REVEALED-12-web - Flipbook - Page 32
Made in New York
Hanky Panky Atelier
BY KIMBERLY CIHLAR
“Made in New York" is more than an idea for Hanky Panky’s Creative Director Gale Epstein
and Co-CEO Lida Orzeck.
Devoted New Yorkers, these women founded the premium
And the company’s commitment to manufacturing locally—in
underwear and lingerie brand nearly half a century ago.
New York, or at least in the tri-state area—will create New York
stories for years to come.
In 1977, Epstein created lingerie from a vintage embroidered
handkerchief for Lida’s birthday. The company grew out of
However, Hanky Panky isn’t resting on its “world’s most
those early pieces. Epstein and Orzeck recently revisited these
comfortable thong" laurels. It’s expanded into swim and is
pieces, embroidered robes, and other vintage pieces in the
partnering with Saalt, a woman-founded sustainable period
archive at the company’s Chelsea-based atelier. The idea for
products company for innovative tech lace panties. It has also
Atelier Hanky Panky was born.
recently collaborated with fashion designer Prabal Gurung for
innerwear as outerwear. The duo launched the Hanky Panky
“Let's take this vintage collection and replicate it at a very small
Body shapewear line and is adding structured bras with experts
scale,” Epstein remembers, “to test the appetite for the story
AAI (Ariella and Associates International).
of Hanky Panky, the celebration of New York craftsmanship.”
The New York City bodega-inspired “Love from New York”
“It was just ten pieces of each item, at the highest level of
experiential pop-up in Union Square will return. Two years
craftsmanship. We sold out after two days!” says Epstein.
ago, the success of its 昀椀rst 昀氀agship store on Bleecker inspired
a second in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Hanky Panky’s New York stories abound. The original Hanky
Panky set became part of The Museum of Metropolitan Art’s
The duo has no plans to retire anytime soon. In fact, they are
Costume Institute archives in 1980. FIT has the Signature Lace
looking to share the wealth. The two founders gifted employee
thong in its New York collection. The Wall Street Journal featured
stock ownership to its workers during the brand’s 40th birthday
the starter thong on the front page in 2004.
party a few years ago. It was a simple but totally New York move.
R E V E A L E D - THE W INTE R IS SUE #12
