How to Design the Perfect Pair of Knickers
When Corien and I first started Bump & Run, designing the perfect pair of knickers was one of our first ideas, right after our beloved "Love It Hate It" design! A fan of Sex and the City, it was (of course 💕) one of Carrie Bradshaw's outfits that actually sparked our inspiration (see below) ... and on we went to the drawing board!
In the design we knew we wanted to accomplish two things: create a pant that captured the heritage of the original knicker design, but that flattered a woman's body, could be worn comfortably and effortlessly on the golf course as well as beautifully for a night on the town. So where did it all begin? Here's how we designed the perfect pair of knickers:
We Did our Research
Historically, knickers (or knickerbockers, plus twos, or plus fours) were a baggy-kneed pant mostly worn by men that were popular in the late 1800s, early 1900s. We loved looking through pictures of men and women during that time, it was incredibly nostalgic.
Today, you're not likely to see knickers too often in golf, except for the rare occasion where a pro like Rickie Fowler pays homage to players like Payne Stewart or on men and women sporting the popular brand, Golf Knickers. However, you will see knickers still often worn on the baseball field at all levels. They have their own fashion debate going on, but we prefer the knickers, don't you?
We Checked Out Modern Designs
But even though you may see golf or baseball knickers in sports today, we wanted something with a little more fashion. And since high fashion was what originally inspired this idea, we knew this was closer to what we were looking for in a pant design.
~ Sarah Jessica Parker, Princess Diana, and a magazine advert ~
We Designed a Few Drafts
We love these looks, but we really wanted to be able to play in something so pretty. So we looked for a way to combine both and put together our first (very rough and elementary) sketch.
I'm still shocked our head designer was able to take this 👆 and turn it into the knickers you see today! She did an amazing job! But before she got there, Corien and I flew all the way to L.A. (she from Toronto, me from Barbados) to pick out our fabric and run through a few fittings - where you get to see your product come to life! A few swatches and models later, we stumbled upon Ponte. What's Ponte? This amazing fabric is a combination of rayon, polyester and spandex, is double-knit providing a two-way stretch (perfect for golf!), and it molds to your body shape giving you a smooth and streamlined silhouette. It's a wonder fabric!
So our initial design paired with a gorgeous fabric and we knew we had created something special - the perfect pair of Modern Day Knickers. And now three seasons later, we are still super proud of this design and they remain one of our most popular pieces.
xoxo, Bre