Luxury Lingerie Shopping

Spending so much time in my husband’s homeland, the Caribbean, we are not strangers to the multitude of uses for bamboo. Chairs, roofs, brooms and even bamboo fish catching pots can be found everywhere. But one thing we never paid much heed is bamboo clothing. My husband, however, saw a documentary not long ago that piqued both our interests. The show chronicled the process of taking bamboo leaves and creating fabric.

Bamboo fabric has many benefits, as it is apparently anti-bacterial in nature, cool in the summer, warm in the winter and soft and comfortable to the touch. When wearing bamboo lingerie, the garment does not cling to the skin in the extreme heat and actually pulls the moisture away from the skin.

So interesting was the show, it compelled me to research what lingerie labels were moving in this ecoistic direction for 2008. And I was pleasantly surprised.

Bamboo Nights, the company who touts themselves as creating the “original bamboo sleepwear”, created a pretty assortment of various lingerie pieces. Sweet little camis in pastel pink and blue, darker colours in chocolate and plum and of course, the old standby, white. Mix and match pieces with cute boy shorts, capris and leggings, long gowns with spaghetti straps or short chemises, all simple, but sweet and comfortable feeling. For women looking for something a little more delicate, some of the collection is finished with lace around the neckline, the cuffs of the arms and the cuffs of the pants.

bravado! DESIGNS, a company who has been highlighted several times in quality magazines such as American Baby, In Style and Fit Pregnancy, lives, works and designs by the “green mantra”. Their Essential Nursing Bra Tank is so hugely popular and beneficial to nursing women that they won Practical Parenting Magazine’s Award for Best Buy Product of the Year 2006!

Established in the kitchen by two women, whose wishes were to provide better nursing bras for women, they take great pride in offering the best and their bamboo nursing bra tank is one of those creations. It carries a woman through her pregnancy into the nursing phase.

Motherwear, another “maternity through nursing” label inspires pregnant women to look great and feel comfortable. Nurturing, supportive and healthy environments are keystones of this company as one can quickly see by their beautiful bras and eco-boutique. Their Embroidered Bamboo Sleep Bra, which comes in pink, twilight and white, is delicately decorated in pretty embroidery.

In addition to the many benefits of bamboo, it is considered somewhat of a “transitioning fabric” for women. It allows women to move through different phases of their lives in a more comfortable fashion. Whether pregnant, nursing or experiencing menopause, bamboo has become a women-friendly fabric. Eco Lingerie is HOT, and you know it!

Belabumbum, which is actually pronounced BelaBoomBoom, offers the most luxurious and fanciful maternity lingerie collection that would make any woman jealous. Playful and comfortable loungewear, sexy lace foundation wear and cute single and double piece bathing suits make it very difficult to believe these designs are made for pregnant women.

Their baby doll and pant sets are made to be worn, both to bed when sleeping and comfortably around the house, as the tops have adjustable straps and fully lined cups for extra support. The collection also offers nursing bras and panties in both a brief and thong style.

Belabumbum boasts all the right customers, too. They sell to many stars and are actually written up quite regularly when it becomes known that another celebrity is wearing their lingerie. Their Fall – Winter 2008 Maternity Collection will be shown in New York the last week of February. Products can be purchased online or in person in upscale boutiques across the United States, Toronto Canada and a few other international locations.