This year, Interfilière Paris and Paris Capitale de la Création have recognised Cheynet, a French company, which has been specialising in elastics and yarn processing for over 70 years, with a Designer of the Year title. With a worldwide presence, the Cheynet Group serves a variety of markets with its products, including lingerie, swimwear, and corsetry, medical-grade fabrics, activewear and ready-to-wear, footwear, and men’s underwear.

“We are delighted to receive this award. It is a real recognition by the profession of all the efforts made by all the teams at Cheynet, and of our truly fashion-focused collections,” said Grégoire Giraud, CEO of Groupe Cheynet.

Interfilière Paris trade show, the only international event exclusively focused on fabrics and textile accessories for the lingerie, beachwear, and activewear markets, will be held alongside the Salon International de la Lingerie from 20-22 January at Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles in Paris.

70 years of innovations

Through its R&D department, Cheynet is perfecting a number of innovations, such as Brodex, which allows for embroidery on elastics or rigid tape. Attentive to the needs of consumers looking for the ultimate in comfort, Cheynet analyses and develops innovations, such as dual-stretch elastics that stretch both lengthwise and crosswise, allowing the company to introduce its products to new markets such as ready-to-wear.

The company has also mastered silicone applications. First using them for their anti-slip potential (on the back of strapless bras, inside the top of stay-up stockings), Cheynet is now developing new surface applications for this material, in a fashion-focused mode.

“Since 1948, Cheynet has gained a reputation as an expert in elastics manufacturing, with its mastery of technical criteria and the quality of its products. Today, Cheynet is working to uphold this reputation and pursue its development hand in hand with our industry partners. Boldness, courage, a modern spirit, enthusiasm, and agility are the values promoted by the teams at Cheynet, so that we remain the essential supplier of elastics,” commented Anne Ménager, Marketing, Communications, and R&D Director.

Fantastic elastics

Beyond simple bra straps, elastics are being used in many creative ways by lingerie and fashion designers. The athleisure trend, mixing style and athletic silhouettes, has contributed to the emergence of lingerie featuring wide chest bands and high waistbands. On the ready-to-wear side, stretch waistbands add flexibility and volume to silhouettes.

“Elastics hold the implicit promise of hybrid pieces that provide comfort, design, and style, as reflected in Caroline Anthon’s ingenious use of them to create offbeat styles for the Albertine brand,” the company says. “This is what happens when a lace garter from a stocking becomes a bra band, creating a deep plunge neckline.”

Today, the business is shifting its portfolio to offer products for other markets. “Cheynet has successfully consolidated its position in the French lingerie market. And now, our future is clearly turned toward international markets and penetrating new markets, such as beachwear, ready-to-wear, and technical applications, for whom we now offer collections perfectly adapted to each of these target’s needs,” explained Managing Director Kerim Hellali.

French business story

Cheynet, a family-owned company, was founded in 1949 by Jean Chenet and his sons at the heart of Saint-Just, near Lyon. In the first 40 years of its existence, the company acquired new equipment, expanded its industrial site, and installed several workshops along the way, for dyeing and weaving of elastics. In 1988, Cheynet acquired Berthéas & Cie, a specialist in the fabrication of elastics for underwear waistbands.

In 1993 the Cheynet family handed over the reins of the Cheynet Group to Grégoire Giraud. “Since I arrived to head up Groupe Cheynet, my main mission has been to ensure total control of the industrial and sales value chains. The Group, comprised of four companies, is vertically integrated, from yarn processing, to dyeing, to the finishing of elastics,” said Grégoire Giraud.

Cheynet has 200 employees, and over 60% of its revenues come from the lingerie sector. The company works with brands including: Chantelle, Simone Pérèle, Lise Charmel, Maison Lejaby, La Perla, and more. It also supports inspiring designer brands, such as Paloma Casile, Ysé lingerie, Albertine, Unabella, and others.

www.cheynet.fr

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