Be it sapphire, ciel or lemon – unconventional, intensive pastels are key for the look of Felina’s Conturelle spring/summer collection for 2011. Floral embroidery, sheer effects and lightweight fabrics really get us in the mood for the warm season. With two NOS ranges and three fashion ranges the Mannheim-based lingerie manufacturer Felina offers the perfect combination of a sensual look and maximum comfort even in H cup sizes.
Be it sapphire, ciel or lemon – unconventional, intensive pastels are key for the look of Felina’s Conturelle spring/summer collection for 2011. Floral embroidery, sheer effects and lightweight fabrics really get us in the mood for the warm season. With two NOS ranges and three fashion ranges the Mannheim-based lingerie manufacturer Felina offers the perfect combination of a sensual look and maximum comfort even in H cup sizes.
Fashion range 60:
Be it vanilla or sapphire, a trendy shade of teal – fresh summery colours are key for the look of this fashion range. An elegant fabric combined with Liberty embroidery lends the individual styles feminine flair and guarantees maximum comfort even in H cup sizes. Little details like matching embroidery motifs on the bra straps and delicate ornamental bows emphasise the delicate look of the range. Two bras are on offer – an underwired bra with the tried and tested outer panel that offers the bust perfect lateral support, and a padded cleavage bra with a narrow gore that stands out for its lightweight look. The product range is rounded off by a thong, mini briefs and bikini briefs.
Special features of fashion range 60:
•Multicoloured Liberty-style embroidery
•Underwired bra with an outer control panel up to H cup sizes
•Trend colour “sapphire” – a light shade of teal
Fashion range 61:
This youthful range is very fashion-forward: A fine stripy fabric combined with multicoloured floral embroidery lends the individual styles summery flair. Designed with the tried and tested inner control panel, the underwired bra provides perfect control even in G cup sizes. Its sophisticated gore solution and elastic macramé-style cleavage border are striking eye-catchers. The range is rounded off by mini briefs and bikini briefs. Elegant colours like lemon, a soft yellow, and ciel, a summery shade of turquoise, underline the modern look.
Special features of fashion range 61:
•Multicoloured floral embroidery
•Underwired bra with outer control panel and sophisticated gore solution
•Trend colours lemon and ciel
Fashion range 62:
Top-modern range 62 stands out for its extraordinary embroidery: Placed asymmetrically on the left cup a medal-shaped embroidery motif decorates the neckline. Fine satin bows and transparent tulle in a mesh look as well as expressive colours – light brown on cream (a light pastel pink) or white on classic black – lend the range its unmistakable flair. The elegant underwired bra guarantees perfect comfort even in G cup sizes. The range features two different bottoms: matching mini briefs and a trendy shorty.
Special features of fashion range 62:
•Asymmetric embroidery motif on the upper cup
•Underwired bra with outer control panel
•Sheer tulle in a mesh look
NOS range 16 “De Luxe”:
The new extensive NOS range by Felina Conturelle stands out for its luxurious design. Delicate satin bows with a sparkling Swarovski pendant adorn bra centre gores. The De Luxe underwired bra is adorned over and over with little flowers; the straps feature elaborate embroidery co-ordinated perfectly with the cup embroidery. The cut with the tried and tested outer panel guarantees a perfect fit even in H cup sizes. Subtle non-colours like white, black and café au lait, a sophisticated nude, emphasise the tasteful look of the lingerie line. As a new style, the Conturelle range features a ready-made bra with removable straps that stands out for its simple look. Due to the padded cups and integrated silicone neckline edging, this bra offers maximum comfort even in F cup sizes. The smooth fabric and flat seams prevent visible lines from showing under tight outerwear. The range also includes matching simple mini briefs without embroidery and is rounded off by an elaborately designed thong and bikini briefs. As a little highlight, a garter adorned with little satin bows is perfect for the wedding season and any festive occasion.
