THE BRITS IN PARIS!

The UK Fashion and Textile Association is delighted to be back in Paris for the Salon International de la Lingerie and Interfilière, with 14 UK businesses: Coco de Mer, Fleur of England, Heist Studios, Elomi, Lemonade, Nudea, Pongees, Posie Lingerie, Simplex Knitting, Studio Pia, The Under Argument, Underdays, Wacoal Europe and Wuka. As part of its Global Brands campaign, UKFT is coordinating the promotion of the UK group exhibiting this January in Paris with the support of the Department for International Trade (DIT).

Salon International de la Lingerie will be held as usual at Porte de Versailles in Paris, alongside the show Interfilière, the lingerie, fabrics and trimmings show.

The UKFT has been a regular feature of Salon de la Lingerie and Who’s Next, a major fashion trade show for womenswear in Europe. Including the 15 UK businesses exhibiting at Who’s Next, a total of 29 companies will be at the trade fairs held at Porte de Versailles this season.

The UK has a long and vibrant history of lingerie design and development, while remaining at the forefront of sustainable and ethical practices. World leading lingerie and foundation garment courses have supported this industry, including the Contour Fashion Course at De Montfort University in Leicester and other institutions linked to the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire manufacturing sectors.

Paul Alger MBE, director of international business at UKFT commented:

UKFT is delighted to see this first group returning to the Salon International de la Lingerie and Interfilière Paris after what feels like an especially long absence. UK lingerie designers and manufacturers have developed new business models and styles during the pandemic, but this there is still keen interest in working with wholesale customers and agents from around the world and these shows are the best place to meet them.

Bringing Salon and Interfiliere together with Who’s Next makes a lot of sense for the lingerie industry and offers great potential for lingerie companies to show their expertise to other parts of the mainstream fashion industry. Realistically, it may take a few seasons to bed down as this juxtaposition of fashion and lingerie is new but I am confident that the experienced lingerie team will make this work.”

BRANDS AT A GLANCE

All the brands below are in Hall 4 at the Porte de Versailles

Coco de Mer – a firm favourite since 2001 producing luxury lingerie and erotica. Stand G40

Elomi – a pioneer for the fuller figure community in both lingerie and swimwear – sizing goes up to K cup.  Stand E05

Fleur of England – Fleur personally designs the collections, sourcing all fabrics and supervising all fittings.  Exposed Area

 

Heist Studios – foundation garments inspiring confidence and kindness including tights and shapewear. Exposed Area

Lemonade – inclusive and ethically sourced bras and panties for all shapes and sizes (UK6 to 24) with only soft cup ranges and a special range for transgender and non-binary customers. Stand F59

Nudea – a newcomer to the Paris Show, the brand offers creative and supportive lingerie which is kind to the planet and manufactured in Portugal. Stand E65

Posie – Posie Upshall founded her namesake company that perfectly fuses her two passions – lingerie and sustainability.

Studio Pia – ethical and truly luxurious lingerie – cruelty free, organic in peace silk with sustainability front, back and centre to the company. Exposed Area

The Under Argument – an empowering lingerie brad launched in 2015 as a platform of women to open up and share their life experiences. Exposed Area

Underdays – a new market entry with a vision to combine functional underwear that does not compromise on style and reducing its impact on the environment. Exposed Area

Wacoal Europe – part of the Wacoal group, the brand creates lingerie and shapewear in contemporary designs. First launched in 1949 in Japan the brand is now truly international offering wide range of back and cup sizes. Stand E05

WUKA – female led start up making the UK’s first ever reusable and leak-proof period wear aka ‘Wake Up Kick Ass’: a body positive and sustainable brand. Stand F67

Pongees – UK based regular at Interfiliere with a full range of silks, tulles, chiffons, crepes, doupions and organzas and an extensive range of plain dyed, embroidered and jacquard silks. Customer Shertienne Lee from the London College of Fashion with her collection Ethereal won the MarediModa Link contest in Cannes last November using Pongees silk chiffon changeant. Stand E114

Simplex Knitting – proud UK manufacturer of knitted fabrics with elastic tricots, powernets, tulles, satins and meshes, all fabric is knitted and custom dyed to order in the UK and they offer a sublimation printing service. Stand E118

 

 * Illustration by Bok Goodall