BRANDS TO KNOW: DYLAN UNDERWEAR
DYLAN UNDERWEAR
Dylan Underwear is a sustainable and inclusive intimates line founded by stylist Crystal Truong in NYC. By creating a reliable brand made by women for women, Crystal believes underwear should be “…comfortable all day, keep you healthy down under, and stay hidden unless you want them to be seen.” With a best-seller like the “Love on Top” high-waisted thong, Dylan underwear is proving to be a quality essential for every woman’s wardrobe.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're from.
CRYSTAL TRUONG: My name is Tuyet Truong which translate to crystal or snowflake in Vietnamese because it’s a whole lot easier to pronounce lol. I’m Vietnamese American, first generation. I was born in Fort Worth Texas, raised in Boise, Idaho.
SHEER: What inspired the creation of Dylan underwear and what was the launch process like?
CT: What really inspired me to create Dylan was the New York City hustle. I’ve always been a fast-paced person so living in the city made sense to me. I loved the idea of meetings / work all morning to happy hour and gallery openings in the evening and what women feel throughout these long days. What does it take to feel comfortable confident and sexy throughout it all? I know for myself the first thing I put on in the morning should allow me to feel empowered which is why I decided to design underwear first. When I decided to start the company I gave myself a 3 month deadline. Once I decided on it, everything fell into place and the launch was a huge success.
SHEER: What do you believe makes Dylan underwear an essential addition to every woman's wardrobe?
CT: Dylan’s concept is sexy and simple. I was overwhelmed by the endless options of underwear styles, fabric, and prints so I created a product that I would love. Everything is black and seamless (for now) and with 4 styles that will benefit every outfit. Since panty lines were never really in style, I figured why not take them out of the equation.
I wanted comfort first and foremost but I also wanted to feel sexy. I designed a high leg cut so that it was flattering for every body shape.
Crystal Truong, Founder of Dylan Underwear
SHEER: How do you maintain your creative vision while also managing your own business?
CT: Delegate! I’m a creative director first so running the behind the scenes of a company is challenging for sure. I’ve been lucky enough to bring on other women who are skilled in areas that I am not. It’s really important to work with people who know what the goals are so that you can trust their process. I’m pretty hands on with everything because I want to know at least enough in all the areas of the company. However allowing people to help is the best thing you could do for your company and this is something I’ve had to learn within the last year. And because of this I can focus on the creative work.
SHEER: We've talked about how our businesses have shaped us as individuals. How would you say Dylan underwear has transformed who you are and how you navigate change in your life?
CT: Dylan has allowed me to have a voice. Not only through company branding but also as a business woman. There has been so much personal growth in what I stand for by creating Dylan and for that alone, I’m forever grateful.
SHEER: What are your favorite pieces on the site currently?
CT: All of the panties are my favorite. The high waisted thong makes the most sense to me for now because Ive been wearing a lot of high waisted jeans which allows everything to feel perfectly in place.
LOVE ON TOP HIGH WAISTED THONG, $39
LOVE ON TOP HIGH WAISTED THONG, $39
SHEER: What advice do you have for women looking to build their own businesses in the fashion industry?
CT: Definitely to stick to your purpose. I’ve noticed that when women create we create with purpose and it’s usually to empower. A lot of company’s can sell out and lose touch with their original purpose. We as consumers want to use our purchasing power for the better and having companies represent our own personal beliefs is powerful.
SHEER: How do you ensure that your business is sustainable?
CT: At the moment I’ve focused on creating a product of quality to eliminate having to buy underwear often. By not contributing to fast fashion you can reduce your carbon footprint by a lot. Moving forward I want to start using left over materials / recycled materials for production.
SHEER: What do you envision for the future of Dylan underwear?
CT: I’m striving to create an empire full of talented people designing a brand that’s empowering. Moving into functional lounge wear soon and possibly a menswear line. My biggest priority is to have a company that represents what it means to feel sexy and empowered on our own terms.
