Chch designer taps luxury lingerie market

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 7 (Supplement)

Chch designer taps luxury lingerie market

JAN COOK’S luxury silk lingerie has to be the epitome of “slipping into something more comfortable.” Under the label of “Suggestions,” Jan has created a range of silk camisoles, knickers, bikini briefs, and nighties — all in fine fabric, some trimmed with French lace. Jan prefers to use quality fabric and simple designs to achieve "something luxurious but with a bit of sense to it.” “I am not one for fiddly detail that does not serve a purpose — I let the design suit the fabric,” says Jan, who admits she is “far too practical” to ever own any herself. The Christchurch designer first thought of the idea a couple of years ago, when no-one was making silk lingerie, but has had difficulty obtaining the right fabric. “It. is always been in the back of my mind, and it seemed there was a gap in the market, so I decided to give it a try.” Jan is now able to obtain Chinese silk imported to Auckland twice a year. She began making the lingerie in May, and at present sells solely through Minskey’s, of New Regent Street. She hopes to distribute “Suggestions” to some other South Island outlets.later in the year. After beginning with traditional black and white pieces, Jan is experimenting with pastel dyes and new designs, and hopes also to commission Alexis Watson of Fanny Buss to do some hand painting and printing. She is working on special packaging to go with the range. And who buys the lingerie? — "It is definitely for all ages, we get quite a mixture of people buying them — but mostly its men.”