Special features of NOS range 16:
•Opulent look thanks to ornamental details and embroidery motifs
•Underwired bra with outer control panel up to H cup sizes
•Smooth bra with removable straps up to F cup sizes
•Matching garter for the wedding season
NOS range 20 “Silhouette”:
Silhouette is irresistibly feminine and full of elegant charm. This little range made of a soft fabric with a micro-touch consists of two styles and makes a perfect addition to the new summer collection. Embroidery was deliberately dispensed with. Among the featured styles, a seamless contour bra with a narrow gore offers perfect control even in F cup sizes. Thanks to its elegant lines it has a unique lightweight look: A smooth stylish shorty prevents any visible lines from showing under tight outerwear. Together, they make a perfect set for underneath. Elegant colours like black, vanilla and café au lait, underline the modern look of the range.
Special features of NOS range 20:
•Simple, elegant look
•Smooth set (contour bra and shorty) minimises visible lines
•Available in basic colours
NOS range 04 “Harmonie”:
The underwired bra 80504 of the NOS Harmonie range in an I cup size will al-ready be available for delivery as of late September 2010. Hence, one of the most successful basic ranges of Conturelle will be available in all cup sizes from A to I cup. The underwired bra is fashioned with an outer control panel and stands out for its perfect fit and trendy retro look. A broad fabric with a matte sheen in a seersucker look teams with high-quality Swiss floral embroidery on tulle voile. Delicate satin bows, embroidered straps and ornamental fagotting make this lingerie wonderfully feminine.
Delivery dates:
Fashion range 60: February 2011
Fashion range 61: February 2011
Fashion range 62: March 2011
NOS range 16 “De Luxe”: January 2011
NOS range 20 “Silhouette”: March 2011
Additional sizes for NOS range 04 “Harmonie“: September 2010
Cups /sizes:
A - H (- I); 70 -105
Bottoms sizes 36 - 50
Felina lingerie offers the optimum combination of an elegant look with a perfect fit and the highest quality standards even in large cup sizes. The latest spring/summer collection by the Mannheim-based lingerie expert Felina gently shapes the figure and caresses the skin with its soft shiny fabric. The Joy range looks simply stunning thanks to its high-quality fabric and elaborate tulle embroidery.
Felina lingerie offers the optimum combination of an elegant look with a perfect fit and the highest quality standards even in large cup sizes. The latest spring/summer collection by the Mannheim-based lingerie expert Felina gently shapes the figure and caresses the skin with its soft shiny fabric. The Joy range looks simply stunning thanks to its high-quality fabric and elaborate tulle embroidery.
Joy owes its elegant flair to expressive geometric embroidery combined with a soft and slightly shiny broad fabric. Attention to detail like colour-coordinated ornamental bows testify to the lingerie maker’s fine craftsman-ship. Sophisticated colours like magic blue, vanilla, sand and pearl, a light salmon pink, emphasise the tasteful look of the range.
The spring/summer collection includes an underwired bra, a bra with moulded cups and a soft bra plus briefs, a panty and a one-piece with underwiring. The front of the briefs, panty and body is completely panelled with elastic tulle for a tummy tuck effect. The smooth one-piece with moulded cups stands out for its clean lines without any embroidery. This prevents any lines from showing under tight outerwear. The bodysuit is therefore a perfect companion for „underneath“ to hide little problem areas on the stomach and hips.
The Felina collections always focus on gentle shaping and maximum comfort – and the same goes for its bras. Broader straps in larger sizes make for a comfortable experience. The discreet outer control panels of the soft bra and underwired bra maximise your cleavage and offer perfect support.
The moulded bra has soft cups made of Simplex that mould to the body perfectly and show no lines under tight outerwear.
Special features of the Joy range:
• Broader straps in larger sizes
• Smooth moulded bra without embroidery
• Available up to H cup sizes
• Smooth moulded one-piece with underwiring for perfect body shaping
• Trend colour Pearl, a summery shade of salmon, as an NOS
Delivery date:
Joy range: September 2010 (earlier DD for D + NL)
January 2010 (international)
Cups/sizes:
B - H; 75 - 110
Brief sizes 38 - 50, or 75 - 100
As a special highlight to mark the end of the anniversary year, Felina is presenting Conturelle Fashion range 79 as an exquisite gift line. Featuring elegant embroidery adorned with Swarovski crystals, Felina once again shows that it leads the race both in stylish chic and maximum comfort – even in large cup sizes! In its 125th anniversary year the traditional company from Mannheim focuses on the latest trends – and invites you to enjoy this gift range for yourself or as a present for your loved ones.
