Evgenia / HCH Lands at Verameat!

My 2014 Deco Collection is now available at Verameat +! I absolutely love designer Vera's gorgeous jewelry and am so flattered to be a part of her curated selection of clothing. My trunk show earlier this month with the Verameat girls was an absolute delight and now you can check out my lingerie at the East Village boutique anytime you like.

Verameat + has a killer selection of Bralettes, Knickers, Skull Deco Camis, Tap Shorts and Sleep Masks, all cozy and lovely pieces for the cooler weather ahead.

Visit them at 305 E 9th Street in Manhattan.

NYFW Lingerie Trunk Shows

Like a beautiful, silken storm, my 2014 collection is taking New York, and I want YOU to be there to experience it! Just in time for New York Fashion Week, join me at Verameat + in the East Village and Dabney Lee in DUMBO to update your lingerie drawers. I've been sewing up a bunch of fresh stock the past few weeks and I can't wait to share it with you.

This Thursday September 4th, join me at Verameat + (305 E 9th Street, Manhattan) from 12 - 4pm. Verameat's jewelry is flat-out incredible and they have a beautiful collection of new rings which will be taking the stage alongside this season's collection, including Honey Cooler Handmade Ribbon Corsets, Deco Camis, Knickers and more!

Is Brooklyn more your style? Then join me the following evening at Dabney Lee (45 Washington Street, Brooklyn) from 5 - 9pm. Along with Dabney's gorgeous paper goods, check out the newest pieces from Chloe & Isabel jewelry. We'll have bubbly and treats galore, so be sure to mark your calendars.

FiSF Diary - Who is Evgenia?

First things first: If you follow my adventures on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, you may have noticed a not-so-subtle change in my moniker. It's true - Honey Cooler Handmade is in the process of becoming Evgenia Lingerie. Eugenia is my middle name (and my grandmother's name) - Evgenia (pronounced ehv-'gen-ya) is a common Eastern European pronunciation. My parents were both born to Ukrainian immigrants and this new name is personal to me for that reason. And let's be honest: lingerie itself is deeply personal - I wanted to put more of myself into my brand, and that's what this leap is all about. Evgenia at once embodies my own familial history as well as nostalgia for times gone by, all with an elevated, feminine twist. And lest there be any doubt, my lingerie will still be sewn from incredibly beautiful silk and French lace, still painstakingly crafted, still versatile, feminine and vintage-inspired. Very little will change in terms of the lingerie itself - this is simply a new adventure for my brand. I hope you enjoy this new direction!

At my shoot for Spring/Summer 2015

Back to the Incubator… The last month has been a busy one - but really, what month hasn't been since I started at the Fashion Incubator? My shoot went magnificently and the lookbook layout is in progress. It should be done sometime in the next few weeks. My younger sister Kate is working on my marketing collateral, a generous offer that I couldn't turn down. Her Pennsylvania-based design team is working with some pretty incredible clients, so I'm in very good company and delighted that they took me on.

Models behind the scenes at Supperclub

In the past few weeks, I've had a packed calendar. My fashion show at Supperclub with Hunny Bunny Burlesque went amazingly. Never before have I been so privileged as to have some of SF's most gorgeous burlesque performers strut their stuff in my lingerie. Friends and followers came out to support me and the final photos are lovely beyond belief. I also worked on a benefit for Fight2Breathe with former FiSF Designer in Residence Michelle Byrnes. We threw a fashion show with Redford and The Social Beauty Company all to benefit Caleigh Haber, a young woman with cystic fibrosis. I also sold my wares at Chillin' Productions last weekend, and just this past Sunday I showed three looks from Spring/Summer 2015 at Fashion on the Square.

Spring/Summer 2015 at Fashion on the Square

Designer in Residence Amanda of Scarlett Smith working hard on Spring/Summer 2015

The other Designers in Residence are preparing for their shoots and getting samples squared away at the moment. The workroom looks just like an episode of Project Runway right now as we're all in crunch mode.

