Noblesse Oblige: 10 Years of Everyday Opulence

By ESTELLE PULESTON

If you’re a fan of creative, late 2000s to early 2010s indie brand lingerie, Igor Pacemski is probably a designer you’ve seen the work of, even if you don’t know his name. He founded the edgy and avant-garde brand Yes Master in 2004. Today, he runs Noblesse Oblige, a size-inclusive lingerie label designed for the woman who enjoys wearing understated yet luxurious things on a daily basis.

One of the few men at the helm of an independently owned lingerie company, Pacemski didn’t originally set out to design intimate apparel. He actually studied quantum chemistry while working in menswear retail to pay the bills, which led to a job at Coco de Mer where he would fall in love with the industry.

“Who know walking in that smokey, red Zuber wallpaper-covered boudoir so close to my beloved Soho would shape my life forever. The job chose me as it were” he recalls.

He describes the two brands he created, Yes Master and Noblesse Oblige, as “intrinsically connected” through a sense of regal opulence. However, while Yes Master focused much more on extravagant, painstakingly-crafted things – $3,000 dressing gowns, for example – Noblesse Oblige is designed for today’s fast-paced world in which customers demand luxury they can order online and receive within days.

Most garments, therefore, are manufactured in advance at various locations. Pacemski works very closely with factories in Serbia and Turkey – “I personally know every single human being involved in the process”, he says – with some items produced at a small atelier in Istanbul. And then there’s the brand’s own studio in Skopje, North Macedonia where, as he puts it, “the couture magic happens”.

His collection includes a wide selection of bra and bralette sets typically in lace or lace-trimmed silk-blend satin, plus a loungewear range designed for the modern era of ‘lingerie dressing’ with designs that can be seamlessly incorporated into a person’s day-to-day wardrobe. Think elegantly draped camisoles, cute romper suits you could wear to the beach, and a striking backless jumpsuit with open-sided legs that’s every bit as ‘special occasion’ as it is ‘comfy lounging’.

There’s a lot on the website that feels quite classic and sophisticated, but head to the small Couture collection, and you’ll see that Noblesse Oblige has a very playful side too. Here you’ll find designs such as silk briefs with enormous side ties and a lavishly bead-covered front panel, and the Show Stopper Jacket made from metallic animal-print inspired lace and with full feather sleeves. If you enjoy lingerie that’s a little bit ‘out there’, you won’t want to miss the swan print coming in FW25!

For now, this Couture collection is where the spirit of Yes Master resides while the label itself is on hiatus. But perhaps one day it will make a standalone return. In the meantime, Pacemski is focused on growing Noblesse Oblige, which last month celebrated a decade in business. “Above all,” he says, “I want the label to continue to be fresh, to evolve and to remain inclusive and as sustainable as humanly possible.”

Noblesse Oblige lingerie is priced from $24 to $180 in the mainline range or $102 to $1,195 for Couture creations. Sizes run from XS to 4XL, fitting AA-GG cups.

Contact information:

Website: https://noblesseoblige-lingerie.com/

Instagram: @noblesse_oblige_lingerie

Email: info@noblesseoblige-lingerie.com

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