Finally, tights that fit taller people – with a mission to reimagine inclusivity, design, and durability – Dauntless Legwear.
Dauntless is a premium, inclusive hosiery brand set to transform the fashion industry. The brand has just launched Tights for Taller People – the first style in its Dauntless Classic line – introducing a 40 denier staple designed specifically for those 5’7” and above.
Traditional hosiery sizing relies on Body Mass Index (BMI) – calculated from height and weight – a measure that can be misleading when used for hosiery design. BMI fails to distinguish between muscle, fat, and body proportions, often resulting in sizing systems that exclude many physiques. Developed primarily using data from Western male populations, BMI also overlooks the diversity of height, shape, and ethnicity found across society. To compensate, the industry has long leaned on elastane to stretch one size across multiple body types. For taller individuals this approach is particularly problematic – with too little material and too much reliance on stretch, tights are more prone to laddering. The result? Tights that tear, sag, roll, and lose shape easily – creating a cycle of waste in which most pairs are discarded after just a couple of wears.
Founder Brynn O’Connell says:
After years of feeling out of place in the many spaces I have been in during my career, I have never felt more fortunate than now, as I am finally able to build a company where our entire purpose is to make people feel comfortable. For too long both luxury fashion and tech have been predicated on exclusionary tactics.”
Dauntless has developed a proprietary, data-led approach to sizing, drawing on census data from 10 countries to model body shapes. Their research confirmed that height is a poor predictor of body shape, as it was only able to predict a respondent’s weight 22% of the time. From this, Dauntless identified that height should largely be treated as independent of weight when designing hosiery. The data instead revealed that the waist-to-hip ratio provides a far stronger basis for design, showing a 92% correlation and offering a more accurate foundation for fit.
Alongside its innovative sizing, Dauntless has created patent-pending textile technology. Using high-quality nylon and a reduced reliance on elastane, its tights are designed for better fit and durability.
Through this data-driven approach, Dauntless addresses both inclusivity and quality. While its first launch focuses on taller individuals, the long-term mission is to expand the range to cater for approximately 97% of the population.
Dauntless sizing is also unique, using gender-neutral names instead of traditional small, medium, or large. This shift puts the focus on fit, not gender, and reflects the brand’s mission to design products for every body. Customers can find their perfect fit with a 30-second Fit Quiz, based on sizing from 37 popular denim and dress brands.
From rethinking how tights are designed to reshaping the luxury shopping experience, Dauntless is built on a mission to help everyone feel their most dauntless.