As a special highlight to mark the end of the anniversary year, Felina is presenting Conturelle Fashion range 79 as an exquisite gift line. Featuring elegant embroidery adorned with Swarovski crystals, Felina once again shows that it leads the race both in stylish chic and maximum comfort – even in large cup sizes! In its 125th anniversary year the traditional company from Mannheim focuses on the latest trends – and invites you to enjoy this gift range for yourself or as a present for your loved ones.
For Christmas we all want something special. Elegant lingerie has always been top of every woman’s wish list. Be it as a gift from your loved one or present for yourself. But one thing is certain: Conturelle Fashion range 79 will be the highlight under any Christmas tree thanks to its outstanding design!
This high-quality gift range is predestined for Christmas business, as apart from the usual parameters like fit, quality and beautiful look it is of an extraordinary opulence. Made of bicoloured Italian embroidery on sheer tulle and featuring an optimum fit, it comes in a wide range of sizes from A to H cup. Sophisticated fan-shaped embroidery motifs with colour-coordinated Swarovski crystals on the cups lend this lingerie a distinctive look. As a Christmas present the anniversary range stands out for its elegance as befits the festive occasion.
The range comprises an underwired bra, bra with plunge neckline, thong, minibriefs, bikini briefs and a wide suspender belt with remov-able suspenders. All garments are available in elegant black and ruby – an intensive shade of red.
With its decorative Conturelle Fashion range 79 the Mannheim-based specialist once again proves its expertise in lingerie with a high aesthetic value and quality standards even in large sizes.
Special features of Fashion range 79:
•Bicoloured Italian embroidery
•Elegant embroidery motifs with Swarovski colour crystals
•Underwired bra with outer panel up to H cup sizes
•Trend colour ruby – an intensive shade of red
•Sophisticated suspender belt for an attractive outfit
Delivery dates:
Fashion range 79: October 2010
Cups /sizes:
A - H; 70 -105
Brief sizes 36 - 50
Comfort of wear always takes centre stage for Felina Body Forming. The Mannheim-based lingerie specialist aims to create perfect innerwear that gently shapes a feminine silhouette for confident women – even in large cup sizes.
Body Forming range 56 Emotions :
In time for the Christmas season Felina is bringing out a popular range in an attractive new colour. The moulded underwired bra and bikini briefs of the Emotions range will be offered in fashion colour grenadine, a bold red, for sales starting in April 2010.
Comfort of wear always takes centre stage for Felina Body Forming. The Mannheim-based lingerie specialist aims to create perfect innerwear that gently shapes a feminine silhouette for confident women – even in large cup sizes.
Body Forming range 56 Emotions :
In time for the Christmas season Felina is bringing out a popular range in an attractive new colour. The moulded underwired bra and bikini briefs of the Emotions range will be offered in fashion colour grenadine, a bold red, for sales starting in April 2010.
Emotions makes women’s dreams come true. The timeless look of the delicate, shimmering foliage embroidery on bras and briefs empha-sizes the sensual look and provides matchless comfort. Another benefit of the range lies in the excellent quality of the fabric. The supple mate-rial, a high-quality blend of an elastic microfibre with cotton, feels like a second skin.
The elegant set in grenadine for this year’s holiday business meets high customer standards in every respect – both in quality and look.
Special features of the Emotions range:
•Microfibre fabric with cotton content and strong control properties
•Comfortable straps that become wider with size
•Available up to G cup sizes
•Trend colour grenadine – an intensive shade of red
Body Forming range 63 Moduleur:
In light of the success of the Moduleur range, Felina has decided to of-fer the entire range in sand – an elegant nude shade – for summer. The two moulded bras feel absolutely great on the skin thanks to seamless cups and – like the smooth briefs – show no visible lines under tight outerwear.
