When Supply Equals Demand: How TWO BODIES Prioritizes Luxury and Sustainability in their Made to Order Intimates Line
The fashion industry is evolving thanks to young entrepreneurs like Abby Earley and Izzy Young. Contemporary consumers are pushing for diversity and inclusion and holding brands accountable for their environmental footprints. Earley and Young are co-founders of TWO BODIES, a New York-based clothing line with a business model that prioritizes these criteria. The two launched their collection of dresses and lingerie in December of 2020, just six months after the pair decided to invest in their own company. “If it wasn’t for the pandemic, I really doubt we would have been able to go from an idea to a launch so quickly” shares Young.
Neither co-founder had an educational background in technical fashion, but they had a vision for a brand that would meet the needs of young women like themselves. Before the pandemic, Earley was doing freelance photography, video, and social media marketing for various boutiques in her college town and in Los Angeles. Her counterpart, Izzy Young, was a high school student and model. When the global pandemic halted their lives and careers, the pair teamed up to create their own brand, TWO BODIES.
Early and Young were inspired by vintage and 90s runway designs, like Tom Ford for Gucci, as well as modern silk dresses to create flattering silk garments that could be wardrobe staples for all shapes and sizes. After researching vintage designs, experimenting with different silhouettes, and creating mood boards, they had a clear vision for TWO BODIES’ aesthetic. “We were inspired by hundreds of other pieces, and we took the best parts from each silhouette to create the perfect designs,” says Earley.
“In this space of classical, sexy, lingerie, mainstream brands often dominate the market, but many of these brands are neither diverse nor inclusive.” Young points out. “We really want to represent everyone.” On their website and Instagram, TWO BODIES showcases women with different shapes, sizes, and skin tones so that every consumer can see themselves in a TWO BODIES piece.
Available in sizes XXS - XXL, the clothing line is all 100% silk charmeuse. “We really wanted our first line to be all silk because we think it is one of the best materials that’s out there. It’s flattering and sexy, while still being classy and high quality.” When a customer orders a 100% silk, hand-made TWO BODIES piece, they not only receive a garment that will last, but one that will make them feel as beautiful as the quality.
On top of championing inclusivity, TWO BODIES takes innovative strides to maintain sustainable practices and limit environmental impact. Because the clothing is made-to-order, TWO BODIES is one of few brands where supply exactly meets demand. “We don’t start ordering material or producing anything until the order is placed, and by doing that we don’t overproduce or underproduce,” says Earley. Even their scrap material from the production of dresses, tops, and lingerie is used to make face masks. “We try to utilize every piece of material so that there is not anything left to waste.”
To achieve the made to order production model, co-founders Earley and Young needed to form strategic partnerships, the first being the factory for their garments to be made. “We met with a few different factories in New York because we really wanted to produce locally,” Young recounts. “It was definitely difficult because of the pandemic, but we found people looking to create!” The co-founders found an ethical factory in New York that employs American workers to hand-craft their clothing. “For factories like ours, it was pretty slow because a lot of their past deals or clients had fallen through since the pandemic, so they were happy to take work,” says Earley.
After Earley and Young secured a place for their clothing to be manufactured, COVID-19 brought other challenges. Because of social distancing guidelines and the lockdown, the co-founders could not hire models or a photographer to shoot the assets needed for their launch. Instead, they looked to close friends to pose in their clothing line, and Earley utilized her photography background to capture the photos.
The two young entrepreneurs continue to use their creativity and business acumen to not only cope with a global pandemic, but to develop and launch a company all on their own. “We don’t have any investors of sponsors,” says Young. “We really built this from the ground up.”
Although Earley and Young just launched their brand, they hope to create more, become larger, and one day see TWO BODIES pieces worn all over the world. In order to do that, the co-founders hope to expand their team, continuing to hire women and recruit with diversity in mind. As it grows, the co-founders want their company to stay local, sustainable, and inclusive. “I know it’s easy to cop-out on certain things,” comments Earley, “Producing and sourcing overseas, would make this cheaper and more efficient, but we want to be a new force in the fashion industry, a force of change in a positive direction.”
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