Kristan explores the design of handmade lingerie and intimate-wear from a radically gendered perspective. When possible, the materials used to create the projects featured on the blog are used from upcycled and recycled materials purchased or salvaged from independent or charitable sources. The blog features both the work of Elana Bloom, and a numerous intimate-wear designers that she personally admires. It also delves into the world of handmade kink accessories, diy tutorials, and a broader discussion on gender, the queer community, and safe sex practices.
About Elana
I'm a queer, fashion and design geek living the San Francisco Bay Area. I graduated from Smith College in May of 2010 and since then have been trying to find a way to balance my bread and butter job and my creative pursuits. I started designing my own lingerie after I discovered a lack of queer-friendly and queer-specific intimate-wear in the world. In my experience 90% of intimate wear is marketed toward the heterosexual community, and does not reflect the numerous gendered identities in the world. Frankly, lingerie seems to only be marketed toward one gendered identity: that of the Victoria's Secret Model. Our society approachs underwear from a standpoint of either masculine or feminine, and while those are valid gender-identifications, they are only two rather vague words. Kristan is my personal project to try designing intimates with multiple gender markers beyond the masculine and feminine categories. Through design I hope to gain a greater understanding of gender in the most intimate way, and of course, continue to create.
In 2011, I also plan to make my custom made intimates for purchase. Please stay revisit this blog often as I will be posting announcements, previews and information regarding the launch of the Kristan line.
