by L'Exception, on February 2, 2023
L'Exception interviewed the founder of Nénés Paris, Margot Dargegen. Discover the bohemian universe of the lingerie brand as well as its social and eco-responsible commitments.
Margot: It all started in 2018, when I was looking for eco-responsible AND feminine lingerie at the same time. I couldn't find anything that fit me so I decided to create my own line!
I launched a crowdfunding on Ulule at the end of 2018 with 3 bras, all made of recycled fibers. It worked well and it allowed me to fund my first collection. I very quickly added bathing suits because I love swimwear, the sea, the sun. It matched well with the universe I wanted to create around Nénés. I then launched our website in July 2019.
Everything looks nice and rosy but the beginning was really difficult. I was fresh out of college, I didn't know anything about it, I had no contacts and I was alone in the project for a year and a half. I had to find the right factories, the right materials, all while not necessarily being on site.
In February 2020, Juliette, my partner, joined me and helped me a lot to develop the brand and build a team.
Margot: Yes, it's a mission I've given myself since the beginning. Lingerie is special, it's our intimacy. So it was essential that the women who were going to wear it felt good in it, comfortable in models that sublimated their forms and did not hide them.
This is reflected in particular in the quality of our cuts: trendy and feminine. Concretely, none of our bras have a cup, none of them are push-up.
Moreover, nobody is retouched on our photos. On the shoot, the models are natural, they're not wearing any make up. We always try to have several morphologies and women of different ages.
Lastly, we did a shoot for our collection La Familia with 4 models illustrating all the women of a family. We also organize filmed fittings with our clients to allow our instagram followers to project themselves in our creations.
In short, we really want to reflect reality so that our customers identify, get rid of their insecurities and feel beautiful thanks to our models.
Margot: Nénés Paris is a committed brand, our ecological approach is global and at the center of our approach. The goal of the brand is, as we mentioned just before, to highlight the natural body of women.
The Mediterranean, bohemian and retro inspirations allow our customers to escape. The universe is soft, sunny, a touch erotic and poetic.
Margot: First, all our materials are European and recycled or natural organic. I would say that this is the basis when we propose eco-responsible models. We favor short circuits as much as possible.
Regarding the manufacturing process, I first create moodboards to inspire me and create the universe of the collection. I then draw models, I think already at this time to suit a maximum of morphologies again to sublimate the natural body of each woman. I then choose my materials and colors with a panton.
Catarina, who works in our factory in Portugal, turns my designs into reality. We then go back and forth several times with prototypes to validate the perfect version that will be produced.
Margot: Our factories are all located in southern Europe (Portugal, France, Italy, Spain). This is a super important point for us because it allows us to produce locally and to keep a certain proximity with our intermediaries. Moreover, by producing in Europe we are assured that human rights are respected and we can visit them regularly. This transparency is so precious.
We work with several workshops: lace factories in Italy and garment factories in France and Portugal.
All our factories have unique skills, which is essential for lace and lingerie. This is an area that requires knowledge and precision. On the making side, all steps are handmade: from the pattern to the final quality control.
Our workshops are REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) and Social & Labor Convergence certified. These certifications guarantee good social, environmental and chemical practices during the production of our models. Finally, our materials are labeled GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
Margot: This is our very first collaboration with a content creator. We've been working with Lison since our very first swim collection in 2019! So it's a very nice story. It is through our common love for the south, the sea and the sun that we thought of imagining something together.
The result ? 2 superb recycled lace lingerie sets in exclusive blues: midnight blue and baby blue, and eucalyptus green pajamas in double cotton gauze. A pretty capsule to light up winter locker rooms.
The lingerie sets were made in Portugal and our pajamas in France in our usual workshops.
With this collaboration, we wanted to spread our message of environmental preservation to the young and fashionable community of Lison Seb. I think the bet has proven to be successful!
Margot: We try to improve ourselves more and more to compensate our impact and help, at our level, the planet to recover. In this logic, we have joined forces with Allcolibri to work for the protection of the planet and our ecosystems.
As soon as a customer places an order on our site, they have the opportunity to choose between 2 beneficial actions for the planet:
- Restore 10cm² of corals with the Ocean Gardener association.
- Remove 100g of plastic from the oceans with the Clean Ocean Force association.
Since then, and thanks to orders from our customers, 8.4m2 of coral have been restored and 901.4 of plastic have been removed from the oceans, the equivalent of around 169,740 plastic bags or 25,461 plastic bottles.
Can you describe to me the beginning of the Nénés Paris adventure?
Margot: It all started in 2018, when I was looking for eco-responsible AND feminine lingerie at the same time. I couldn't find anything that fit me so I decided to create my own line!
