the lingerie collective

the art of a new seduction

Tucked away off a narrow lane just off Bond Street was the gorgeous Lingerie Collective tradeshow. Hosted by the Lingerie Collective, a variety of independent lingerie brands came together to display their latest collections for spring summer 2012.

The bustling exhibition contained lingerie staples, swimwear and luxury-designer lingerie. The prestigious show also included two collections from budding students hoping to launch careers in the industry in coming years.

Top lingerie buyers attended the show as well as independent boutiques and online retailers hoping to stock the next big trends in fashionable lingerie.

Nicole De Carle is an innovative and contemporary lingerie brand. Nicole Scherzinger was recently pictured in their recent collection featuring chunky tape straps in navy blue, blacks and nudes. This contemporary and stylish lingerie brand designs briefs and bras to more designer led lingerie that can be worn as outerwear as well as bedroom wear.

Another brand that stood out was Ayten Gasson, creating event lingerie, the beautiful collections of briefs, soft-cup bras and lounge wear were leaving buyers lusting over the collections. Ayten's spring summer collection was inspired by childhood sweets. The colours were delicate and sumptuous as were the gorgeous silks and lace trims used to finish these hand-made pieces. Their impressive collection using ethical silk, where the silk-worm does not die, is also very desirable, beautiful to the touch with a lovely vintage style. Be sure to also view the bridal collection with a silk teddy in ivory with a blue trim and highwaist briefs and soft-cup bra, stunning.

Hidden away was the art-deco hosiery by Candy Baker. Unusal tights and stockings printed with her gorgeous 1920's inspired illustrations. These designs lengthen and slim legs and add charm to the dreary every-day tights industry. She also carries a collection of diamanté studded tights for evening do's and glamorous occasions. Offering navy and black 50 denier tights and delicate nude stockings and tights there is something for every occasion and every leg. Candy has also made sure that her products are machine washable, however she does advise that men shouldn't be ironing these undies!

Playful Promises, a very established and affordable lingerie brand offered playful, feminine and girly designs. The autumn winter collection, available in the next few weeks, included gorgeous lacy designs in black, cream and mauve, the must have colour this coming season. The must-have piece of the collection was the Etti printed collection, a floral peach and mauve collection including high waist brief, brazilian brief, longline bra and a soft-cup bra. The spring summer swimwear was also stunning leaving visitors coveting the designs. A digital print of multi-coloured hummingbirds will make all beach babes look great in the hot summer sun.

Finally, Alice from Beaujai launched her first collection at the Lingerie Collective. Specialising in large-cup bras for the luxury lingerie market, her feminine designs, beautiful colour palettes and delicate laces drew in the crowds attracting attention from top buyers from Selfridges and ASOS. Her matching briefs and suspender belts used up the remainder 'left-over' laces from the bras creating interesting shapes for the briefs, finished with contemporary elastic straps and ribbons. For her first collection and her first tradeshow Alice had an impressive professional stand, product and finish on the products. Buyers were desperate for Beaujai to extend collection to all size bra-cups.

The three-day tradeshow attracted a variety of characters and industry professionals and displayed the extensive designs available in the lingerie industry showing that bras and briefs don't need to be boring. The show left exhibitors, buyers and visitors leaping for the sales of lingerie across Bond Street and Oxford Street.