Seam and Heard: Vinh Luong and May Leung, Designers of Spreegirl

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It's a team effort—a combination of Vinh Luong's two years of world travels after quitting her job as a teacher(!) and May Leung's lifelong manufacturing experience (parents owned a sewing factory)—which comes together in the form of Spreegirl, the lingerie brand the sisters founded three years ago. The flirty, youthful collections take nostalgia from your grandmother’s undergarment of yore, adding patterns from South Africa and Turkey on bamboo and coconut fibers, and finishing it off with a modern twist. The label's also incredibly affordable, with pieces ranging around $10-$40.

What inspired your latest collection?
Patterns and colors from nature, nostalgic memories from your childhood.

Who’s the quintessential Spreegirl-woman?
The California girl at her best—she’s a free spirit, loves the outdoors and nature, but at the same time is very sophisticated and cosmopolitan, a traveler at heart.

Who’s your favorite LA designer?
Development, Jeffrey [Sebelia] from Project Runway.

Who’s your favorite designer overall?
The young Thai designers who sell at the weekend market in Bangkok because they’re so funky and fresh; Stella McCartney.

What are the advantages of working in LA over working in NYC?
You have everything here that you have in NYC plus you have a lot more space, physically as well as psychologically. There’s more room for experimenting here.

What’s your go-to shopping spot in LA?
Sunset Junction.

What’s the season’s must-have item?
The romper because it’s so versatile.

The season’s-not-under-any-circumstances-don’t care if you’re Katie Holmes or Scarlett Johansson-have item?
Crocs

Spreegirl is available at revolveclothing.com. Photos by Christina von Messling. Makeup by Tania D. Russell/Makeupwerks.com using Smashbox Cosmetics.