Right now, my focus is getting my ducks in a row for my launch. My collection is done and my manufacturer is working on round after round of samples - if you've ever seen my lingerie in person, you know my lacework is pretty exacting. I want to make sure that any outside sewers pay just as much attention to detail as I do, so I've been driving back and forth to the factory to touch base until everything is just as I want it. I've also been working on marketing with the help of FiSF alum Jake Wall of The Artful Gentleman. From product names and descriptions to pitching, we're tackling all the important parts of marketing a fashion business. Every step has been an enlightening challenge, and every step brings me closer to my goal of having a fully realized brand.

Detail from Spring/Summer 2015

This week, I'm getting my production patterns together and doing my technical illustrations, all parts of the production side of fashion design. A typical day involves a lot of time in my office working on my media, marketing and business plans, but as the lookbook launch gets closer, preparing for production is weighing heavy on my mind and I find myself back in the workroom.

There's always tons to do while at the Incubator, but I've been grateful for every facet and so excited to see how Spring/Summer 2015 pans out!

The Cure for the Common Brunch

We all know that San Franciscans love their brunch. Make this Sunday's midday meal extra special and join Redford, The Social Beauty Company, Michelle Byrnes and yours truly for a truly unique brunch experience this Sunday July 13th.

Not only will Redford be debuting an exciting new brunch series, but you'll see enticing runway shows featuring Michelle Byrnes swimwear and Honey Cooler Handmade lingerie. Grab a cocktail and rock out to some amazing DJs - better still, it's all for a good cause! By joining us, you'll be supporting Caleigh of Fight2Breathe as she battles cystic fibrosis and waits for a double lung transplant.

I'm so excited to participate in this event and I hope to see you there. For more information, visit the Sunday Side Up Facebook event page. To make a brunch reservation, please email lora@redfordsf.com.

FiSF Diary - All the Little Pieces

Even though I'm on-schedule with my collection (finished all my samples, thank you very much!), it's hard to sit back to admire one's handiwork when there's so much going on all at once. Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining. My collection is done, I'm headlining a fashion show at Supperclub tonight and my lookbook shoot is this Friday. But a finished collection is only a tiny fraction of the work in running a fashion business as any designer will quickly tell you.

A little detail preview from S/S 2015

In apparel design, the percentage of design to non-design work that comes up time and time again is about 10 to 90. So when you consider that the creative side is what most apparel designers prefer to do, 90% of the time spent on the nitty gritty of a small business seems like an awful lot of not-so-fun. That said to even have a shot to survive in a highly competitive industry, none of those tasks can be ignored. Even though I'm hardly what I would call business-minded, in that aforementioned not-so-fun, there are pretty awesome things. Like seeing your website or branding come to life, or making an unexpected online sale. Each little piece of the business is part of something at once immeasurably complicated and immeasurably awesome.

DIR Dahae works her tail off in high style

I have tunnel vision this week since my shoot is on Friday - it's all I can think about at the moment! Photographer Kelly Puleio is the brains behind the project and I'm really excited to work with her. Fittings with my model went so incredibly well - I can't express how illuminating it is to see a completed collection on a human and not a dress form! With photo shoots, there are so many minor things to consider, more little pieces that can make or break a project. My internal checklist goes on and on: get shoes, steam lingerie, choose jewelry, bring extra nail polish, locate props, stockings or no stockings?, grab a palette from Elizabeth Street Cosmetics for the makeup artist, update Pinterest inspiration board, decide on flowers with John James Designs, etc etc. Lingerie walks a fine line when it comes to styling which is definitely on my mind right now - there IS a such thing as too sexy and since lingerie is implicitly so, the model has to be made up just right. Too much and you enter vamp territory. I love to over-style, so I'm grateful to have Kelly on board. She's very much about measured styling and classic simplicity and she'll have no qualms editing my sometimes over-the-top sensibility.

I can't wait to share completed shots! For now, I'm looking forward to Friday and will be ready to kick back with a big glass of wine once it's all done.

FiSF Diary - Really, I Know What I'm Doing… Right?

It's been quite a while since I really took the time to sit down and write a blog post that's not just about upcoming events and new products. While I love writing those posts, there's much more going on in the world of HCH right now and I think it warrants a spotlight on the blog, so my plan is to update my readers once a month on what's going on for me at FiSF.

