Behind The Seams: A Trip To Sri Lanka

From Wicks founder, Lisa:

As many in the Wicks community are aware, I recently visited our factory in Sri Lanka. It was a trip that reminded me why I started Wicks: to create beautiful, functional, and ethically made lingerie that supports women, the planet, and small business at every step.

1. Perfecting the Fit | Expanding the Range

The first goal of the trip was to fine-tune our beloved high-waisted patterns based on customer feedback. Together with our production partners at Onivja, we refined the cut and comfort of our high-waisted styles and we even had a small run made so I could bring them home in my suitcase with more arriving soon.

• Anything But Basic Brief II — Dark Chocolate
  Moderate absorbency up to 15mL. This style now has a lower cut around the legs and higher waistband.

• Anything But Basic Brief II — Dusky Rose
  Part of our All Day Fresh range, this style features one absorbent layer and no waterproof layer. They're perfect for everyday wear. The same fit as the dark chocolate version: a lower cut around the legs and more coverage over the wearer's bottom.

• Emanate II — Shell
  Another addition to the All Day Fresh family, designed for gentle support and breathable comfort. This has the much-loved mesh paneling in the front, but also has the same high-waisted, high-comfort fit as the new Anything But Basic II.

While there, we also expanded our size range up to 5XL (equivalent to size 24) and so we can now proudly say we are moving towards size-inclusivity. From now, all new styles will have this expanded size range.

And, just a little preview — we’ve got a new Anything But Basic Brief II in black on the way, featuring an extended protection area in both the front and back. These will have high absorbency up to 30mL. 

2. A Smarter, More Sustainable Way Forward

One of the biggest challenges for small brands like Wicks is navigating high minimum order quantities (MOQs) for fabric. MOQs often force businesses to either overbuy or pay steep fees for not meeting the minimums. While in Sri Lanka, we found a solution that’s both financially and environmentally smarter: deadstock fabric.

Deadstock fabric is leftover material from luxury fashion houses. It's sold at a market and you can buy just a few rolls at a time. It's high quality, already produced, and waiting to be used. By repurposing it, we’re not only reducing textile waste but also supporting a more responsible approach to manufacturing. 

3. Checking In on Our Makers — Ethically and Personally

Another key purpose of the trip was to do due diligence on our production, because transparency and ethical manufacturing is something I think should be the norm. 

Our main factory partner, Onivja, is a small, family-run business of about 20 talented workers. They’re currently expanding to add another floor of sewing machine stations, and renovating the rooftop of the building to include solar panels and a space for workers to enjoy their lunch.

I can confirm that wages at Onivja are fair. They're above high-estimates for similar roles and having worked in the space for a week I can attest to normal hours (at 6pm sharp if you do a pirouette, the place will be empty and the lights off. I was happy to see it). Workers are paid extra for over-time, get paid leave and public holidays off. The factory space is breezy with big windows and filled with the chatter of work friends. In order to make sure I understood worker conditions fully, I also got in touch with a trusted HR contact in Sri Lanka who helped me understand what types of questions I should be asking.

We can confidently say: Wicks is ethically made. Every pair of underwear is produced by skilled people in fair, supportive conditions.

As Wicks grows, we’re also building relationships with larger factories that align with our values. One I visited with our current factory owner has around 1,000 workers and the same high ethical standards as Onivja, so when the time comes to scale, we’ll be ready without compromise.

4. Building Relationships for the Future

While there, I also met with the Chamber of Garment Exporters, an organisation that advocates for small and medium-sized manufacturers. Their mission is to help small factories connect directly with brands like ours, ensuring fairer pay and better conditions across the industry.

It’s a model that supports the idea of buying fewer things, but better things as a factory working directly with a brand (rather than through an agent) they can get paid more for a smaller order.

A Step Forward Together

Sri Lanka isn’t just where our products are made; it’s part of our story. Every tweak, every conversation, every partnership strengthens the foundation of Wicks, a brand built on comfort, ethics, and care. 

I came home inspired, proud, and ready for what’s next. Thank you for continuing to walk this journey with us.