Noir Handmade believes everyone has the right to feel sexy and the company has made it its mission to spread that message around the world. Founded in 2010 by Roksana Waligora and Marcus Galka, this Poland-based apparel company employs nearly 60 people in several locations throughout Europe.
Known for their boutique-meets-fetish signature style, Noir Handmade’s attention to detail goes far beyond surface aesthetics. CEO and lead designer Roksana Waligora spotted a need in the intimate apparel market early on.
A decade ago, it was difficult to find sexy clothing in anything other than limited sizes. The few plus-size options available were often based on patterns created for smaller people, a common practice. Failure to adjust proportions to accommodate the curves of larger bodies results in poor fit for people of size. Waligora set out to change this antiquated standard.
Magdalena Wójcicka, Noir Handmade’s sales manager international, explains, “For us, the whole idea is for everyone to feel sexy. Not only for the petite girl. Not only for someone who is size small or size medium. Everything in our women’s and men’s collections is made from size small up to size 3XL. In many articles, we make size four, five and 6XL.”
Additionally, their design team makes a body form for every single size ensuring that the proportions are flattering and comfortable for everyone.
Noir Handmade’s expansive collection goes well beyond lingerie. While a fair share of their catalog is suited for the bedroom, they offer a full range of trendsetting apparel in both feminine and masculine styles. Designer collections like Rebellious, B#tch and Immoral feature chic and sexy skirts, tops, dresses, bodysuits, and pants ideal for clubbing or fetish parties.
At first glance, most Noir Handmade items appear to be made of leather or latex. Their elegant designer look, however, comes mainly from high-quality powerwetlook stretch fabric. Aside from having a glamorous flair, this material choice is all about comfort and function. Noir Handmade outfits are “not something you wear once to a fetish party and then have to throw away. You can wear it over and over again because our clothing is washable.” Wójcicka continues, “Wash it as many times as you want and go to as many parties as you want. This stuff is just like any other regular clothing in your closet.”
Additionally, the few pieces that contain PVC and PU materials also follow Noir Handmade’s easy-to-care-for, superior quality standards. According to Wójcicka, “it's a special kind of PVC because you do not need any kind of lubricant or powder to wear it. It has this soft material layer on the inside so you can easily put it on and take it off your body.”
As a fledgling company, the first retail market Noir Handmade conquered was Germany. Over the last nine years, the company has expanded to supply wholesale products to retailers in dozens of countries. In addition to offering direct wholesale, Noir Handmade has partnerships with various overseas distributors. They also design an exclusive collection for Orion Wholesale annually.
Recently adding Australia and Canada to their roster, they’ve set their sights on expansion in two major markets, the U.S. and Russia. In the states, they’ve partnered with Spartacus Wholesale. The company was also scheduled to be a new exhibitor in the 2020 Altitude Intimates Show. The cancellation of the event due to the COVID-19 shutdown was a setback but didn’t stop Noir Handmade.
Determined to meet their objectives in the coming year, Wójcicka remarks, “We will do our best despite the situation that’s going on in the world right now. Our main goal for the next year is to make sure we're visible in the U.S. The global situation can change our plans, but still, it won’t stop us.”
The company brought that conviction to the virtual XBIZ Retreat in August. Wójcicka says it was a successful venture, “We see XBIZ online as a massive advantage for us. Yes, obviously everyone would prefer to have a face-to-face meetings but still, you get to know people. You can see their faces and you can still tell them everything about Noir Handmade.”
While it’s difficult being a newcomer to the U.S. market under normal circumstances, conducting trade events online adds another set of challenges. Because retailers aren't able to feel the luxurious texture of powerwetlook fabric or examine Noir Handmade’s quality craftsmanship firsthand, the company is shipping samples to prospective partners.
Quality and attention to detail extend beyond Noir Handmade’s stylish designs. Their packaging grabs the attention of both retailers and consumers. Each piece is wrapped in branded tissue paper, enclosed in an elegant black box, and nestled inside a sleeve with photos and information about the garment. Also included, a thank you note, care instructions, and suggestions for companion pieces that can accompany that item.
Wójcicka attributes Noir Handmade’s continued success to Waligóra and Galka’s core vision — celebrating everyone’s right to feel sexy, free and empowered. As lead designer, Waligóra doesn’t follow trends, she creates them based on her savvy design talent, market need, and customer feedback.
Adding insight to her role as a liaison between customers and the design team, Wójcicka explains, “If there are situations where customers tell me, ‘I would like to see something like this in this collection’ and I get 10, 20, 15 requests like that, then I know that there is definitely a potential for something.” She continues, “So I always will send an email to my CEO and tell her that I have requests from customers and this would be something worth thinking of in the new collection.”
It’s precisely that commitment to prioritizing customers’ needs and anticipating the latest trends that has earned Noir Handmade accolades. Their 2019 XBIZ Europa Lingerie Company of the Year win was a shining moment for the company.
What’s next? Their new collection will be released in October and a 2021 calendar is on the horizon. The one thing this unprecedented year has taught our industry is that, in the words of Wójcicka, “you can never be sure of anything.” What we can be sure of, however, is that the team at Noir Handmade will continue to surprise us with their forward-thinking functional designs and won’t let unexpected obstacles slow them down.