Sample making and inspiration at FiSF

My acceptance to the Fashion Incubator Program at Macy's still shocks me to my core, even after my third month in residency. When I first got my acceptance letter, I called my husband and sobbed through the phone "I can't be ready for this. Doesn't the board realize that?" Being a perfectionist has the unfortunate downside of me seeing flaws in every step I take. After almost 3 years in business, I didn't feel like I was far enough along for an opportunity like the Fashion Incubator, even though I was the one who pursued it. But the truth is, I WAS ready. I AM ready. Among my stockists, I'm selling in two of San Francisco's most famous lingerie boutiques. My pieces are in a boutique in Bern, Switzerland and they're selling so well that the proprietress has decided to hold onto them longer than originally planned. I've sent my lingerie to Dita Von Teese and have been invited to headline a fashion show at Supperclub this month. I've been mentioned in blogs, magazines and all sorts of publications the world over. So why the crippling doubt? I don't know about you, but for me, doubt is my safety net - if I fail, I can say "I saw it coming". But more than that, doubt is the ultimate editor. It can lead to beautifully realized, perfectly edited design, and I see it every day from the designers in residence at FiSF. This bizarre thought process is the one that helps to make the tough design decisions and create a truly beautiful collection that tells a cohesive, engrossing story.

Fabric's here!

My doubts were still in high gear when I got my fabric last month for my Spring/Summer 2015 collection, but the second I saw my first new Deco Cami sewn up, I was hooked on it. At the moment, the Designers in Residence are working on assembling our physical collection samples and doing our fittings. It's funny - no matter how much those aforementioned pesky doubts creep in, every time I start a new pattern I think "This is going to be a slam dunk and I'll nail the pattern on the first try." Wrong. My poor fit model will have had to come in three times for one piece - a romper that is proving to be more of a pain than I expected. I've gone through six samples of it so far and I'm hoping that my third fitting on Thursday goes well so I can move forward with final fabrications. With each fitting, though, this piece becomes more and more adorable, more and more realized, and I am so glad I'm putting the extra time and effort into it.

Collections aside, we've spent a lot of time working on bookkeeping, branding and business plans here - the nitty gritty, if you will. These are the parts of business I don't do well by nature, but they must be dealt with. Bit by bit, my business plan is beginning to take shape and my branding will see a totally new direction come August, so stay tuned for more.

Designers in Residence, past and present

What's more, it's been so enlightening to talk to previous years' Designers in Residence as well. Michelle Byrnes has been a wonderful mentor to us, helping us wade through our social media plans, and always with a smile on her face and a positive mindset. Master tailor Jake Wall of The Artful Gentleman came in to offer a critique and class covering elevator pitches. His energy and enthusiasm paired with an honest and very real look at the fashion industry made for an empowering conversation. His business has grown by leaps and bounds since his residency last year, and we all look up to him here. The other previous Designers in Residence have been so supportive and wonderful - I feel grateful for such a close-knit community.

Every time my friends and family ask me how my experience with the Incubator is going, I don't think I can adequately answer. I'm overjoyed, humbled and validated to be here. Empowered, overwhelmed by the camaraderie of the community and excited about the huge leaps that I've already begun to take. That said, frankly… I'm also tired, working more than I ever have in my life. I'm juggling what feels like a thousand tasks, writing constant lists and running a ten-woman show with a one-woman staff. I thought I worked hard before, but that was nothing. My time here feels more real than ever - a year I want and need to make count, and I am more grateful than I can say, more excited than I can express.

Take Bridal Shower Lingerie to a New, Beautiful Level

We've all been there: the bridal shower where the Mrs.-to-be in question opens gift after gift of cheap lingerie that's either embarrassingly scandalous (hey, Mom's in the room after all!), poorly constructed or feels like sandpaper. At a time where we're all starting to contemplate the cost/benefit analysis of consuming fast fashion, it makes sense to gift something with staying power, something that says "I think you're really special and you deserve something as lovely as you are."

