Breaking the Mold: Susie Taaffe on Reinventing Shapewear & Empowering Women
In this inspiring podcast episode, Skanties founder and CEO Susie Taaffe shares her remarkable journey of transforming the shapewear industry and redefining how women experience comfort and confidence.
From Life’s Challenges to a Global Movement
When Susie's marriage unexpectedly ended, she found herself as a single mother to three young children under five, facing one of the toughest challenges of her life. Instead of letting this setback define her, she turned it into an opportunity for reinvention. Leveraging her engineering background and fashion manufacturing expertise, she developed Pettipants Underwear by Missy Massy in Australia, which later evolved into Skanties, a brand now making waves in the U.S.
The Anti-Shapewear Revolution
Unlike traditional shapewear that compresses, constricts, and alters body shapes, Skanties is designed to work with the body, not against it. Susie’s mission is clear: help women embrace their natural form, reject unrealistic beauty standards, and prioritize comfort without sacrificing confidence.
Recognition & Impact
Susie’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Under her leadership, Missy Massy was a finalist in the Championing Health category at the 2023 Telstra Business Awards, and she was honored with the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant in 2022. Her work has also been recognized by New York Weekly, Grazia, The NYC Journal, A Women’s Bible, and ‘Tude Talk TV.
Empowering Women Through Fashion
Beyond just creating an innovative product, Susie is on a mission to help women reclaim their feminine power. She believes in fashion that celebrates the body rather than forcing it into unnatural shapes. As she expands Skanties in the U.S. and beyond, her commitment to self-love, resilience, and empowerment remains at the core of her business.
💡 “Setbacks are a really great place to start.” – Susie Taaffe
🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode now and join the comfort revolution!
