The Price of Inclusion

In a previous post, I wrote about the good, the bad, and the ugly side of female clothing, and I briefly touched upon a subject that I want to explore in a little more detail today. I’m referring to underwear specifically designed for women like us with a little “extra” skin?.

On one hand, it is fantastic that brands and designers are finally turning their attention toward us. Moving away from the mainstream status quo to fill an underserved niche is a step in the right direction, and it’s validating to see our needs acknowledged.

The problem I see however, is that the commercial side of the business unfortunately always seems to take priority over true accessibility. I get it, these companies aren't Mother Teresa. They aren't in business to hand out garments. As with any specialized line, a lot of research, development, and trial and error goes into designing functional garments, and those costs inevitably have a direct impact on the final prices for the consumer.

But does the price tag really need to be that high? It’s hard not to feel the same frustration some women express regarding the ridiculous price markup on products simply because of how they’re marketed for them. In my opinion, if these specialized brands made their prices just a little more reasonable, they would drive a much higher volume of sales and easily make their profit back through loyal customers.

How am I supposed to incline myself towards buying a tucking gaff or a specially designed pantie for around $20 or a set of three tucking garments for around $100 when I could get a regular pack of five or more cute panties for around $6 to $15?

That is a pretty substantial price difference. I mean there’s a very simple reason the use of tape remains so popular in the community, it isn't because it’s comfortable, but because it’s cheap and accessible. It’s the same reason why most prefer to make their own gaffes too. I’m sure that if I could go into a specialty online store and buy custom engineered panties at a competitive price, close to what I would spend on a regular one, I would gravitate instead toward their products in a heartbeat.

Price, however, isn't the only issue at least for me. If you browse the lingerie section of any standard department store, you are met with an almost endless variety, pastel palettes, floral prints, delicate lace trim, bows, and lightweight fabrics. But when I look at these specialized underwear stores I don’t see that variety.

For the most part, all I see are somber, designs, mostly black or dark neutral shades. Where are the florals? Where are the bright, cute, feminine colors and delicate details? To be completely honest, a lot of these specialty garments look like men's underwear trying its best to mimic female panties.

I’ll admit my bias here, I don’t actually own a single piece from any of these specialized brands, nor do I own a commercial gaff. Maybe if I did, I’d be writing an entirely different post today. Maybe I’d be preaching about how revolutionary they feel and telling you they are worth every single penny. Maybe! But until the value proposition changes, I guess I won’t know for sure.

To be clear, I don't hold any grudges against these companies. As I said from the start, I think it’s wonderful that they are thinking of us and trying to help us fulfill a deeply meaningful part of our identity. I genuinely appreciate the effort and I would certainly love to try some out. But I also believe they could take things a step further, not just by making their products physically functional, but by making them financially accessible and authentically, beautifully feminine.