I launched a crowdfunding on Ulule at the end of 2018 with 3 bras, all made of recycled fibers. It worked well and it allowed me to fund my first collection. I very quickly added bathing suits because I love swimwear, the sea, the sun. It matched well with the universe I wanted to create around Nénés. I then launched our website in July 2019.
Everything looks nice and rosy but the beginning was really difficult. I was fresh out of college, I didn't know anything about it, I had no contacts and I was alone in the project for a year and a half. I had to find the right factories, the right materials, all while not necessarily being on site.
In February 2020, Juliette, my partner, joined me and helped me a lot to develop the brand and build a team.
At Nénés Paris, you are committed to highlighting the natural female body. Can you tell us more about it? How does it come across in your pieces?
Margot: Yes, it's a mission I've given myself since the beginning. Lingerie is special, it's our intimacy. So it was essential that the women who were going to wear it felt good in it, comfortable in models that sublimated their forms and did not hide them.
This is reflected in particular in the quality of our cuts: trendy and feminine. Concretely, none of our bras have a cup, none of them are push-up.
Moreover, nobody is retouched on our photos. On the shoot, the models are natural, they're not wearing any make up. We always try to have several morphologies and women of different ages.
Lastly, we did a shoot for our collection La Familia with 4 models illustrating all the women of a family. We also organize filmed fittings with our clients to allow our instagram followers to project themselves in our creations.
In short, we really want to reflect reality so that our customers identify, get rid of their insecurities and feel beautiful thanks to our models.
What is your inspiration for Nénés Paris? How would you define the brand in terms of style?
Margot: Nénés Paris is a committed brand, our ecological approach is global and at the center of our approach. The goal of the brand is, as we mentioned just before, to highlight the natural body of women.
The Mediterranean, bohemian and retro inspirations allow our customers to escape. The universe is soft, sunny, a touch erotic and poetic.
Can you tell me more about your materials and the manufacturing process of your underwear and swimwear?
Margot: First, all our materials are European and recycled or natural organic. I would say that this is the basis when we propose eco-responsible models. We favor short circuits as much as possible.
Regarding the manufacturing process, I first create moodboards to inspire me and create the universe of the collection. I then draw models, I think already at this time to suit a maximum of morphologies again to sublimate the natural body of each woman. I then choose my materials and colors with a panton.
Catarina, who works in our factory in Portugal, turns my designs into reality. We then go back and forth several times with prototypes to validate the perfect version that will be produced.
Can you tell me more about your workshops? For you, why is it important to produce more locally?
Margot: Our factories are all located in southern Europe (Portugal, France, Italy, Spain). This is a super important point for us because it allows us to produce locally and to keep a certain proximity with our intermediaries. Moreover, by producing in Europe we are assured that human rights are respected and we can visit them regularly. This transparency is so precious.
We work with several workshops: lace factories in Italy and garment factories in France and Portugal.
All our factories have unique skills, which is essential for lace and lingerie. This is an area that requires knowledge and precision. On the making side, all steps are handmade: from the pattern to the final quality control.
Our workshops are REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) and Social & Labor Convergence certified. These certifications guarantee good social, environmental and chemical practices during the production of our models. Finally, our materials are labeled GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
You made a Capsule collection with Lison Seb. Can you tell us more, both about your inspirations, the style as well as the materials used and the manufacturing?
Margot: This is our very first collaboration with a content creator. We've been working with Lison since our very first swim collection in 2019! So it's a very nice story. It is through our common love for the south, the sea and the sun that we thought of imagining something together.
The result ? 2 superb recycled lace lingerie sets in exclusive blues: midnight blue and baby blue, and eucalyptus green pajamas in double cotton gauze. A pretty capsule to light up winter locker rooms.
The lingerie sets were made in Portugal and our pajamas in France in our usual workshops.
With this collaboration, we wanted to spread our message of environmental preservation to the young and fashionable community of Lison Seb. I think the bet has proven to be successful!
Finally, can you tell us about your partnership with Allcolibri?
Margot: We try to improve ourselves more and more to compensate our impact and help, at our level, the planet to recover. In this logic, we have joined forces with Allcolibri to work for the protection of the planet and our ecosystems.
As soon as a customer places an order on our site, they have the opportunity to choose between 2 beneficial actions for the planet:
- Restore 10cm² of corals with the Ocean Gardener association.
- Remove 100g of plastic from the oceans with the Clean Ocean Force association.
Since then, and thanks to orders from our customers, 8.4m2 of coral have been restored and 901.4 of plastic have been removed from the oceans, the equivalent of around 169,740 plastic bags or 25,461 plastic bottles.
