Hanky Panky

While millions of women around the world are familiar with The World’s Most Comfortable Thong® made by Hanky Panky, few are aware of the remarkable story behind the iconic brand. It all started back in 1977 with a gift from one friend to another: an adorable bra and panty set made of cotton hand-embroidered handkerchiefs. Soon, the two friends, with no background in business, founded Hanky Panky, determined to provide women everywhere with the highest possible quality and best fitting intimates.

While millions of women around the world are familiar with The World’s Most Comfortable Thong® made by Hanky Panky, few are aware of the remarkable story behind the iconic brand. It all started back in 1977 with a gift from one friend to another: an adorable bra and panty set made of cotton hand-embroidered handkerchiefs. Soon, the two friends, with no background in business, founded Hanky Panky, determined to provide women everywhere with the highest possible quality and best fitting intimates.

Despite constant challenges in the form of naysayers, low-priced knockoffs (AKA “dupes”) that flooded the market every time Hanky Panky launched an innovative new garment, production challenges, and betrayals from within their trusted inner circle, Hanky Panky grew to become an award-winning, globally recognized brand with a large celebrity and cult following that is now celebrating 50 years in business. One of their iconic thongs made of Signature Lace® sells every ten seconds.

In Hanky Panky, Lida Orzeck, one of the brand’s two founders, shares the intimate details of 50 years of Hanky Panky alongside the history of lingerie, fashion, and New York City’s garment industry and department stores. She discusses how values like sustainability, size inclusivity, and keeping production in the U.S. were part of the company from day one, the decision to prioritize better over cheaper and people before profits, the fun and friendship at the heart of the brand that created a unique company culture, and, most important, how all of these unique factors paid off in the form of unparalleled loyalty from employees and consumers alike.

Hanky Panky is a must read for founders, fashion and/or lingerie-lovers, and anyone who wants to know what it really takes to build a brand from the ground up, especially one that never wavers when it comes to its values and its number one priority: its customers.