ELSE: The Turkish Lingerie Brand with a Conscience
Welcome to Center Stage Exchange.
This month, small women-owned, sustainable brands step into the spotlight and share their stories of style, impact, and innovation.
Our first feature is ELSE, a brand reshaping the world of sustainable lingerie. Known for luxurious designs that blend comfort and sustainability, ELSE empowers women to feel their best every day. Designed in their Istanbul atelier, their creations combine world-class craftsmanship with a commitment to protecting the planet.
Built for Comfort and Confidence
At ELSE, style and sustainability go hand-in-hand. Their mission is to offer timeless, elegant lingerie that makes no compromise between beauty and eco-consciousness. Every piece reflects the brand’s dedication to luxury, longevity, and ethical production.
Meet Ela Onur: The Visionary Behind ELSE
Ela Onur, Founder and Creative Director, has always had a passion for celebrating women. Growing up in her family’s textile business, Ela noticed a gap in the market for lingerie that was both stylish and comfortable. Thus, she created ELSE to elevate everyday style for women. She says, "Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us; it’s our way of doing business." Her mission is simple: to craft high-quality, eco-friendly lingerie that brings out every woman’s natural beauty.
The Women Behind the Designs
ELSE operates with a “slow fashion” mindset, ensuring ethical production practices at their Istanbul atelier. At the heart of the brand is a team of talented female artisans. Here, they are trained in lingerie-making techniques, allowing them to gain financial independence. This commitment to ethical labor is key to the brand’s mission. Through their work in the Istanbul atelier, these women are empowered with the skills to create beautiful, high-quality pieces, while ensuring that manufacturing waste is minimized through recycling programs.
Eco-friendly Materials
From eco-friendly lace trim made from recycled yarn using solar energy to upcycling fabrics, ELSE ensures a low environmental footprint. In its next phase, ELSE plans to expand its use of sustainable fibers, especially in loungewear and swimwear made from recycled polyamide fabrics.
Sustainable Packaging
Sustainability is woven into every part of ELSE’s process, including its packaging. They use compostable mailers and are continuously reducing superfluous packaging, with a future goal of implementing fully compostable solutions for all orders.
AMARISSA’S FAVORITES
What I love most about these pieces is that they’re more than just lingerie—they’re versatile wardrobe essentials. Each item can be styled together or separately, serving as the perfect foundation for any outfit. Whether you layer them with your go-to pieces or wear them on their own for a special night with a special somebody, the possibilities are endless. Get creative and have fun mixing and matching.
Shop my top picks from ELSE!
ELSE exemplifies the future of fashion: ethical, luxurious, and made with a conscience. Discover their latest collection and see how they’re bringing elegance and sustainability together.
P.S. I only recommend brands and resources I truly love and think you’ll love too. Some of these links are affiliate links, so if you decide to treat yourself, Fashion Talk may earn a lil' something too. 🤍