Left: Deco Camisole, Deco Tap Shorts, Deco Garter Belt | Center: Cotillion Chemise, Cotillion Knickers

Right: Deco Bralette, Deco Garter Belt, Deco Knickers

I started Honey Cooler Handmade partly because I felt that lingerie with fine yet hardy embellishment was difficult to find. Delicacy and strength CAN go hand in hand, so this wedding season, why not gift both? If she's into versatility, a Deco Cami is a perfect gift. It can easily be worn in the boudoir or paired with skinny jeans for a night out. Want to go a bit sexier? The Deco Bralette's cheeky sheer heart appliqués are sure to make an impact. If her style is all about simplicity and comfort, the Cotillion Chemise and matching Knickers are at once sexy and undeniably cozy.

When you gift Honey Cooler Handmade lingerie, you let her know that she's special enough for the best.

1000 Follower Giveaway!

I'm so pleased to announce that I just hit 1000 followers on Instagram. I'm continuously overwhelmed by the love I get from my social media followers and I wish I could hug you all in person; Since that's not possible, it's giveaway time!

The grand prize winner scores their choice of the HCH Black Deco Camisole (a $210 value) or a $150 gift code for use in my Etsy or BigCartel shops. The runner up wins a Private Eye Sleep Mask of their choice, a $35 value.

Regram for your chance to win!

There are lots of ways to enter, and you can do so as many times as you like!

Ways to get in on the fun:

• Follow me on Instagram and repost this image with the hashtag #hchgiveaway
• Retweet the official giveaway tweet on Twitter
• Share the official giveaway post on Facebook
• Join the mailing list

The giveaway will close on Thursday May 15th at 5pm PST and the randomly selected winners will be announced on all platforms on Friday May 16th.

Best of luck, and thank you all for your wonderful support!

On FiSF: 5 Reasons Why it's Great to be a Designer in Residence

If you've been following me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, you already know that I was accepted to the Fashion Incubator Program at Macy's in San Francisco. I started working on HCH from downtown SF in March. The transition from business-from-home to working in a full-on office and workroom has been a really exciting one, and one that has filled my days to the brim lately. Needless to say, I haven't been blogging much! That said, I did write a post for the FiSF blog last week about what it's like to be in the program. Read on!

So what's so special about being a Designer in Residence at FiSF?

Headshot by Portraits to the People

1. SPACE – I started Honey Cooler Handmade from my kitchen table. A dedicated space at the Incubator means that I not only have my own work table for pattern making, but I also have an industrial sewing machine that never has to be put away, a huge cutting table that allows me to cut multiple pieces at once instead of just one, and an office that I can close up at the end of the day with my work inside. When I hop the bus back to the Mission at night, I can truly be home and eat dinner (and NOT sew) at my kitchen table!
2. EXPERTISE – The Incubator operates under the direction of an executive board with tons of industry experience, and that board regularly brings in the best of the best to help us navigate the complicated world of fashion production. From dealing with factories or figuring out effective branding, the thought of facing the myriad challenges unsupported is stressful beyond measure, but FiSF ensures that we are never alone in our endeavors.
3. IDEAS – Jeanne Allen, FiSF’s executive director, has had decades of experience in the fashion industry. Her advice and support come from an innovative mindset coupled with an intimate knowledge of how production truly works for a San Francisco brand. Her husband Marc is our resident design expert and is a wonderful resource when it comes to working through design puzzles. Not only do we have access to the this amazing and experienced executive board, but each of the FiSF designers comes from varied backgrounds, all with very different, yet firmly established perspectives.
4. CAMARADERIE – Honey Cooler Handmade started as a series of lingerie pieces where each garment was made individually, out of different fabric, using deadstock vintage laces. Needless to say, larger scale production is a huge leap for me. Luckily, each of the Designers in Residence is going through the same complicated process of producing their lines. The ability to share the triumphs and frustrations of doing so with the rest of the FiSF class is one of the most valuable facets of working from our amazing space. My initial fear was that working alongside such talent would leave me feeling totally inadequate, but the truth is that we all struggle with the universal self-doubt that all artists deal with. We are a united force and we each want the whole group to succeed.
5. VALIDATION – The Bay Area is full of talented designers, so gaining acceptance to the FiSF program is no easy feat. Learning I was accepted was probably one of my happiest moments – to have an entire board of industry professionals believe in Honey Cooler Handmade and my abilities enough to admit me to the Incubator program was a truly validating moment. Admission to the program is a big step for any line; For me, it means that Honey Cooler Handmade has serious potential as a marketable, profitable lingerie line and I’m very excited to see what’s next.

