Introducing Lumey, An Artistic Interpretation of Lingerie
By ESTELLE PULESTON
One of the most exciting new brands I spotted at the Salon International de la Lingerie back in January was Lumey. With a stall full of pieces that were all-black but far from boring, it really caught my eye – especially when I took a closer look and saw how interesting some of the silhouettes were too.
Officially launched on November 14th in Paris’ luxurious Cheval Blanc hotel, the brand is the work of art and lingerie loving friends Elodie Houillon Lumière and Sophie Ramedace Mahey, the former an engineer and the latter an interior architect.
“I have always worked in highly male-dominated environments, where dress codes were strict and left little room for personal expression. Lingerie was my only touch of fantasy,” says Elodie, who also explained that she was tired of their joint shopping excursions offering up fewer options for her fuller bust size, “I often struggled to find pieces that truly met my expectations: elegant, sensual, and modern designs, luxurious materials like silk, and cuts that suited my curvier figure.”
She proposed that the pair join forces and create a brand that brought together their passions for great lingerie and inspiring art, as well as combining their unique skill sets. They may neither have had a background in contour fashion but, as Elodie explains it, they still both had plenty to bring to the table:
“Sophie, as an interior architect, brings a bold and conceptual perspective. She enjoys playing with shapes and volumes. As an engineer, I take a more technical and pragmatic approach. I focus on the structural and technical constraints.”
The result is a well-thought-out balance of creativity and wearability – styles that make a statement while still delivering on fit and function. Quality, too. Everything is crafted from European-made fabrics, especially, of course, ones made locally in France which is also where the lingerie itself is constructed.
As for the monotone color palette, that’s just the debut collection. Titled Schoelcher, it pays tribute to painters who work with the color black, which Elodie describes as “expressive, powerful and mysterious”. Just like the artists that inspired them play with texture, Lumey selected a mix of light-absorbing matte fabrics and reflective satin ones, for not-so-plain black garments that are still full of interesting dimension.
Take their graphic flocked tulle for example, which is the thing that initially drew my attention at their booth in Paris. It’s a mix of sheer and opaque, of flat and raised texture. And it gets even more interesting when placed alongside glossy silk and a skin-baring cut out in the bandeau bra and brief set.
Other highlights from Schoelcher include an asymmetric, one-sleeved top patchworked together from opaque, sheer and sheer-with-stitched-on-stripes fabrics, a similarly-asymmetric bodysuit with pleated satin bust detailing on a plain matte background, and a structured crop top and skirt set in a mix of solid lycra and translucent cotton jersey.
“Our goal is to reinvent the concept of intimate apparel, offering pieces that do more than just look beautiful—they tell a story”, explains Elodie.
These are modern, innovative pieces you’ll want to show off, and luckily, much of the collection is easily able to be styled as outerwear. In the future, the duo has plans to expand the range out by adding activewear and swimwear too.
For now, you can shop the lingerie on the Lumey website where garments are priced from 90€ to 510€ (approx. $97 to $550) and sizes range from EU 34-44 / US 4-14 and US bra sizes 30B to 36DD.
Contact information:
Website: https://lumeyparis.com/
Instagram: @lumeyparis
Email: elodie@lumeyparis.com
See More Featured Designers in the Gallery on Lingerie Briefs
