Harry Duley makes her entire, bespoke collection of jersey, wardrobe essentials in the UK. Some items are handmade in her home studio in Dorset (where Harry cuts all the patterns and makes all the samples) and larger orders are dealt with by a family-run manufacturer in Nottingham. With sustainability in mind, Harry makes small batches to order, doesn’t carry loads of stock and never goes into sale. Our new TNMA mid-rise pants are available in five new colourways: antique pink, old rose, teal, terracotta and khaki green.

To offer customers a wider range of colours and brighten up your knicker drawer, the fabric has been updated and is now 68% bamboo, 28% cotton and 4% Elastane.

As with our first collaboration this is an exclusive mid-rise style, ending just below the belly button, with a low leg shape and cross over finish (on the outside leg) – Harry’s signature detail. One single pair of premium mid-rise pants is £22 (available HERE). The five-pack of premium mid-rise pants is £95 (15% off) and comes in a gift box (available HERE).

When we had a ‘business coffee’ recently to discuss the new big pants, I realised that I didn’t know much about Harry (we met through TNMA sweatshirt designer, Charlotte Day) – so, I asked how it all began. ‘I was looking for a simple black t-shirt in a quality cotton fabric with a good cut and no logos! Surprisingly hard to find, so I made one myself,’ she says, ‘I love simplicity and timeless design.

I’ve always loved dance, so my collections have always been designed to move with you, so you can move from a class to a cafe or work, or wherever.’

After leaving school at 16, Harry studied Fashion at art college and worked in retail before moving to London (from Somerset). With a loan from The Prince’s Trust, Harry Duley the business officially launched in 1998, ‘This soon evolved into a small collection – all in black jersey.’ Initially selling to friends and through house parties, news of her super-soft layers soon spread by word of mouth. Twenty five years later, at the age of 52, she has extended her range to include yoga wear, collaborated with Folk Clothing on a sell-out collection and become the Queen of Big Pants.

Harry Duley photo by James McMillan

Beginning the day well is important to Harry, ‘ You start your day with the foundation layers. If they’re good quality and good to move in, it makes a huge difference.

I consider my underwear very carefully.’ Very wise. Next up, a morning yoga routine: ‘I discovered yoga about five years ago and loved it from the get go. Vinyasa Yoga is now an essential part of my daily life, I start each day with a dynamic practise (after coffee!). It’s a daily check-in that leaves me feeling energised and strong.’

What I hadn’t realised is that Harry’s Base Layer (underwear) collection is relatively recent.

At the beginning of the first lockdown, she took the opportunity to review her business, ‘I found myself with more time to think about my work. Where it was and where I wanted to go. Being disheartened with my knicker drawer, it became obvious…I could make my own big pants!’ Going through her archive she found a bikini pattern and adapted the shape of the already-quite-big pants, ‘ I used the archive pattern as a draft. I knew exactly the style I wanted.

So it only took a few tweaks to get it right. And, I collect fabric samples, so I knew I already had the perfect fabric. It all came together easily.’

TNMA pants in Terracotta

While Harry admits that she’s still a monochrome-lover at heart, her designs have taken a multi-coloured turn, ‘There’s something about underwear that lends itself to colour. I’m looking forward to seeing how this new range is received!’

We hope you love our new pants.

Shop the rest of the TNMA Edit HERE.