Special features of the Moduleur range:
•Smooth moulded look
•No visible lines under outerwear
•Soft bra with comfortable tapering straps
•Available up to G cup sizes
•Colour sand – a trendy nude
Delivery date:
Emotions range: October 2010
Moduleur range: July 2010
Cups/sizes:
A - G; 75 - 105
Brief sizes: 36 - 50
The year is 1885, and trade and industry are booming at a furious pace under the German Kaiser. Thanks to technical progress corsets that were once hand-made can now be manufactured industrially. In this period many corset factories are founded in the Württemberg region in the south of Germany with products replacing the garments that formerly needed to be imported from France.
The year is 1885, and trade and industry are booming at a furious pace under the German Kaiser. Thanks to technical progress corsets that were once hand-made can now be manufactured industrially. In this period many corset factories are founded in the Württemberg region in the south of Germany with products replacing the garments that formerly needed to be imported from France.
The start-up years
This is also the year when Eugen Herbst writes the first chapter of 125 years of our corporate history in a small house in Bad Rappenau. Only five years after its foundation the company already moves to Mannheim to take advantage of better transport connections there. In 1893 a cardboard box factory is added to the fast-growing company to make packaging for its products. Just before the turn of the century it relocates again to a new plant in the Lange-Rötter area of Mannheim-Neckarstadt where Felina still has its headquarters today. The company continues expanding, opening an adjacent ironware factory in 1907 for the production of hook bands, fasteners and boning for “corsage fabrication”.
The “new” straight lines of women’s fashion also have an influence on “undies” in the early 20th century. Women no longer wear corsets but a girdle or tight-fitting suspender belt. The Mannheim plant also gradually switches its production to foundation-wear. On 17 April 1915 it registers the “Felina” trademark for bras as number 205 379 – the birth of the company’s later name.
In the following years several new buildings are added to the company headquarters and a branch is founded in Mannheim-Feudenheim. By 1928 the company already employs 660 workers. 90 per cent of its staff are women - making Felina a pioneer for female work in Mannheim. 3,000,000 different products made of tricot fabrics, drill and broché materials are sold at an average price of RM1.52 in 1929. In the following year Felina opens branches as part of its expansion to international markets in Milan, Paris, Zurich and London.
In 1936 Richard Greiling takes over the factory from Eugen Herbst. The following war years are marked by rationed raw materials, a shortage of personnel and the loss of foreign markets. On the night of 3 June 1944 the factory complex is more or less destroyed by an air raid.
Post-war years
During the post-war years Felina has to be rebuilt. While production kicks off again with fabric scraps, its characteristic production facilities in the square between Lange Rötter, Melchior and Holzbauerstrasse are erected from 1949 to 1954. By the 70th birthday of company owner R. Greiling in 1952 the Felina complex houses three different companies: Felina GmbH, Greiling-Werke GmbH underwear factory and Greiling shoe factory. By this time Felina is already exporting to 50 countries world-wide. In 1955 the work facilities occupy a space of over 20,000 sqm. And expansion continues – 1957 sees the opening of a branch in Kaiserslautern, making Felina the second-largest corsetry factory in Germany.
As a well-known corsetry brand Felina also represents Mannheim at the Brussels World Fair in 1958. The press reports: “…Especially teenagers want corsetry in a colour that matches their petticoats, this is why the new Felina fashion colours turquoise, flamingo and lemon enjoy great popularity …”. To meet high demand Felina opens new production plants in Ketsch and Worms. The following year Felina France is founded in Strasbourg.
The 1960s and 70s
On its 75th anniversary in 1960 Felina employs a staff of 2,500 in its main plant in Mannheim, as well as in the branches in Kaiserslautern, Ketsch and Worms. 250 different Felina styles are sold world-wide with Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Norway and Sweden being the main export markets. In order to conquer the EFTA countries, Felina opens a corsetry factory in Vienna, Austria. By now it exports products to over 60 countries world-wide.
Its production transforms 25 tons of metal into boning, spirals, clasps, fasteners and hooks every month. Embroidered nylon fabrics from Switzerland and Austria, attractive lace from France, brocade fabrics from Italy and poplin, satin, lawn and taffeta from German weaving mills are turned into stylish waist cinchers and bras.