Photography by George Liao

I'm absolutely adoring these photos by George Liao shot at the Cotton Mill Studios in Oakland featuring Honey Cooler Handmade lingerie front and center. The shots star model Jordan Kimberly Popovich of Look Model Agency with hair and makeup by Alexandra Iriarte. Enjoy!

Cotillion Crop Top, Cotillion Bloomers

Cotillion Crop Top, Cotillion Bloomers

Deco Skull Cami, Deco Tap Shorts

Cotillion Chemise, Deco Sleep Mask, Deco Skull Camisole

One-of-a-Kind Knickers Restocked

Adapting HCH into a fully reproducible line has been a really amazing experience thus far, but as many of you have probably noticed, my one-of-a-kind pieces have taken a bit of a backseat lately.

Juno Papillon Knickers (medium)

I had a little extra time this week, so I stitched up seven new pairs for the shop, each totally unique and using vintage insertion lace. Each is a different size and color, and all are available on Etsy now. Snap up your favorites soon - these always sell quickly.

Emmaline Papillon Knickers (small)

Christiane Papillon Knickers (large)

Find the full range of one-of-a-kind bottoms here - which is your favorite pair of Papillon Knickers?

Three 'Grams: Sharing the Love

I can't believe that Valentine's Day is almost upon us and I'm proud to say that I've been busier than ever filling out my stock for the year's most romantic holiday. I threw a big party with Rue Magazine and Zelma Rose just over a week ago, plus two Valentine's Day trunk shows, one at Dark Garden and one at A La Folie. While the in-person events are over for the moment, that doesn't mean that the HCH Etsy and BigCartel shops aren't fully stocked and ready to fulfill your most frou frou of Valentine's Day dreams. Make sure to scope out what I've got in stock, and remember - use code VDAY2014 until February 14th in either shop for free domestic (US) shipping on your order of ready-to-ship items.

I hope your Valentine's Day is a magnificent one! Following me on Instagram yet? Find me here - when I get to 1000 followers, I'll be giving away a big-ticket HCH item!

My trunk show with A La Folie.

My favorite SF landmark, the Palace of Fine Arts.

My Deco Bralette, Dixie Ribbon Corset and Tammy Knickers shot by November Light.

TOMORROW! Honey Cooler Handmade & Pop Antique at Dark Garden!

That's right, the corsetry atelier famous for cinching the ravishing Dita Von Teese among other beauties of burlesque is hosting a Valentine's Day trunk show tomorrow (Saturday Feb. 1st) featuring lingerie by yours truly and the beautiful millinery of Pop Antique. This is the first public event in which I'll have a wide range of sizes and styles from my new Deco and Cotillion Collections available for purchase!

Scope out the full details and RSVP on the Facebook page - we would love to dress you up and make this year's Valentine's Day a truly elegant one!

Join us for champagne punch and prettiness from 4 - 8pm at Dark Garden, 321 Linden Street in Hayes Valley. See you there!

Ready-to-Ship for Your Valentine's Day Gifting Pleasure!

I've been a busy bee - working diligently to have more pieces ready to ship for Valentine's Day than I've ever had before. I'm proud to say that almost everything from the first official HCH collection is ready to ship in all sizes, so if you've been eyeing anything particular, now's the time to snap it up for yourself or your sweetie. If you missed my last roundup of ready-to-ship pieces, check it out here!

Make sure to double-check item listings carefully, because stock availability changes quickly during the V-Day season - each of these items is available on Etsy and BigCartel.

