Image by Megan Holmes
I see London...
Issue #23
I See France makes skivvies you want to show off
By Emilie Zanger
Published: March 1st, 2005 | 3:30pm
When longtime friends Brandie Heinel and Patrick Filler launched their women’s underwear company, I See France, in 2003, the inspiration came from an unlikely source. Walking down the street one day, they noticed a little boy alone on the sidewalk in front of a salon, happily unzipping his pants. Though they were momentarily taken aback, the kid explained that he was wearing Batman underwear. “That’s such a feeling when you’re so proud of your underwear that you want to show people,” Filler exclaimed.
I See France wound up on the back burner for more than a year, until November 2004, when, with help from new artistic director Ryan Halvorsen, it was reborn. Now the threesome has its hands full processing online orders for their highly collectible undies and camis. “I dream about underwear sometimes,” Heinel said. “Is that normal?”
One look tells you these are no typical undies. “We want our designs to be fun and comfy and playful,” Heinel said. The quirky designs — with names like “Real Beauty” and “Fine Jung Woman” — are about being comfortable with yourself, rather than being a “princess” or “sexy,” clichéd words the trio says they’ve seen on panties one time too often.
Some designs come from graphic artists — friends and strangers — who send in ideas for consideration, and some, including the popular Real Beauty set, are designed in-house by Halvorsen. Pushing the envelope even further, in late March, I See France will introduce an artists’ series of limited-edition underwear sporting original, numbered prints by artists from across the country. Pint-sized masterpieces to wear on your tush? Now those are unmentionables worth talking about!
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Sneak a peek at iseefrance.net.
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