Set in 1905 New York City, Intimate Apparel follows Esther, a Black seamstress who earns her living crafting undergarments for a wide range of clients—from wealthy white women to sex workers. Despite her success and the intimate role she plays in the lives of others, Esther leads a solitary existence and yearns for love and companionship.

She begins exchanging letters with George, a laborer working on the Panama Canal, who proposes marriage before they have ever met. As their relationship progresses by mail, Esther also forms a quiet connection with Mr. Marks, a Hasidic fabric seller whose shared appreciation for fine cloth hints at a deeper, unspoken bond.

Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, Intimate Apparel explores themes of longing, identity, and the search for dignity and connection in a divided society. Esther’s journey unfolds with emotional complexity as she confronts the choices available to her and the truths she must face.