Slow fashion lingerie: small batches and handmade pieces

Slow fashion lingerie is lingerie produced in small quantities, where you know who made it and with what, and which is designed to last. That is the approach at atelier culotté: pieces designed and sewn by hand by a single designer, in small batches.

What is slow fashion in lingerie?

Slow fashion stands against the logic of fast fashion: collections constantly renewed, produced in large quantities, designed to be replaced quickly. Slow fashion takes the opposite view: make less, make it better, and be more transparent about it.

Applied to lingerie, the approach comes down to a few simple principles:

• short runs rather than massive stock;
• manufacturing where you know the place and the hands;
• identified fabrics;
• pieces built to be worn for a long time, and cared for so they last.

Lingerie lends itself particularly well to this: these are pieces worn right against the skin, almost every day, and their comfort depends on the quality of the cut and the making.

Small collections, by choice

In the workshop, the rule fits in two sentences: “Small collections that mean more. Less quantity, more quality.”

It shows in the shop. Each collection has a name (EXPRESSO, 50 NUANCES, KITTY, GRRR, VALENTINE, CARMELIA) and comes in just a few designs. Some pages show “Last pieces”, and some sizes are sold out. The CARMELIA triangle, in red and pink lace shaded with sheer areas, is even presented as a “very limited collection”.

Another consequence of making by hand: slight variations in cut, shade or finish may exist between two copies of the same design. It is not a flaw, it is the mark of a piece made one at a time.

Knowing who makes your lingerie, and with what

Transparency is a pillar of slow fashion. At atelier culotté, it comes through three concrete pieces of information.

The person. Every piece is imagined, drawn and made by Chloé, a pattern maker by profession, in her workshop in Andoins, in the Béarn. Her story is told on The Brand page.

The time. Each label states how long it took to design the piece you are wearing.

The fabric. Each product page gives the origin of the fabric: a Turkish fabric for the EXPRESSO lace, a fabric from Germany for the 50 NUANCES floral lace, a European fabric for the 100% cotton KITTY and GRRR jersey, a French fabric for the swimwear.

Ethical lingerie: what can actually be claimed

The word “ethical” is often used without proof. The atelier culotté product pages do not mention any label: what they give are facts you can check for yourself. The place of manufacture, the origin of each fabric, the exact composition, the care instructions, the sizes worn by the models in the photos.

That is probably the best way to approach ethical lingerie: not as a promise, but as a set of clear information that lets you choose with full knowledge.

Pieces designed to last

A slow fashion piece only makes sense if it is worn for a long time. Several construction details point that way:

• a 100% cotton gusset on the briefs, thongs and tanga bloomers;
• a back fastening with 3 settings on the 50 NUANCES bralette;
• adjustable straps on several designs, including the EXPRESSO draped top;
• fully lined swimwear, with no sheerness, on several designs.

Lifespan also depends on care. The lingerie pages give the same instructions: wash at 40°C maximum, no bleach, no tumble dryer, iron at a low temperature, and always wash the piece before wearing it. They are all gathered in Caring for your lingerie and swimwear.

Buy less, combine better

Slow fashion encourages choosing pieces that go together rather than multiplying purchases. At atelier culotté, tops and bottoms are sold separately: you choose each piece in its own size and put your set together.

Some pieces are designed for more than one use. The EXPRESSO draped top was designed as a 2-in-1: “by day with jeans & by night with its matching briefs”. The 50 NUANCES bralette can also be worn under a sheer shirt.

The lingerie bottoms section brings together the briefs, tanga bloomers and thongs, to pair with tops from the same collection or another one. For more pairing ideas, read Putting a set together.

Frequently asked questions

What is slow fashion lingerie?

It is lingerie produced in small quantities, in known conditions, with identified fabrics, and designed to last. At atelier culotté, every piece is designed and sewn by hand in the Andoins workshop.

Why are some sizes sold out?

The collections are produced in small batches, by choice. When a size runs out, the product page says so; if in doubt, you can write to the designer from the Contact page.

Are two pieces of the same design identical?

Not quite. As each piece is sewn by hand, slight variations in cut, shade or finish may exist between two copies.

How do I make lace lingerie last?

Follow the instructions on the product page: wash at 40°C maximum, no bleach, no tumble dryer, iron at a low temperature. Also wash the piece before wearing it for the first time.