Pieces of Porcelain had its beginnings in my first moment of curiosity for lingerie, when I saw Manny Santos in Degrassi sporting a bright blue rhinestone-studded G-string that poked out of her jeans. It was a moment that shifted my perspective on confidence and sexuality, shocking my 9-year-old conscience and imprinting that sensuality onto my brain for the years to come. Growing into my passions after this moment, I knew I wanted to chase that sensation and gift it to other femmes.

Fast forward and I’m 17 years old working at a local lingerie boutique straight out of girl heaven, where the then-distant idea of Pieces of Porcelain formed. The store had a tropical theme, with pastel yellow walls covered with framed pinup girls, seashell-studded mirrors, feathers adorning the store, and pink and white striped teepee-style dressing rooms. It was a true escape from the real world⏤a space for girls to grow confident in themselves. It was a place where femmes could come in and purchase a perfectly fitted bra with the sweetest matching pair of panties, taking the day from bore to beauty. We were trained to tell someone’s bra size at a glance. I’ll never forget the woman who hugged me after a bra fitting, telling me that she’d never had a bra that fit before, and how special we’d made her feel. I learned about the range of emotions that lingerie sparks beyond the bedroom, and how empowered it makes femmes feel in a world actively working against them.

In founding Pieces of Porcelain, I hoped to help other femmes achieve that same special feeling. These views stayed with me until the thought of starting my own brand wasn’t so distant anymore. After several years in the field, it was time to take action toward creating my own business. Piece by piece, I started teaching myself how to design and create handmade panties and lacy tops and skirts in the hopes that I could continue to make femmes see themselves as the beautiful beings they are.

Pieces Of Porcelain was born from a foundation of female empowerment. The same hope for an escape also birthed Porcelain World as a place to highlight my friends who inspire my vision. The space also extends a warm invitation to my customers, who are the only reason I’m here today. When I found blog spaces as a teen, the greater world didn’t seem so big and scary. I felt comforted that other girls were experiencing the same things as me. Here’s to the beginning of Porcelain World and our community, where we will learn about different topics, share our art, and give guidance to other femmes. In Porcelain World, you’ll never feel alone.