.sewn - calgary
By Stephanie Pollard-Scott
For every woman, the real bravery is being at peace with her body exactly as it is.
Sewn is a Canadian lingerie company that creates delicate pieces that cover the body like a second skin – the flutter, drape, and accent of every hand-sewn item highlights the real work of art: the woman wearing it.
“I wanted to start making clothes for myself, and bralettes were starting to come back into style and it just really happened super organically – I just wanted to make one for myself and once I had made one, my girlfriend wanted one and it just kept going from there,” Alesia said.
Sewn With Body Acceptance
Founded in 2013, Alesia Alward envisioned a world where lingerie can be made for women more interested in exploring the un-hoisted, non-padded, shapewear-free versions of their bodies. Both have their place, and it’s hard to escape the message that something about our bodies can always be improved, made a little closer to the seven-letter word from which so many complexes and dysmorphic relationships with our bodies grow: perfect.
“Once I started making Sewn pieces and connecting with people actually buying them, and when I do photoshoots and talk to the models, you really see what the pieces do for someone. When they see it for the first time and hold out their hands they say ‘Oh this is so beautiful, how’s it going to look on me?’, then they put it on, it’s really is about celebrating their body instead of trying to change it – and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you want to wear a push-up bra to feel good about yourself and lift your boobs up to the high heaven, go get it, there are times for that. But Sewn is about embracing your body as it is and enhancing its beauty, that’s what I hope I do with the sheer fabrics, it’s to celebrate what you’ve got going on,” Alesia explained.
Celebrating Body Acceptance with Freya and Poppy
Model Carly Lundy found her body acceptance by surrounding herself with women and their unique beauty, and working as a model for visual artists.
For Lingerie In Canada she wore Poppy, a Sewn creation that includes a bralette and matching thong made in a beige mesh lace with a sprinkling of bright red poppies.
“I wanted to do something a little more subdued, and it also happened that Valentine’s Day was coming up … and then when I came across the fabric for Poppy I was like ‘I have to make a set out of that, it’s so stunning!.’ It’s my first set that actually has flowers individually attached to the bralette instead of embroidered on,” Alesia said.
The second piece worn by Carly, Freya, is a sensual playsuit made in olive green lace and accented with precious wildflowers in shades of pearl and blush, designed to fit on the waist with a high cut that suits a variety of body types. “People were asking me about a green-coloured style forever. As a designer I’m more drawn to pinks and purples, and that’s not for everyone. So that’s what inspired Freya. They’re both beautiful and I’m so happy with the way they’ve turned out,” Alesia said.
By the way, Lingerie In Canada also supports working with models of all body types, ages, races, gender identities and levels of experience. If you are interested in working with us, you can find our model sign-up form here.
As more of us take the long, long walk to appreciating – possibly celebrating our bodies the way it is and the way it isn’t, Alesia hopes Sewn can be one of the Canadian lingerie brands that show us we deserve to wear things that honour ourselves.
“I think as women we’re extra critical of ourselves… and lingerie is probably the last avenue that people go to when they really want to feel good about themselves because it’s so intimidating…but honestly wearing a nice set underneath clothes, even a chunky sweater in the wintertime, you feel so much better about yourself and it’s not that anyone else is seeing it – you’re wearing it and feeling good about yourself underneath it all. It’s really for ourselves,” Alesia said.
And, if you’re ready to celebrate your body in its full glory, Alesia recommends doing a private photoshoot.
“I would honestly encourage everyone at some point to do a boudoir shoot! I thought I never would have done it in a million years – even though I own a lingerie brand. I did one a few years ago before I had my baby because I wanted to commemorate my body before I knew it was going to change, and it was the best experience ever. I initially thought I was going to have the pictures for my husband, and in the end I appreciated it so much more. What that does for you is so empowering to have a professional photographer take pictures of you in such a natural, raw state, and what that does for your body image? I would recommend that to anyone.”
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