16 ~ North Shore News — Sunday, August 13, 2000 photo Boma Gear , THE city’s hottest bombers (graffiti artists) have gone . undercover. Bomma Gear features their designs. “NATIVE JEWELLERY WEDDING RINGs” - 441 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver 988-9215 Beverly at Hair Design 986 1818 “Must be a fl time or night sh stuciont ages | 13-20. STUDENT 1D. REQUIRED. Experience of Hair Free Skin. Awaits You and most effective: .- technologies to Suit. Col the rei oli sie id if ~ Skin kn Resurfacing © Foy Memishes, fine ends feet, seth ahs Vericose and Spider Vein’ © Revolutionary technique using hsers. . . DERMAL LASER CENTRES . . 926-2609 ; kintien Medical Cente FASHION Home-grown thongs accentuate comfort | From previous page Evelyn Dowkes’ quest for a decent pair of underpants led her to reinvent the thong. With the help of interna- tionally recognized lingerie designer Patricia Fieldwalker, Dowkes, a North Van resi- dent, has launched Evelina Incimates. Her unique thong design, available in white or black, sizes small, medium or large, is more comfort- able than anything else on the market, she says. And Dowkes has done her research. A longtime fan of the butt-baring undergarment — cut away in the rear to avoid VPLs (visible panty lines) — she’s worn the skimpy scivvies since 1979, “I used to buy them from the Love Nest when the strippers were buying them, laughs Dowkes, 51. “Next thing I knew, 10 years later it (the thong) had hit the mainstream.” The fashion for body- conscious clothing had cre- ated a néed for thong (also called G-string) underwear, and the racy style had become widely available. There were more varieties of thongs to choose from, says Dowkes, who ticketed plenty of pairs during her 17-year career in retail, working for stores like Wal- Mart, Sears and Woolco. But most styles were cut too close for comfort. So ” ’ Dowkes designed a pair in a comfortable cotton/Spandex ’ blend that is cut wider in the gusset and in the back. ... This month she started selling the Evelina thong to friends for $17.54 apiece _ (that’s $20 inciuding tax). “I've washed them, worn showcase the best in - back-to-school fashions during a weekend event _ this month. ~~. On Saturday, Aug. 26 and Sunday, Aug.-27, from 1 to’4 p.m. both days, the shopping centre will present 2 fashion show featuring clothing from them to dinner, played ten- nis in them and worn them sitting in the theatre,” she says. Dowkes, who is a trim size 8, is convinced that even larger ladies will find them comfortable. Dowkes has run through about $8,000 of her $16,000 initial investment in her small-business venture, designing and testing the product, developing a logo, hang tag, and packaging. She says she’s prepared if the business doesn’t take off. “If nothing happens, at least I have really good underwear for myself,” she jokes. About 600 pairs of underwear, she estimates. After an initial run of 480 units, Dowkes paid the thong’s Vancouver-based manufacturer for a second run of 147 thongs in medi- um black. Already she’s sold about two dozen pairs to friends _and colleagues. Interested parties can place an order by phone, 986-3772, or email, . Gear for girls Amanda Ball has given intimate apparel a street- ~ _savvy edge. The 21-year-old “Bomma Momma” has com- missioned several of the country’s top bombers (graf- fiti artists) to design the graphics screen-printed on a line of cotton/Lycra bikini briefs and thongs. Thongs, in black or white, Small or Medium, and bikini briefs, in black or grey, Medium or Large, are $22. Not yet available in stores,’ on the North Shore, shop- pers can order them online at or find them at The..:: Underground on Granville: [ba Mall shows style CAPILANO Mall will a variety of mall merchants, including Ricki’s, Bootlegger, Smart: Set,- Thrifty’s, * Suzy Shier, Le. Chateau, Blue Line Sports, Superstar and Au Coton. ; The show will take place on four separate stages in the mall’s: atrium area. A $250~ gift certificate will be awarded | each day. “Took ve us in NORTH Van's Evelyn Dowkes has crested what she calls “the ultimate thong,” cut wider for added comfort eHaaNomeeT RE EML Rae oe Pea Re Rede deena Village in. 7 2 ADE FER IS NOT-COMMINED. WITH ANY OTHER t PhuiuticioR be’ eeu Geen. * Zellers. "Beanie Babies may have captured little girls’... "hearts. But Barbie ‘is -: poised fora ‘comeback. Little Se can’ p: : P preen with Barbie. body’ glit-' . tery: HP balm,” and shimmie: All products” are? price from $2.99. ta $12.99 “and available. soon at “Sho; Drug : Mart, ° Wal-Mart: = Layne Ch ens ~ iageom i: every Wednesday if in the News. 988-293 1.110 Fel Ave, Noth Vancouver