NEW YORK — In true diva form, singer Gladys Knight launched her new lingerie line, Knightwear, on the stage of the Apollo Theatre on Thursday. The collection is a collaboration with Ashley Stewart, who hosted the event — a charity gala to raise money for Dress for Success, the Boys Choir of Harlem and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.
Ashley Stewart, an urban, plus-size retailer, approached Knight with an offer this past year to become one of the company’s “Great Women of Style” (a spokeswoman chosen yearly and formerly held by other notables such as Mandisa, of “American Idol” fame).
It soon became apparent that Knight longed to be more than just a pretty face for the brand.
Although Knight was unavailable for an interview, Ethan Shapiro, chief executive officer of Urban Brands Inc., parent of Ashley Stewart, explained how Knightwear came to be. “She apparently had been thinking about [a lingerie line] for a long time,” said Shapiro. Knight felt “there wasn’t any luxury looks like this for people who would be considered a plus-size. She had this vision of a lingerie line. So we said, ‘Let’s get to work.'”
In particular, Knight wanted her clothing to serve the African-American plus-size market. Knight worked on every detail of the color and pattern and collaborated with Ashley Stewart executives on the final design. Shapiro said she added her input. “She wanted certain things.” In particular, Knight “thought it should be very sensual, but not sexy, appealing but not revealing.”
In its entirety, Knightwear includes 15 to 20 different styles, primarily satin- or cotton-based lingerie and nightwear which will retail from $26.99 to $29.99. From shimmering satin gowns to cotton pajama pants, the lingerie sets itself apart with an eye-popping color palette and wild animal prints. Knightwear will be offered in all of Ashley Stewart’s stores nationwide, beginning Wednesday.
Much like Knight’s innumerable chart-topping albums, Shapiro says, “We’re projecting it’ll be a sellout.”