Intimate Apparel

Intimate Apparel tells the story of Esther Mills, a hard-working, independent black seamstress in 1905 Manhattan, who crafts exquisite undergarments for ladies. The complexity, richness and intimacy of her work mirror her business relationships with a wealthy uptown socialite, a downtown prostitute and a Jewish fabric merchant. All share a common thread of desire and disappointment. At 35, Esther’s own longing for love leads her to a poetic courtship by mail with a mysterious Caribbean laborer and alters the very fabric of her life.