Empreinte

founded by

Jean Le Her

belongs to

Empreinte SAS

about

For more than 60 years, “Empreinte” Lingerie Brand has been in constant touch with its consumers, offering models combining wellbeing, femininity and comfort.

From the first innovations, including the most famous, the launch in the 1950s of bras with deeper cups, to the latest “revolutionary lift effect” innovations, the brand has been in constant evolution within its sector, positioning itself on the lingerie market as the specialist in larger cup sizes.

The Empreinte collections are aimed at all women – the young and not so young, curvaceous or very thin – with larger cup sizes, who are looking to combine style and fit.

The story begins in 1946, when a workshop opens its doors on Rue Yves Collet in Brest with four workers spurred on by the founder Jean Le Her. Sales and success mean that larger premises are soon sought for. They then move to Rue d’Aboville where the building is so cold that Mr. Le Her has to serve hot drinks and burn oil to distribute a little heat. By 1949, the company had 15 employees.

In 1954, the new American fashion enhances the breast figure. Up until then, it was better to conceal it. Two seamstresses, Mrs Odette Tardivel and Mrs Haug, join forces and create in France and for Empreinte, the 3 cup sizes A, B and C. The D cup saw the light in 1960 and the E cup in 1962.

In 1955, Empreinte brings its models to light in “France Soir”. And in 1961, the company reaches the 100-employee mark and moves to a new factory on the Kergonan site in Brest. The first strapless bra was produced in 1968. The company introduces its first swimwear collection in 1972.

In 1996, the “Felice” Collection, which carries a reference to the year it was created (96), has been introduced. The company could not predict that this collection will become such a huge success in the future: 7 years of existence and only three colours!

1998 marked the introduction of the new collections that will represent the foundation stone for the company’s new directions and 2001 brings a new identity: “Empreinte, secrètement complice”. From then on, in 2002, Déborah becomes the brand’s new icon with one of Jean-François Jonvelle’s latest photos.

The company expands its business to an international scale in 2005, by reinforcing the brand’s presence in Europe. And in 2006, with the development of the G cup, Empreinte legitimises its “Larger Cup” positioning.

In 2007, Empreinte successfully launched ”The Shells“, the new style bra with fine seamless padded cups, the ideal bra for generous figures, available in balconnet and very plunge shapes.

The brand’s strength and its main differentiation remain to come from Empreinte’s bras’ promises to fuller figure women.

This is the company’s key value, the answer to a trustworthy and loyal relationship that has been established between the brand and consumers throughout the company’s 60 years of existence.