Guest post by The Lingerie Addict

My name is Treacle, and I’m a 20-something knickers junkie. I’ve been blogging since April 2008, and I am obsessed with what I call “spreading the gospel of lingerie.”  My passion is connecting other people with the lingerie that’s the best fit for their lifestyle and budget, and nothing makes me more excited than a new season’s lookbook. If you love lingerie too, come visit me over at The Lingerie Addict.

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At first glance, the words Seattle and fashion might seem a contradiction.  After all, Seattle isn’t a fashion capital (in America or the rest of the world), and many people still associate our city’s style with comfy, casual, utilitarian basics like flannel shirts, hiking boots, and well worn jeans.

But even though Seattle fashion isn’t super glam, it’s still chic.  And our residents have a definite point of view; Seattle is all about buying independent, buying handmade, buying fair wage, and buying organic/sustainable.  We’re a city of people that loves the undiscovered treasure, not the big brand.

That’s why lingerie is such a great fit with Seattle’s aesthetic.  The lingerie industry is full of new, emerging, and established designers who are bucking the current obsession for mass-produced, Victoria’s Secret-inspired conformity.  Here are just 5 you should know about:

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Black Milk Clothing

James Lillis, the founder of Black Milk Clothing, started off designing leggings that fit and flatter every body and lucky for us, he’s recently expanded his range into swimsuits (including that famous R2-D2 swimsuit everyone’s talking about).  My advice?  Get something now before he gets really big (and unaffordable) next year.

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Between the Sheets

Another designer that’s hovering just under the radar (for now), Layla L’obatti of Between the Sheets is doing some amazing things with loungewear and comfy lingerie.  And for those who want something a little fancier, she also design a line of luxury silk lingerie.

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Toad Lillie

Named after a flower that resembles an orchid, Laurie Shapiro’s Toad Lillie collection is entirely handmade, and, even more surprisingly, entirely self-taught.  Laurie has only been designing lingerie for about a year!  You can purchase from the celebrity boutique Faire Frou Frou in addition to her website.

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Purrfect Pineapples

The only cruelty-free lingerie designer I  know of, Erika of Purrfect Pineapples is feeding a much underserved niche within the lingerie industry. Previously, organic lingerie was very plain, very basic, and very unsexy. Purrfect Pineapples is changing all that though with corsets, bras, and knickers in fantastic styles and colors.

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Liane Marguerite

One of the newest designers on this list, Liane Marguerite specializes in vintage style lingerie with a modern edge.  Their designs (all handmade to order!) put custom lingerie within reach of even the most budget-conscious consumers.

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I hope you’ve found something you like in this very brief tour of indie lingerie designers. Know of someone your fellow Seattleites would dig? Share it with us in the comments!