(Filed Under wholesale Lingerie News). Launched in 2016, Elissa Poppy is a lingerie and apparel brand that creates all its styles from latex. The company will be exhibiting at the upcoming New York Curve show. Owner and head designer Elissa Grainger’s catwalk collection in the London Graduate Fashion Week 2015 was featured by Vogue and trend forecaster WGSN, and consumer interest grew from there. BODY publisher Nick Monjo questioned the designer for this interview.

MONJO: Can describe how you launched the collection?

GRAINGER: I had recently graduated with a first class honors degree from De Montfort University, Leicester, UK, studying Contour Fashion (the design of underwear, swimwear and sportswear). After my graduate collection had been featured on the catwalk at Graduate Fashion Week and also on Vogue, our Instagram following began to rise and with it more and more people wanted to buy the collection. I had always dreamed of owning a brand of my own and had a real business ethos, so I thought why not? And Elissa Poppy was born! We aren’t like anything else on the market, we have innovated new techniques such as Lacetex and Marbletex which have always been our stand out methods against other latex brands. But I mostly think we stand out because we’re bringing something new to the table. We’re highly fashion focused and have brought latex into the latest trends of today and not of the past. We have a range of different products to suit different needs. Our RTW collection that launched last year has a turnaround time of 48 hours which has been unheard of before due to the manufacturing process latex holds. We’re proud of our aesthetic, our innovations and designs give the material a luxury feel like nothing we have seen on the market before.

MONJO: Describe the collection.

GRAINGER: Anyone can wear the designs. If your size isn’t available or you would like a more tailored fit personal to your measurements, then we will always be able to assist you with our custom/bespoke service. Most ranges are available in a U.S. 2-12. Bra sizes: 28C-28E, 30C-30E, 32A-32E, 34A-34E, 36A-36E, 38B-38DD. We work with wholesalers and boutiques regularly to find what works for them and are always able to advise on sizes.

MONJO: What will you be bringing to the Curve show?

GRAINGER: We will be showcasing new items that are launching later in the year. These will be products in line with our RTW range, inspired by classic and trend setting shapes, in a variety of colors and styles. It’s our most popular range yet and we can’t wait to show you the new additions!

MONJO: What are your U.S. and Canadian retail price points?

GRAINGER: Our price points vary from collection to collection and are based in the luxury end. Our RTW range starts from £45 [about $57] for a knicker, £85 [$107] for a bra, £315 [$396] for a dress. In our classic couture collection Primitive, a knicker starts from £125 [$157] and a bra £180 [$226] and a dress £420 [$528].

MONJO: What trade shows have you done?

GRAINGER: We have previously shown in Paris Interfiliere January 2019. We have done very well in Europe so far and have been encouraged by the increasing U.S. sales. This will be our first show in America and we are very excited.

MONJO: What stores are you selling to in the U.S. and Canada currently?

GRAINGER: Currently we are selling to Maison Jolie in Houston.

MONJO: What is your wholesale strategy?

GRAINGER: We have had good experience with all types of wholesale customers and businesses. Currently we mainly sell to boutiques but also have the capacity to sell to lingerie stores and department stores on a larger scale. Having good experience with our customers at ASOS we have learned what it takes to take on larger scale orders and have adapted our manufacturing processes in order to provide the best quality latex products on the market.

MONJO: Who is the contact for sales?

GRAINGER: Elissa Grainger, info@elissapoppy.com.

MONJO: Who is coming to the Curve show from your company?

GRAINGER: Elissa Grainger, owner, and Cheryl Grainger, accounts.

MONJO: Do you have U.S. or Canadian independent sales reps or a distributors?

GRAINGER: No but would be interested to explore the possibility.

MONJO: Why should North American retailers be interested in your brand?

GRAINGER: I think we offer women something that is totally different to anything else out there. We have advanced in new techniques that no other brand offers. Each piece is its own little statement that is certain to leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re dressing up for yourself or someone else, having an evening out, or want to introduce a new style into your wardrobe. We have something for everyone with an added bit of luxury that won’t be forgotten very easily.

What a lot of people don’t know about latex is how sustainable it is as a fabric. Latex is vegan friendly and although it is often marketed with other fetish wear fabrics like PVC or anything plastic, it is actually naturally sourced from the rubber tree, making it a renewable and biodegradable source. We use the highest quality latex, sourced from our two UK based suppliers and every item is handmade in our UK studio. We keep production as local as possible and are on first name bases with our suppliers – just the way we like it.

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Published 06-18-2019 by Nick Monjo