Ali hopes her West Cork-made ‘smalls' will soon be big news

LUXURY lingerie designed and handmade in West Cork is proving to be red hot – in the sales stakes. 

Ali Wheeler studied fashion in her youth before working in a company that enjoyed considerable success making and hiring outfits for fancy dress events and parties.

However, Ali felt she wasn't creatively fulfilled so, in May 2016, she established her own company, Created By Ali, a company that produces a range of lingerie called Hot Knickers.

Ali said: ‘Hot Knickers Lingerie is inspired by the glamour of the 1940s and 50s, but the pieces have the support and comfort of modern day fabrics.' 

She said: ‘The garments are designed to fit feminine curves and to give the wearer the confidence to dress in whatever she chooses.

‘I've always believed that if a woman feels good about her lingerie she will project this in everything she does,' said Ali, who can make cami-tops, full slips and high-waisted briefs to order, so they will fit any woman's shape.

The Paula in the Hot Knickers range is designed to offer the wearer a smooth body shape because Ali believes there is no point in trying to squeeze your body into underwear that simply does not fit.

‘If you are wearing the right lingerie there will be no unsightly bumps and rolls of flesh. Instead you will have a smooth contour that follows your natural curves. In the right lingerie, you will feel fabulous because comfort gives confidence.'

Ali explained how she achieves this, saying: ‘The Paula Hot Knickers fit to the waist, have a centre back seam, and shorts legs so there's no panty line, and it has the added bonus of having a tummy smoothing panel and a cotton gusset.'

Ali's lingerie is made of modern stretch fabric that feels like silk to the touch. The garments are, in fact, made from Italian polyamide elastane fabric, or German sheer body mesh, which can be purchased individually, or as a set. 

Ali has launched a new website at www.hotknickers.ie and also invites the public to call into her studio above The Olive Branch at Spiller's Lane. It is open to the public every Friday and Saturday.