Are the launch of high street lingerie collections a threat to the branded market?
- Cachet hits Macclesfield
Pour Moi? designer Michael Thomson recently unveiled his second foray into retail with the opening of lingerie boutique Cachet in the Cheshire market town of Macclesfield
Cachet, which follows Thomson’s acquisition of his first lingerie boutique, Putti, in
Wilmslow, is located in the historic town’s Chestergate in a grade II listed building.
Originally the stables for the town’s castle, the four-roomed premises boast original
features such as beams and stone floors. “We’ve been getting a complete mix of ages through the door with younger girls going for the colourful ranges, while we’ve been lucky to pick up on an older customer who used to visit Gaydons opposite, which recently closed down,” says Thomson.” Having taken on fully trained staff from Gaydons, and carrying a brand portfolio including Pour Moi?, Triumph, Lejaby, Elle Macpherson Intimates, Freya, Fantasie. 
Wolford raises the fashion stakesIt’s a brand that has a long and proud hosiery history – but these days, Wolford is as much about lifestyle as it is about legwear. From its headquarters in the west Austrian town of Bregenz, the brand has been working towards providing a fully coordinating offer for the past 18 years, vigorously extending its expertise to incorporate all facets of women’s fashion – and for 2007, everything is set to come together rather nicely. The move towards “lifestyle” has been a meticulous one. Bodywear, lingerie and swimwear were introduced during the 1990s, and have proved successful growth areas in
recent years. And, following the appointment of Holger Dahmen as chief executive of Wolford’s management board in charge of sales, production, development and quality in January 2004, the brand has been implementing several changes to reposition it as a fully comprehensive fashion label. Proof of the brand’s long-term commitment to this
repositioning can be seen in its recent link-up with British fashion designer Antonio Berardi, whose influence was already evident in a few of the feminine shirts and blouses for a/w 2006. But it is in his first full collection for s/s 2007, officially launched in Vienna in July, where the haute couture touch really shines through.
IN THE HOT SEATThe Swedish supermodel and designer of lingerie brand Very Victoria Silvstedt talks about boots, hosting Wheel of Fortune in France, and introducing a tax-free year.
What achievement are you most
Immodesty BlaizeSince becoming a full-time burlesque performer five years ago,Immodesty Blaize has spearheaded the renaissance of the British burlesque scene.
