| “They have an effortless charm and a playfulness to them, while being one of the most comfortable items in your wardrobe,” says Flora Sharp, director of Flora Mae, a London-based brand that handcrafts garments based on historical references using repurposed fabrics. Over the past year her ‘Verona’ bloomers have become the most popular item on her site. Her customers span New York to London, are aged between 18-34 and have, as Sharp describes, a “strong interest in fashion history and sustainability.” That history charts the genesis of bloomers back to Amelia Bloomer, a New York born suffragist who, during the 1850s, inspired women to free themselves from tight-fitting corsets and crinolines and instead wear shortened dresses over Turkish-style pantaloons. In 1851, American suffragists drew international attention to the style when they wore bloomers to the World’s Peace Congress in London. It sparked wide backlash, with “Bloomerites” harassed and arrested on the street. Bloomer later reflected that the fury surrounding them was symbolic, it hinted at the larger-scale “usurpation of the rights of man.” While other historical garments, including corsets and even chainmail, have re-emerged as modern trends, Sharp says bloomers are the first to have “an element of comfortability.” Her £65 versions are based on original Victorian designs but adapted for today. “Antique examples often have an impractical ‘split leg’ feature, are unrealistically small at the waist, and can be made of very fine cotton, making them see-through.” Using vintage cotton, Sharp adds an elasticated waist and an adjustable drawstring bow detail around the ankles in order to fit a wider range of bodies. Fans seem to enjoy their versatility. Sharp says that they appeal to people “increasingly drawn to experimental and subversive styling”. They have “the potential to be layered in different ways, peeking from underneath a skirt as they may have been worn in the 19th century, or as a statement piece on their own.” One thing to consider before donning the bloomer? Passerbys might still think it’s blooming mad. | 