Left: Pink Deco Bralette, Pink Deco Garter Belt, Black/Red Brocade Ribbon Corset,

Pink Deco Knickers Right: Black Deco Bralette, Black Deco Garter Belt,

Black/White Brocade Ribbon Corset, Black Deco Knickers

(Photography by Her Lovely Bones)

Left: Black Deco Camisole, Black Deco Garter Belt Center: Ivory Deco Chemise,

Ivory Deco Garter Belt Right: Black Deco Chemise, Black Deco Garter Belt

Black Deco Sleep Mask, Deco Skull Camisole, Black Deco Knickers, Black Deco Garter Belt

Left: Ivory Deco Tap Shorts, Ivory Deco Garter Belt, Right: Black Deco Tap Shorts, Black Deco Garter Belt

Photography by Vixen Pin-Up Photography featuring Ruby Mae Collins

When I loan garments out for photo shoots I'm frequently impressed with the results, but once in a while I'm rendered speechless by the final product. Enter the gorgeous Ruby Mae Collins, a singer, hair stylist and model based in San Francisco. We met through my friend Kelsey of Rose La Mer Headpieces for whom she modeled some lovely fascinators last year. When Ruby told me she was going to be doing a few shoots in LA and that my lingerie would fit the bill, I jumped at the chance to clothe this raven-haired stunner. And I'm so very glad I did. The first shots from her shoot with Vixen Pin-Up Photography are in, and… well… take a look for yourselves!

Ruby brings a whole new sensibility to the Cotillion Crop Top, Cotillion Bloomers and Brocade Ribbon Corset in a way that is undeniably pin-up and completely and utterly enticing.

Smitten? Check out more about Ruby on her website and Facebook page!

Still Shopping? Give the Gift of the Snowy HCH Cotillion Collection!

It's almost Christmas, which means if you're anything like me, you're still shopping. Lucky for you, a few pieces from the new Honey Cooler Handmade collection are ready to ship, including the Cotillion Chemise and Cotillion Knickers in sizes Small, Medium and Large!

Cotillion Chemise

Both are sewn from an impossibly soft cotton blend Dotted Swiss with sheer Point d'Esprit panels. The delicate corset detailing is a sweet, unfussy nod to the HCH Ribbon Corset.

Cotillion Knickers

You can shop for both pieces on Etsy or BigCartel, but hurry! The cutoff for US Christmas deliveries is tonight - place your order by midnight and get it time for Christmas!

Black Friday Sale!

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means food, friends, family and fun. It also means that Black Friday is tomorrow and the HCH Etsy shop is your perfect holiday shopping destination if you're looking for a deal!

Margot Deco Camisole, Adrienne Papillon Knickers

Through December 1, score 20% off any ready-to-ship item in the shop by entering coupon code EARLYBIRD2013 upon checkout.

Happy Thanksgiving from Honey Cooler Handmade!

Corset Trunk Show at Dollhouse Bettie, December 5th 2013

The past year has been a really wonderful one for HCH, thanks in no small part to my ongoing collaborations with San Francisco lingerie powerhouse Dollhouse Bettie. I've been fortunate enough to sell my Ribbon Corsets in their lovely shop, as well as make pieces for their Deja Vu Dessous line, and now we are collaborating on an exciting trunk show just in time for the holiday shopping rush!

Join us for bubbly and shopping galore. If that's not enough to tempt you, Dollhouse Bettie will be among the first to debut pieces from my new Deco line. I'll have a bunch of Ribbon Corsets in a rainbow of colors on hand - they make the ultimate luxury gift for you or your significant other.

Be sure to RSVP here and we look forward to seeing you there!

A Little Tease...

The new collection drops next week on Big Cartel. I am so excited to share my hard work with all of you!

Honey Cooler Handmade at Urban Air Market, September 15th 2013

The time has come once again for Urban Air Market! Come stock up on HCH lingerie in Hayes Valley this Sunday September 15th. I'll be at booth 34J on Octavia at Ivy Street and I'll have plenty of new pretties to peruse and a sale rack full of beautiful pieces discounted for one day only!

Be sure to RSVP here and bring your friends. If the weather's anything like it's been over the past few weekends, it will be the perfect day to get a head start on your holiday shopping in the SF sun!