Michaela Stark’s brand of inclusivity, backed by Beyoncé and Victoria’s Secret: how the couturier’s body-positive lingerie is challenging the fashion industry’s willingness to change
- Stark was working in Paris as a seamstress during the pandemic when she turned to Instagram to join the growing body positivity movement
- The Australian’s latest collection, Panty, offers playful and seductive options for women sized from XXS to 5XL
Many of the lingerie brands we know today cater for the male gaze or to women looking sexy for anyone but themselves. Michaela Stark, known for body morphing, has disrupted the status quo by transforming her own flesh into a canvas. She models lingerie made for women by women for the world to see.
Her fashion project-turned-Instagram phenomenon all started when Stark was living alone in Paris in the midst of the pandemic. “I was a seamstress at the time for Parisian brands and it kind of hit me that I didn’t actually make my own clothes,” says the designer. What she describes as a therapeutic experience pushed her into corset making while developing unique sewing techniques on her curves to make art out of it.
Coming from a family of engineers, Stark is neither an alumnus of a European fashion school nor part of the industry’s cool clique. But with almost 200,000 Instagram followers, she believes that social media helps open wide the doors of the fashion industry. Her one worry was image censorship in regards to the female body: “Instagram has also been detrimental to my practice due to the constant censoring, which has almost made it fearful for me to actually post,” she says.
The Australian-born artist isn’t afraid of being labelled a social media sensation and remains keen to prove she belongs in the industry. Her work, which doesn’t tick the conventional boxes of fashion or art, has led to ongoing conversations and stirred strong opinions. One particular spectator was Beyoncé, the superstar commissioning some tour costumes, an endorsement that boosted Michaela’s career. “People like Beyoncé have that power to impact culture and people and an ability to make change through art and beyond,” she says.
Another high-profile collaboration came with Victoria’s Secret. Working with the American lingerie brand, which is currently undergoing an image revamp, wasn’t an easy step to take. “Ultimately what made me decide to work on the project is that I realised that you have to take big projects and take risks to get your message noticed. I think that without any sort of spotlight you can’t make any real change within the industry,” comments Stark who says she is no longer afraid of sitting in the room with top decision makers and voicing her opinions.
This year, her achievements include Panty, her first ready-to-wear lingerie collection that celebrates inclusivity. The pieces cater for sizes from XXS to 5XL, each adapted to the body’s curves. The line combines her couture aesthetics with delicate fabrics and an attention to detail. “I’m very nervous to show it because it is a departure from the truly intense artistry work that I’ve been doing. I really have been working to try to keep it in line with that and to continue the message that I’ve been putting forward,” she explains. Unlike other brands that have introduced plus-size clothing and that often feel like an add-on or for comfort purposes, Panty is playful, seductive and unique.
While the lingerie creative has gone a long way in her advocacy for body positivity, the fashion world still lags behind. According to Stark, most of the brands wanting to engage in inclusivity and promoting diverse body types still lack the know-how. In an industry fixated on catering to the archetypal ultra-thin model, Michaela Stark is intent on making her mark.