Launched in June last year, Nissé is a French lingerie brand with sustainability and the well-being of the wearer at its core. Founder Imane do Vale swapped a career in finance for one in fashion after the birth of her first child, a turning point which made her begin to think more critically about the materials we put against our bodies on a daily basis.
With Nissé, she wanted to create a lingerie line that combined style with a “respect for women’s health”, and that meant only using fabrics certified as safe such as via the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. After meeting with numerous suppliers and attending numerous textile fairs, she finally found the perfect option to form the basis of her debut collection: a bio-based polyamide made from castor oil.
Castor oil plants are hardy shrubs that can thrive even in arid land; requiring very little water and no pesticides, they’re a much more environmentally-friendly alternative to petrochemical-based polyamides. The resulting fabric – which is produced in Italy – is soft, lightweight, hypoallergenic and odor-resistant, and the castor oil-based component of it is biodegradable too.
Titled Essential, Nissé’s first collection combines this castor oil microfiber with European-sourced tulles and laces, plus hypoallergenic Zamak hardware, to create a range of three all-black looks that combine everyday practicality with a touch of chic French styling.
Athena is a longline bra that blends sporty influences with a graphic lace made with regenerated polyamide. Rajaa is a plunge bra which frames the neckline with a luxurious, eyelash-edged Calais-Caudry lace that’s 80% cotton. And Amalia offers a wirefree option – a minimalist triangle bra with just a hint of sheer tulle along the neckline. All of the matching bottoms, in typical French style, have a very cheeky cut that adds a little spice to the look.
All of Nissé’s lingerie is manufactured locally in France at the Chantelle workshop, and priced from 55-65€ (approx. $60-70) for bottoms and 145-165€ (approx. $160-180) for bras. The debut size range covers US 32A-36D and clothing sizes 4-10; do Vale has previously noted that she is working on new styles to suit DD+ cup sizes.
