiders like Alexa Chung, who was recently spotted purchasing the Greta set while in Toronto at The Drake General Store (82A Bathurst St.).

Christina Remenyi designer and founder of Fortnight Lingerie studied fashion at Ryerson and rather than going into the realm of ready-to-wear, she fell into lingerie design after finding that many of her projects were geared towards lacy unmentionables. It wasn’t until taking a course in custom lingerie making that she realized this was the direction she would go. “There’s a need in the market for a wide range of sizes and I thought that would be a great way to angle my brand,” she says.

Although certain sizes and fits may be difficult to come by in the marketplace, it is the combination of style and fit that can be even more challenging. Just because one may have a bigger bust, a woman should not be stuck with structural garments that lack a lust factor. “There’s definitely a void out there with style,” says Remenyi. “There’s so much either boudoir, lacy, frilly styles or it’s just really plain with molded cups—basic stuff. I kind of wanted something that’s a little more sophisticated and glamorous but still really wearable during the day.”

In the current Fortnight collection there is clearly a retro influence. “I think it’s definitely a bit of a nod to eras when people really paid attention to what they wore under their clothes,” states Remenyi. “It’s like in Mad Men, where they’re all wearing period lingerie under their clothes, it really matters. It really changes the way you feel, the way you stand, your posture.”

The type of woman she sees wearing her lingerie are “young, fashion forward people with strong ideas of what they like and with a strong aesthetic,” and she sees the brand as “about being strong and independent. It’s a woman’s idea of sexy, not necessarily a man’s idea of sexy.”

The brand also stands out on a local level, because when anyone thinks of great lingerie, Canada isn’t always the first to come to mind. Everything is made on a smaller scale and the brand angles itself to be much more personalized. If you can’t find something in your fit, Fortnight does custom orders as well. The young company is content with keeping things small for now as a minor error in something like production can cause a huge issue in the intricate process. “We really have to keep focused on [production] and make sure that it’s made properly here,” she says. Remenyi further explains, “a millimeter goes a long way, for sure, and the right stitch goes a long way too. If its not tacked properly or finished properly, the whole thing can come apart. Every little detail matters.”

This level of service and detail lends itself to being different from simply designing clothes. “With lingerie you have to know what kind of style you’re going to make and find a fabric that works, because you can have the best idea in your head, but you can’t find a fabric that makes it work. So, we always start with the fabric then go from there,” she explains.

With the brand quickly gaining momentum and a cult following, look out for additions to the Fortnight collection, think sleepwear and silk cotton robes.

To find Fortnight Lingerie visit fortnightlingerie.com for a location near you or to purchase online.