Chantelle (lingerie)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Lingerie, Textile |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Founder | François Auguste Gamichon |
| Headquarters | France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Lingerie, bras, girdles, swimwear, casual wear |
| Owner | Groupe Chantelle |
| Website | www |
Chantelle is a lingerie label owned by Groupe Chantelle, a French enterprise established in 1876 by François Auguste Gamichon. Renowned for its innovation in elastic knitwear, Chantelle grew its reputation through the patented 'Kretz tulle' fabric, originally developed for corsetry and subsequently adapted for bras. The Kretz family has overseen the company since the early twentieth century.
History
- 1876: The company was founded specializing in elastic knit manufacturing.
- Early 1900s: In 1902, Maurice Kretz, Gamichon's nephew, began producing elastic corsets.
- 1930s: Jean Kretz, a textile engineer, enhanced weaving techniques to develop "Kretz tulle," an elastic textile.
- 1940s: Claude Kretz applied "Kretz tulle" to girdles; the Chantelle brand was officially launched in 1949.
- 1950s: The Chantelle girdle was introduced with the tagline "the girdle that stays in place," aligning with fashion movements such as Dior's New Look.
- 1960s: Under Claude Kretz's leadership, Chantelle unveiled its initial bra collection and inaugurated a bra production facility in Epernay in 1962.
- 1970s: The "Défi" bra, the first molded design, was released in 1972.
- 1980s: The "Vertige" bra, featuring a sheer material and plunging neckline, debuted in 1983 as one of the earliest models of its kind.
- 2000s: The brand shifted attention toward invisible lingerie and T-shirt bras, promoting collections like "Africa" and "Graphie."
- 2010s: Casual wear lines incorporating Spacer and Memory foam technologies were launched to improve comfort and flexibility.
Iconic Products
- 1972: Introduction of the "Défi" bra – a pioneering molded and seamless design focused on enhanced bust support.
- 1982: Launch of the "Les chéris" range, representing a fresh approach to sensuality.
- 1983: Release of the transparent "Vertige" bra with a deep neckline, marketed by Jacques Séguéla.
- 1999: Presentation of the "Hedona" molded bra, reflecting changing preferences among women.
- 2013: Expansion into swimwear with the inaugural Spring/Summer collection.