By ESTELLE PULESTON
Based by Lucienne Rutherford, Luciela is a self-described ‘eco luxe’ model that’s primarily based in Spain, manufactured in Portugal, and made utilizing solely European-sourced sustainable supplies.
Like so many different designers earlier than her, Rutherford had the concept for Luciela when she wasn’t capable of finding what she needed in shops. It wasn’t that they have been missing in stunning designs, however so most of the briefs on provide featured elastic waistbands that will at all times dig in – her lingerie pet hate – and the laser-cut or lace-trimmed options felt both too fundamental or too ubiquitous. There was a niche, she felt, for designs that have been each sleek-fitting and trendy.
It took 4 years to analysis and develop the model’s debut assortment, which she did whereas persevering with in her company profession. Working in vogue was one thing solely new to her, and it was solely when she started to work on Luciela – diving into every little thing from print design to cloth sourcing for the primary time – that she realized concerning the business’s detrimental affect on the setting.
Whereas Rutherford vowed to do higher, starting by rigorously learning the sustainability credentials of every little thing she thought-about shopping for, “it made an amazing problem virtually inconceivable,” she says, “5 years in the past the lingerie business supplied only a few sustainable choices, and the minimums have been astronomical.” However she was decided. All the materials she lastly chosen are OEKO-TEX licensed, and each element is both recycled or biodegradable.
Her product vary makes use of a Cradle-to-Cradle licensed compostable elastane for instance, and she or he says that Luciela was even the very first model in Spain to spend money on a brand new elastic edging made with a fully-biodegradable polyamide. “Recycled supplies are the commonest and most available,” she says, “however I do imagine that biodegradable synthetics are the longer term.”
Moreover, in step with the rising development for and demand for transparency from clothes firms, the Luciela web site clearly breaks down each the precise composition and the nation of origin for every particular person element in each garment.
The model provides quite a lot of stylish triangle bralettes, lacy briefs, wirefree bodysuits and delicate, floaty nightwear in clear materials. As per her authentic imaginative and prescient, all the form-fitting items are designed to have a really smooth, no-dig match – there aren’t any tightly-cinched waistbands right here!
What you will discover are loads of trendy backs, fascinating coloration mixtures and layering-ready items, giving the gathering wonderful lingerie as outerwear styling potential. It’s a sweetly female, floral-filled product vary in a palette of pastels and jade inexperienced, all primarily based round three prints: Wisteria, Poppy and Thistle.
In an effort to present Luciela an unique and signature look, all prints are designed in-house. Rutherford begins with a temper board, then collaborates with a print designer who works each digitally and in watercolor to assist rework her idea into a material. The printing course of itself is digital, making certain a lot decrease water consumption than conventional dyeing strategies.
Whereas she initially simply needed to create fairly, smooth-fitting underwear for herself, it seems Rutherford actually has a ardour for entrepreneurship. So final 12 months, she left behind her profession in gross sales administration to focus all of her efforts on Luciela, although there’s no want to develop the model right into a family identify. For this model proprietor, success means constructing a sluggish vogue, boutique firm that can at all times be capable of ship on exclusivity, high quality, and most significantly, sustainability.
The debut Luciela assortment is obtainable in sizes XS to XL, and costs run from 50€-280€ or roughly $52-$289. If you happen to’re not a fan of florals, it’s nonetheless one to look at; Rutherford notes that assortment quantity two might be “fairly completely different… a extra uncommon theme, though nonetheless vibrant.”
Contact data:
Instagram: @luciela_lingerie
Electronic mail: contact@lucielalingerie.com
See Extra Featured Designers within the Gallery on Lingerie Briefs
