CADOLLE

In 1889, Herminie CADOLLE decided to pack her bags and leave for Buenos Aires where she opened a lingerie boutique. Very quickly Cardolle’s boutique became the meeting place for the most fashionable women of the new capital. With her roots in France, she was able to offer South American clients a taste of Parisian sensuality and brought French seamstresses to train local workers in Buenos Aires. Cardolle’s business grew rapidly and she extended her premises by opening new boutiques in South America and France.

It was during the Exhibition of 1889 (for which the Eiffel Tower was built) that she showed her new invention which staked her claim in the lingerie world. Cadolle had a simply ingenious idea. For women's comfort, she had cut in to the traditional corset and invented the first BRA which she patented and initially called the "corselet gorge". The reputation of the company amongst the most elegant women in the world, would know no bounds.

Herminie became a fitter of bras to queens, princesses, dancers, and actresses. Mata Hari was among her customers. She was also first to use cloth incorporating rubber (elastic) thread. Cadolle was honored with many awards celebrating the loyalty of the company to its high standards. Cadolle won the most prestigious award of fashion in the United States in 1949. Today more than ever, entering CADOLLE is like entering a world apart. Poupie CADOLLE, the fifth generation, currently presides over the future of the company.

Faithful to the principles of the company, Poupie sees each of her clients herself. It is not unheard of to have to wait a while for an appointment, but like her mother and grandmother before her, she continues to be much-loved by her clients.

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