Meet Bizarre, the Naarm-based label offering inclusive handmade lingerie
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Steph Luchnikova
Words by Kate Streader
“Bizarre is about making lingerie for all, opening up the designs of our lingerie to be inclusive of all bodies.”
When Jana Fuss couldn’t find the kind of lingerie she wanted to wear, she decided to take matters into her own hands and design it herself. The resulting label, Bizarre, is an inclusive, handmade lingerie label designed to look sexy and cool while feeling good to wear.
Inspired by vintage lingerie, Bizarre’s range encompasses high-waisted thongs, neon and neutral hues, long gloves and a whole lot of lace and mesh. It takes simple, classic styles and breathes fresh energy into them with bold flourishes and contemporary flair.
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In its early days, Bizarre was aimed at complementing the female form – but as it’s grown, so has its ethos. The label now prioritises inclusivity, eschewing typical ideals around underwear to create pieces that celebrate a wide range of bodies through custom sizing, designs and degendered collections.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
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I started my fashion journey in 2016 studying a Bachelor of Fashion at Flinders University in Adelaide. My whole life I’ve been into fashion – watching shows like Lizzie McGuire and Zoey 101 as a child was where I first remember being inspired. I first had an interest to pursue this as a career when I took a fashion class in high school in year ten. I remember the first class when I was 14, my teacher brought in a Vivienne Westwood book and I thought, ‘Wow, this is fucking cool’.
That was pretty much the starting point that drove me into studying fashion to pursue a career in the industry. While I was studying fashion, I got involved in many runways which even led to assistant styling for well-known stylists for Melbourne Fashion Week.
How did the label get started? Talk us through the process and the challenges.
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So, it all started when I was trying to find a specific style of underwear for myself. I couldn’t believe how hard it was to find what I wanted, this then sparked the idea to make them myself. It was hard in the start as I had never made lingerie throughout my uni degree – so figuring that out was the first hurdle. It took a lot of time and effort to discover the design language that would form the backbone of Bizarre.
The initial pairs that I released were lace high-waisted thongs with a vintage-feel design. This was the launching pad for the brand. Since then, design and business processes have evolved as the brand has grown and are now at a stage where I feel the brand has a real voice.
Another challenge has definitely been learning how to operate the business side of the brand outside of the creative… As the brand has continued to grow, I have had to learn so much about everything from material sourcing to marketing and account management.
What were you trying to achieve from the project at the time? How has this evolved and what are you trying to communicate through the brand now?
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When I first started, I wanted to create pieces that enhanced features of women’s bodies and made them feel confident but also comfortable. The idea was to create a contemporary and slick rendition of high-waisted thongs prominent in the ’80s and ’90s with a real sense of comfort. The brand has evolved quite extensively since that time. Over time, Bizarre has tried to explore forms of lingerie outside of the simple thong or bralette and expanded into creating pieces such as leotards, singlets, gloves and unisex collections. A core aspect of this evolution was the desire to open the brand up to become more inclusive of all.
As a brand, Bizarre’s value is based upon inclusivity, acceptance and self-expression. These are the pillars of what I am trying to communicate through Bizarre. Bizarre is about making lingerie for all, opening up the designs of our lingerie to be inclusive of all bodies. For us, lingerie isn’t about sticking to normative ideals. It’s about making one feel empowered, expressive and sensual in your own skin, no matter what form that comes in. Bizarre wants to create a space that allows anyone to feel comfortable and accepted to express themselves as their most confident self.
How would you describe Bizarre to someone who’s never seen it before?
I would describe Bizarre as an all-inclusive brand that is heavy on lace and mesh. The brand constantly uses these fabrics in different variations with long gloves to complement. Bizarre makes the all-inclusive name by offering unisex pieces along with custom sizing and custom designs. Influence from the ’80s and modern design is evident through the use of lace and mesh but then contrasted with my basics collection. I would describe Bizarre as lingerie that is sexy but with a twist.
What are you most proud of in your work on your brand?
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I am most proud of the amount I have taught myself, I don’t get any help with the design and making of each product along with all admin. I have managed to get myself to a point where I am constantly able to create new collections and each time I can implement new aspects I’ve learnt from the last process. I am also very proud to be stocked in places like Error404 and had one of my favourite artists, TiaCorine, wear a custom piece of mine in her photoshoot.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
Hindsight is a great thing, and of course, there are many many things I wish I knew more about before I started, but it’s all part of the process that you just have to learn as you do things. If I was to pick anything, it would be to know more about the business side of operating a brand. As with many other creatives, this isn’t my forte so there were definitely some hurdles figuring the business side out at the early stages of Bizarre. To have had more knowledge on this earlier – it would have helped immensely.
Who do you think is most exciting in the Australian/NZ creatives scene right now?
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Karlalaidlaw, Alix Higgins, Posture Studio, Maroske Peech and Emily Watson.
Dream Australian/NZ collaborators?
Catholic Guilt, Sexiaz Lingerie, Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp and Maroske Peech.
Go-to dinner party playlist?
A go-to dinner playlist at the moment would probably consist of LA Chat, Kylie Minogue, Paradise Club and Lil Yachty’s new album, Let’s Start Here.
Who is in your wardrobe right now?
Karlalaidlaw, Posture Studio, Spitsubishi, Soto Worldwide and MariaGulina.
How can we buy one of your pieces?
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My pieces are available on my website which will be live again from… March 22. You can also find Bizarre in Error404 in-store and online. I will soon be also stocked in a store in Auckland very soon, so keep a lookout for that!
Shop the Bizarre range here.
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