SUSTAINABLE IS SEXY: HOW LORETTE TURNS LUXURY WASTE INTO TIMELESS LINGERIE
By: Erica Commisso
Parisian Laure Stromboni founded her lingerie brand, Lorette, in 2017, hoping to redefine the ways in which lingerie has long been offered. That said, Stromboni began to rethink designs that default to only either end of the ‘sexy versus comfortable’ scale.
“I think the lingerie industry is directly linked to how women view themselves in society. In the last five years, we have been seeing more comfortable clothing with the rise of athleisure and comfort wear, which is a trend that seems to be here to stay,” Stromboni explains. “Lingerie is also following this movement. We are seeing a lot of functionality, fit-focused, purpose driven pieces to accentuate the bust or the bottom of the body.”
Image Courtesy of Lorette
Lorette offers luxurious, sustainable pieces that blend comfort and artistic details, transcending traditional lingerie but still embracing the beauty of femininity in every form. Each collection is designed with sustainability in mind, intended to evoke sensations and experiences for women of every age and body type.
“Every woman is curious about lingerie at some point in their life,” Stromboni says. “We have young women who are looking to buy their first piece and need some recommendations and guidance. We also have mature women who know their bodies and what looks good on them and always go for the same pieces.”
Image Courtesy of Lorette
Lorette focuses on creating timeless pieces that transcend trend, using only carefully sourced, breathable and natural materials. "It’s about feeling comfortable, soft and strong at the same time,” Stromboni says. “Our designs are to be worn not just as lingerie, but as part of your morning ritual of getting dressed to reflect how you feel.”
Production of each piece takes place exclusively in Toronto, where Lorette first began, though Stromboni and the brand have since relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The brand offers fair living wages to everyone involved in the production process.
What’s more, each collection runs with small quantities to reduce overstock and waste, and every piece is made from high-quality fabrics that would otherwise be discarded. Lorette sources materials used in its lingerie from the couture houses of France and Italy, repurposing deadstock of luxury fabrics and embroideries to give them a new life. Using upcycled fabrics reduces the need for new production and transport, significantly decreasing Lorette’s carbon footprint.
Image Courtesy of Lorette
“There is already so much on the market that we don’t really need to create more items in the world.” Stromboni says. “The idea is to craft something meaningful that carries joy and good intentions. Our collections are small enough that we don’t create waste or over stock issues. We listen to our customers and their desires, and when a piece doesn’t sell, we always repurpose the fabric for other samples or create one-of-a-kind pieces.”
Stromboni hopes that Lorette’s work inspires women to interpret the art of lingerie in their own way, feeling free to be who they are, however they are. “I hope that women see the Lorette pieces as sensual and fresh with a freedom of movement and expression,” she says. It’s a mantra she believes should be applied to lingerie as a whole. “I want women to be inspired to find themselves in our pieces and reinterpret them their own way.”