New features include superstretchy raschel elastic that makes the products much more comfortable to wear. In an exclusive co-operation with Bayer Felina successfully launches the elastomer fibre Dorlastan on the market. The creations of the 1960s are dominated by the colours black, white and ice-cream shades – the new fashion colours being helio, geranium, capri and midnight blue.
In these years further training for sales staff already takes priority for Felina. All the year round corsetry specialists are offered training courses.
In the 1960s Felina creates a milestone by launching the first bra with elastic straps – Felina’s Hexlein is born.
In the movie Zur Sache, Schätzchen a scantily dressed Uschi Glas creates a stir wearing a corset. Felina develops a “Schätzchen bra“ and Uschi Glas becomes the face of Felina’s advertising.
Felina opens further foreign plants in Yugoslavia and Prague. During the days of the Iron Curtain Felina already signs a co-operation agreement with a Hungarian state-owned company in 1979. Many years later, during privatisation, it acquires a majority stake in this production plant - still the group’s largest manufacturing site today, from where Felina delivers high-quality products for the international market.
The turbulent 1980s
Once again women’s fashion is key for the development of lingerie in the 1980s. Trousers become an established part of women’s clothing – panty girdles go out of fashion and underwear is reduced to the bare essentials. Mini briefs, transparent bras or even going braless are en vogue. In 1980/81 Felina is faced with economic problems. After the diversification processes into various sectors initiated a few years before the company suffers a marked decline in orders and economic losses.
A Swiss investors’ group takes over Felina in 1982 and founds Felina International AG in Wettingen near Zurich. Felina GmbH in Mannheim is a wholly owned subsidiary and the operational headquarters. In the mid-1980s the company recovers again. In 1988 it introduces a range that makes sales history over the next few years due to its unique fit – the “Weftloc” range.
1989 is the year of political opening of the Eastern Bloc. Felina is commissioned by the Russian government to modernise the textile and clothing industry. This is the basis of a co-operation with a Russian production company. In the same year Felina founds a distribution company in Madrid, Spain, and completely takes over a Polish production plant from its former co-operation partner. In the following years it opens further sales branches in Portugal and Czechoslovakia. And 1994 sees the start-up of a highly successful branch in Moscow.
Felina in the new millennium
In the first few years of the new millennium Felina prepares the ground for a very successful expansion of its existing product portfolio. In addition to classic corsetry under its Body Forming brand Felina launches a new lingerie collection in 2005, which offers Felina’s traditional perfect fit even in large cup sizes while meeting the highest quality and aesthetic standards: Conturelle.
In the same year Felina’s brand image is rejuvenated by a complete relaunch, modernising its merchandise presentation and restructuring the entire brand portfolio.
In its anniversary year the lingerie specialist offers everything that meets the needs of confident modern women – especially in large cup sizes - with its Felina Dessous and Conturelle by Felina brands.
For retailers Felina has been a reliable partner for 125 years. In addition to its collections that boost sales and generate great returns the company offers comprehensive services to support its international retail partners. Besides its tailor-made space management concepts that are perfectly aligned with the Conturelle and Felina collections, and its shop-in-shop system, Felina offers competent support and advice through its visual merchandising team. Regular consulting sessions at the POS by Felina sales consultants and an advanced seminar concept for lingerie sales staff round off the manufacturer’s service expertise.
Since 1982 Felina GmbH Mannheim has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Felina International AG Switzerland. From this year Werner Baumgarten has headed the operational HQ as a delegate of the board of management of Felina International AG and as managing director. In 1997 Heinz Horn took over at the helm, shaping the history of the lingerie manufacturer for the next few years and taking the company into the new millennium. In 2003 the ground was prepared for a new generation of managers at Felina. Hanspeter Sigrist was appointed as second managing director and Jürgen Wollenschläger succeeded Heinz Horn in 2007.
Under the shared management of Felina International AG Jürgen Wollenschläger is now head of the international marketing and distribution division while Hanspeter Sigrist is responsible for the financial, logistics and production divisions.
Current facts and figures
In 2008 Felina made a turnover of 58 million euros with an export share of over 60%. Its export activities to over 60 countries are controlled by its own distribution companies/branches in the countries Benelux, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and the USA.
The company also owns plants in Hungary and Poland and has a staff of 1,000 employees world-wide.
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