CHANTELLE HISTORY
The company Gamichon was first created in 1876 by the great uncle of the current president Patrice Kretz. The company established themselves as a key manufacturer of corsets. Their innovation at the company’s inception was replacing whalebone and metal with comfortable elastic fibers in turn of the century corsets.
In 1950, the brand Chantelle was created and was a name trademarked by Mr. Jules Gamichon, the founder of the original company. Claude Kretz the grandson of Jules Gamichon spearheaded the creation of the Chantelle brand. The Chantelle brand initially established themselves as a leader in stretch shapewear products (formally known as girdles).
As the market for bras evolved the brand Chantelle evolved with it launching in the 60's and 70's some of their first icon bras which are still being sold today as Fete, Defi and Tamaris. Notably Tamaris, still a number one style at fine department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Specialty stores across the country.
Starting in 1962, the company took the initiative to expand internationally opening their first fully owned subsidiary in Germany. Today, Chantelle has 13 fully owned subsidiaries across the globe including Sweden, Italy, Taiwan, Spain etc.
In the 80's and 90's, The Group Chantelle continued to evolve and develop into the worlds largest French manufacturer of lingerie with the creation of brands Passionata and Darjeeling, forecasted to reach 100 stores in France in 2005 and international expansion in 2006.
Chantelle continues to design, manufacture, and distribute their own product. The company maintains their own factories which pride themselves on their level of innovation and quality control. Product is still manufactured with a savoir-faire of French tradition combined with the latest industry technologies. Strict material and fit checks are consistently performed to ensure customer satisfaction.
Today, Chantelle has become a leader in the smooth basics category, a specific need for the American woman. Their T-shirt bras (Smooth, seamless bras with a fiber fill padding throughout the cup for shaping and invisibility in one) are of the highest quality and comfort and offer fit like no other.
In the US market, Chantelle is an authority on fit, quality, and comfort for all sizes up to a 44G. Chantelle employs a team of 20 fit specialists who work across the country fitting and educating women on the benefits of great fitting lingerie which enhances a woman's beauty, confidence, self-image, and the overall look of her clothing.
|
