Human Under Garments is new, from Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand — making inclusive body-modification underwear.
Our flagship pieces are the Full-Bind and Half-Bind, with more in development. Watch this space.
We grew from a desire to do better for people with breasts who are underserved by the mainstream market. Over nearly two years of R&D, we designed a system of second-skin garments lined with silicone prints that gently adhere to skin — allowing support and subtle re-sculpting without compression or hardware.
Our designs may work for many, but our focus is equity: creating solutions for those who are rarely centred in design — particularly people marginalised, or simply inconvenienced, by embodied needs.
We call our approach non-intrusive body modification: silhouette adjustment achieved through a second-skin fit, combined with a silicone gel print that helps hold repositioned tissue in place. We see this as a versatile somatechnic system — one that may be adapted to other unmet bodily needs, including future designs for ostomy underwear and needs raised directly by our customers.
Beyond the body, we geek out on inclusive design and business practices. We're curious about the internal, social, and political realities of living outside social norms — and we write about it.
Our founder, Kylie, has never experienced gender dysphoria or extreme minority stress — but has large breasts she would have reduced if it were an option. A reluctant bra wearer, designer, and mother of a teen, she chose to pursue a kinder binder first: approaching it as an outsider, from a place of manaakitanga — care, support, and hospitality — before designing for cis women, where the need is significant but less critical. As HUG grows, the incorporation of gender-minority partners will be paramount.