Picture this: a beautiful young Ukrainian girl with dreams of becoming a rockstar moves to the United States with just $500 in her pocket. Uhoh! What could possibly go wrong? Now, you might think this sounds like beginning of a Dateline episode but hold onto your panties – and get ready to meet Lana Derin, the talented designer of the new intimates label, Pagan Poetry Lingerie.

Dramatic? Yes. absolutely. With Lana Derin, It’s all about the drama. Pagan Poetry Lingerie blends Rock and Roll with High Priestess vibes in the most perfect (and dramatic) way possible.

Lana Derin spent 8 years studying music in Ukraine, but fate had other plans for her, and she found herself on a whim in the United States with just a few bucks to her name. So, what’s a girl to do? She decides to switch gears and pursue her other passion: fashion.

In 2022, Lana graduated from the illustrious Fashion Institute of Technology, with a specialization in Intimate Apparel design. She developed a signature style that is the perfect mix of edgy rock star aesthetic with mystical witchy undertones. Think black lace, velvet, and mesh combined with unexpected details like harnesses, studs, and chains. It’s like she took lingerie, put it in a blender with a unicorn and a motorcycle and BAM! Pagan Poetry was born.

Now she’s started selling exclusively from her website, and she’s already building a cult following with her custom-made lingerie designs. I highly recommend you order a piece for yourself!

And why is investing in hand-made lingerie a good idea, you ask? Well, for starters, you get to support a small business and a new designer who puts her heart and soul into each piece. Plus, you get something that’s truly unique and one-of-a-kind. Which you totally deserve, gorgeous!

Because HELLO – have you forgotten that, until recently, you were wandering around the grocery aisles and dog parks wearing a mask, tie-dyed hoodies, sweatpants, and slippers, with not a sexy bra to your name. But thankfully, times have changed, and you can reclaim your inner fashionista with a glam set from Pagan Poetry Lingerie.

Yes, as you can tell, I’m a big fan of Pagan Poetry Lingerie. I could go on and on, but let’s hear Lana’s story in her own words!

Describe your style in 3 words.

Lana: Dark, unusual, comfortable

Who are your style icons?

Lana: Grimes, Jamie Bochert, Chelsea Wolfe

What’s your wardrobe MVP?

Lana: Black military boots

What Lana’s life philosophy?

Lana: ‘It is only as an aesthetic phenomenon that existence and the world are eternally justified’ – Nietzsche.

What’s the one thing you would never wear?

Lana: Prob something pink in style of Paris Hilton!

We’d love to know who Lana Derin was in 2012 and now in 2023 – what was your background and your trajectory?

Lana: Right now, 2012 feels like 2 lives ago, because a lot has changed. In 2012 I was a student in my hometown Kharkiv, Ukraine. I was not into fashion design at that time, I dreamed about being a rockstar. I was writing my own songs, playing guitar, singing, performing and playing with bands. In 2012 coming to America was also not even a plan, but a dream, even much more delusional than a plan to be a full-time musician! Lana Derin of 2023 lives in Astoria, NY, works full-time at one lingerie company and dedicates the rest of her time to Pagan Poetry.

What’s your favorite thing to do in NYC? What really inspires you?

Lana: It’s still very inspirational for me to go uptown and look in the luxurious stores all along Fifth Avenue. It’s just something that I could only dream about when I was a kid, and it brings me back into the awe-struck state of mind that I came here with. This trick always works somehow!

What do you love about lingerie?

Lana: When I was young, beautiful lingerie was one of the things that I wanted but couldn’t have. As with many things, I of course couldn’t afford it, but also, I wanted to look sexy and desirable and couldn’t understand what was wrong about it. I thought that society and institutions attempted to suppress women’s sexuality, to make us feel ashamed of our bodies and sexual desires.

Do you wear lingerie yourself?

Lana: I’ve definitely changed and don’t dress as way I used to, but I still think that lingerie is one of the most gorgeous wardrobe pieces and it’s liberating and empowering. Lingerie is your spotlight time, it’s something you can keep hidden during the day if you want, but it’s a total freedom of expression when your outer shell comes off. I don’t see anything wrong in the fact that it makes you feel sexy or that your partner likes it or that you want to be desirable, however, many people still get all weird about it.

Why did you decide to design intimates?

Lana: During my bachelor’s degree I had to pick a specialization. I saw the grad shows, and I thought that Intimate Apparel had the best and the most professionally looking garments. They looked so good that it could make you cry. I wanted to do something this great, so that’s another reason why I ended up on the lingerie path.

What was your first fashion memory?

Lana: I think it was Lady Gaga’s videos, like Bad Romance. At first, I thought her outfits were unnecessarily weird, but I think they provoked me and made me think. That’s how I learnt about Alexander McQueen and Thierry Mugler, and also became a fan of Lady Gaga. I think I became more consciously interested in fashion and my own style after this.

Tell us about the label’s name “Pagan Poetry” and what it means to you.

Lana: ’Pagan Poetry’ is named after Bjork’s song that I really love. I wanted to capture something irrational, dark, mystical and sensual, and I think this name and her song describes it perfectly. I wanted to combine many things that are meaningful and fascinating to me. So, in a way this brand is also inspired by Nietzsche’s philosophy (like his division into Dionysian and Apollonian art), paganism, fairytales and myths, music and even a bit by my favorite director Lars von Trier.

That’s a very philosophical approach to lingerie design.

Lana: I’m generally drawn to everything that is dark and depressing, so there’s no way I could find meaning in anything other than that, but this particular concept also has sexuality, subconscious and irrationality – all the things that I am scared of and fascinated by.

In addition to your online business, do any boutiques stock your brand?

Lana: Not yet! But Pagan Poetry will be one of the vendors on May 6th at @baphomets.bazaar

What’s the process for ordering something from you website?

Lana: All the styles are made upon order, but there are only the 5 most common sizes available. We also accept inquiries for custom orders, if someone wants a bespoke design of their dreams.

And everything is hand-made in the Pagan Poetry atelier?

Lana: As of right now, due to the budget restrictions and the small number of orders, I make everything myself. Factories usually have high minimums and require big and risky investments. They also can be very expensive or deliver poor quality, so that’s another risk. In the future, once I’m not be able to keep up with orders, I am planning to find a factory or hire people to delegate some of my work. I would still prefer to keep the bespoke option at the same time.

What are your plans for the future of “Pagan Poetry”?

Lana: In 5 to 10 years, I expect to move the production stage to a high-quality local factory or have my own little atelier with seamstresses. I would work mostly on design development and management. I would have a small team responsible for many aspects, from patternmaking to marketing. I plan to expand the sizing and categories, meaning it won’t be only lingerie. Besides the commercial styles, we will work in the atelier on custom orders.

So, the future of Pagan Poetry is definitely not fast fashion?

Lana: I am not interested in growing so much that it would jeopardize the quality of the garments or turn into fast fashion. I want to be proud of what I am doing, and I want to inspire love and treasure for every garment. Which is another reason why the handmade approach is so good, and as long as I can make enough to live and have some free time, I wouldn’t be that upset if I never make it to the factory.

Lana: Right now, everyone can see the ‘behind the scenes’ videos, receive full attention and quality control, develop a deeper connection with the creator, and I think it’s great, because it breaks the detachment created by fast fashion. With the factory it would be harder to do, but I would try to keep this connection.

Last but not least – what is your most favorite fashion trend?

Lana: I love everything 90s, and I’m glad that it’s back lol.

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