Chantelle is a lingerie brand belonging to the
Groupe Chantelle, a French lingerie company founded in 1876 by François Auguste Gamichon. A pioneer in manufacturing elastic knits, the Chantelle brand grew thanks to the 'Kretz tulle' used first in its corsets, then in its bras. The Kretz family has owned the company since the 1900s.
History
* 1876: The company that would become Chantelle was founded at the end of the 19th century as a manufacturer of elastic knits.
* The 1900s: At the time, women's figures are still tightly corseted in dresses with a train. Maurice Kretz, François Auguste Gamichon's nephew, began to manufacture corsets made of elastic fabrics in 1902.
* The 1930s: The launch of the "little black dress" by
Chanel
Chanel ( , ) is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel in Paris. It is privately owned by French brothers, Alain and Gérard Wertheimer, through the holding company Chanel Limited, established in 2018 and headquarte ...
in
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ' ...
magazine in 1926 leads many women to "abandon" their corsets. Jean Kretz, a textile engineer and Maurice Kretz's son refines the weaving methods and launches "Kretz tulle", an elastic fabric.
* The 1940s: Claude Kretz, who has joined his father in the company, uses "Kretz tulle" to manufacture the first girdles. The Chantelle brand was first used in 1949.
* The 1950s:
New Look silhouettes, wasp waists, and pneumatic breasts appear; their icon is the American actress
Mae West
Mary Jane "Mae" West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, comedian, screenwriter, and playwright whose career spanned more than seven decades. Recognized as a prominent sex symbol of her time, she was known ...
. The Chantelle girdle, suppler and lighter than the corset, launches with the slogan: "Chantelle, the girdle that stays in place."
* The 1960s: On the eve of ready-to-wear, Chantelle launches its first bras under the impulse of Claude Kretz. In 1962, Chantelle opened its first bra manufacturing plant in
Epernay in the
Champagne
Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
region.
* The 1970s: Chantelle launched the "Défi" model in 1972, the very first molded bra.
* The 1980s: Chantelle launched the risque "Vertige" model in 1983, one of the first see-through and plunging neckline bras.
* The 2000s: Chantelle moves toward invisible products and T-shirt bras. Its "Women of the World" campaign highlights the "Africa" and "Graphie" lines.
* The 2010s: Chantelle launches a more casual line based on technologies offering freedom of movement and comfort, like Spacer and
Memory foam
Memory foam consists mainly of polyurethane with additional chemicals that increase its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as "viscoelastic" polyurethane foam, or low-resilience polyurethane foam ( LRPu). The foam bubbles or 'cells' ar ...
innovations.
Iconic Products
* 1972: Introduction of the "Défi" model onto the market – the first molded, seamless bra, prioritizing good support for the bust.
* 1982: Launch of the "Les chéris" collection, which evokes a new style of seduction.
* 1983: Chantelle dares to go see-through and offers a plunging neckline with "Vertige" supported by a campaign by Jacques Séguéla.
* 1999: The "Hedona" molded bra meets women's new expectations.
* 2013: Chantelle launches its first Swimwear collection for the Spring/Summer.
See also
*
Groupe Chantelle
References
External links
Chantelle Official WebsiteTan Through Swimwear
{{Authority control
French brands
Lingerie brands
Clothing companies of France
French companies established in 1876