Melbourne lingerie label House of Blyss creates silk undergarments you’ll want to wear outside
WORDS BY MAGGIE ZHOU
“It has always been a goal to create pieces people will love and cherish and that will see them through their own style evolution.”
Underwear is the foundation of any outfit. It doesn’t matter if you’re in your sloppiest trackies or finest evening gown, the order stays unchanging. Without you needing to take much notice, wearing underwear has become one of our dependable, daily practices (unless you choose to stay commando, then more power to you). But this seemingly inconsequential act can have a consequential impact on how we feel about ourselves.
Melbourne-based Alyssa Schneider knows this. As someone who’s grappled with body image issues for years, she swears by the mood-boosting power of wearing her favourite pair of underwear. It’s partly why she was driven to create her label, House of Blyss.
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The label creates lingerie and loungewear made from deadstock silk sourced in Melbourne, and all products are cut, sewn and packaged under one roof. The result? A blossoming label of two years creating “young, flirty, versatile and timeless” pieces. Below, Alyssa shares what her proudest House of Blyss moments.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
I’m very lucky that my creativity was nurtured since I was very young. For as long as I remember, I was doing different arts and crafts with my mum and sister. I always had a love for art and being creative. My mum would sew clothes for my sister and [me] when we were young. Then in my early teens, I started learning too, creating pieces for myself I couldn’t buy in a store. I learnt everything my mum could teach me and then learnt through trial and error and endless YouTube tutorials.
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The fast fashion industry really lit a fire in me in my early teens. I think through my strong desire not to contribute to that industry, I forced myself to learn and adapt clothes I already owned or thrifted into pieces that were perfect for me. More recently I’ve completed a corsetry and couture course to learn some things I couldn’t teach myself.
How did the label get started? Talk us through the process and challenges.
I’ve had body image issues since quite a young age and for me, underwear [can] really pivot how my body image may be on a particular day. I know that if I’m having a particularly bad body image day, putting on my favourite pair of underwear that flatters me and feels incredible could give me just a tiny little boost.
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I wanted to combine this necessity for me with my love for sustainable fashion. Underwear in particular is an area of sustainable fashion that’s often overlooked. I wanted to create a brand for young women that not only celebrated their bodies but made underwear consciously and with the planet in mind. After teaching myself how to sew underwear and trial different styles and fabrics, House of Blyss was born with the intention of making sustainable lingerie more accessible for young women.
I’ve definitely had some struggles learning and navigating this industry. Especially when sustainability is a key part of the business, there are so many aspects to constantly consider especially when it comes to sourcing [materials] as I only use silk. This extends also to keeping costs ‘low’ as it’s simply impossible to compete with fast fashion prices as a small brand. I think also marketing and socials have been probably the greatest struggle for me as I have no experience or background in these areas. Even two years in, I still feel like there is so much more for me to learn about marketing through socials.
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How has this evolved and what are you trying to communicate through the brand now?
The focus has shifted… [to] creating a greater community. We’ve started a video series through our socials called Unedtd that aims to destigmatise women’s issues and open conversation around body image. This series has been a really exciting step and is something that I’m so proud to be sharing.
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We have also extended our community to men as well with our drop of unisex silk boxers. This collection has been in the pipeline since I launched House of Blyss back in 2021 and I’m so proud and excited to be finally releasing this collection. The aim was to create pieces that are flattering and comfortable on all body shapes and are versatile; boxers can be styled under jeans or pants as well. I’m not exaggerating when I say they are the most comfortable shorts I’ve ever worn!
How would you describe your brand to someone who’s never seen it before?
Young, flirty, versatile and timeless. It has always been a goal to create pieces people will love and cherish and that will see them through their own style evolution. This is definitely partly why all my pieces are made out of pure silk, [it’s] such a classic and beautiful fabric. I think this new collection truly embodies my vision for House of Blyss – staple colours of white and black but in unique styles that are really versatile and timeless.
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What are you most proud of in your work on your brand?
I’m definitely proud [of] how far I’ve come. The evolution of the pieces I first released compared to the pieces I’m currently releasing is something I am really proud of. The morals and principles remain the same but I’m so proud I’ve been able to grow my brand and my designs all by myself to what they are now. When I was started, I was so restricted by what I could source and now I hand-dye the majority of my textiles, giving me greater freedom than ever before.
Who is most exciting in the Australian fashion scene right now?
I admire so many independent designers, it’s really hard to narrow down. I really love the sweetness of the designs created by Loclaire. Like many I am also obsessed with Emily Watson’s designs, her tankinis and skirts have me in a chokehold. And of course, I have to mention Frisson Knits; I think there’s something so special about basics and staples done perfectly and Frisson definitely does this. [Its] knit jumpers and cardigans are simply to die for.
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What about the Australian and New Zealand fashion scenes needs to change?
I think this is quite universal, but [a] better representation of sizes is so important. Inclusivity is definitely not there yet. It definitely has improved but I hope that we soon see greater inclusivity in models, especially at events such as Afterpay Australian Fashion Week and Melbourne Fashion Week. I would also like to see more brands prioritising sustainability. There are still so many Australian and New Zealand brands that still don’t prioritise using natural fibres and preventing waste.
With our current accessibility to knowledge about climate change, I really don’t think there is any excuse to be ignorant of fashion’s impacts. I think as consumers we also need to reevaluate how we value our clothes. Simply, clothes should be seen as investments [in] your wardrobe – pieces you will wear over and over for years to come, rather than just for a season or a trend.
Exclusively shop House of Blyss here.
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