Skinny'z by Bordeaux: Technological Shapewear
Ardy Raminfar’s Skinny’z by Bordeaux shapewear line was inspired by the simple method that women have been using for centuries to obtain a cinched waist: the corset.
Instead of using boning and lace-up strings to mold an hourglass figure, varying tensions of knit are applied on a single seamless tube of fabric. Heavy ribbed knit smoothes and slims the hips, jersey creates a stocking-sheer finish and mesh knit keeps the small of the back cool.
“A woman told us what she wanted, and it was up to our technicians to come up with that look off the computer,” Raminfar said.
Skinny’z nylon/spandex camisoles, chemises and shorts are knit in a controlled-climate environment on top-of-the line seamless knitting machines in the company’s Los Angeles facility. The specifications of “what rib goes where and how we want that rib to target the body part” are plotted on a computer program that communicates with the knitting machine. According to Raminfar, few other shapewear lines can achieve what he has with Skinny’z. “We are one of several manufacturers in the world that have our own equipment,” he said.
For the past eight years, Raminfar has been working with seamless-knit technology for his contemporary clothing line, Bordeaux. In 2004, he started research and development in applying seamless technology to foundation undergarments. In February 2006, he debuted Skinny’z by Bordeaux.
The shapewear market is dominated by established brands typically sold at department stores. Raminfar has eschewed department stores in favor of boutiques, where specialty store salespeople can act as personal stylists, helping the new line gain momentum.
Jaye Hersh sells Skinny’z as well as shapewear lines Spanx and Nearly Nude at her store, Intuition, in Los Angeles. “I think there’s room for everybody,” Hersh said. “I think as far as Spanx goes, it’s definitely got a lot of brand identification.”
Skinny’z has been a solid sell at Intuition to wear underneath tissue-thin T-shirts and skimming sundresses. Hersh estimates that a Skinny’z item has been added onto approximately 30 percent of sales in the past three to four weeks.
“No matter what size you are, you want to make sure you have the best shape you can,” said Hersh. “It’s almost a slam dunk that [Skinny’z is] going to fit everybody.”
Wholesale price points range from $24 to $26. For more information, call (213) 622-0555. —Rhea Cortado
