If you’re a regular reader of ours, I think it’s safe to assume that you dream in green. What I mean is: that you try to follow a relatively ecologically-minded lifestyle. Maybe you shop at the organic grocery store and regularly frequent our humble natural cosmetics company. But being friendly to the environment doesn’t just go skin deep, it also covers what you use to cover up. Shopping ethically doesn’t mean you have to end up wearing a brown potato sack. Sacrificing style for sustainability is a thing of the past, and in this series, we intend to show you just that. Each time we promise to bring you a green solution that will clear your conscience, all while giving you head-turning looks.

On Instagram, I stumbled across the Berlin Lingerie Atelier AMOREZE and was delighted by the beautiful underwear they offer. Lingerie that promotes sensuality and empowerment and is specialized in beautifully bra-ing up small to medium breasts sizes. The special thing about Amoreze: everything is made to measure! With your precise measurements, a new bralette will be tailored to fit your breasts. “A bra should embrace you and not limit you,” says Anca, the founder of Amoreze. Not only the measurements, but also the width of the straps and bands, the size of cup, or half cup, how much of the breast is covered and the pattern and color of the lace – everything is individually customized. And because they are tailored to fit, they provide support without the use of wires. Those who already know their measurements can order online, otherwise you can book an appointment with Anca to take your measurements in her Berlin atelier.

Tell us a little bit about your brand AMOREZE – what’s your grounding philosophy and how did you choose the name?

Amoreze comes from the old latin word Amora, which means love. It is a feminine sign and a word which denotes a sensual body experience, femininity, freedom and adaptability to change. The name Amoreze reflects the personality of the wearer: happy, positive and full of self-love. In a society that promotes false idols, broken beauty ideals, a society that profits from self-doubt, liking and accepting yourself is considered an act of rebellion. This is a challenge that Amoreze is willing to take: to make you love and accept yourself, with all the little imperfections that make you unique and YOU.

We know that lingerie plays a big role in women’s lives: undies you can buy from anywhere, but bras: these are unique, they are like this super power layer that has the ability to completely transform you. If you are feeling good on the inside, it can be seen on the outside.
Amoreze is a niche brand, it is not for everyone, as we refuse to stand in line: no mass production, no metal wires and no push-up effect. Amoreze addresses women who trust and love themselves, who believe their natural beauty deserves to be seen—stretch marks, body hair, cellulite, scars and all! Amoreze embraces them. It is those things that make a woman beautiful to us: we want you to love and accept yourself as much as we do!

What does sustainability mean to AMOREZE?

As a new born lingerie brand we had the liberty to make the best decisions regarding the direction and milestones we set to achieve. Amoreze’s aim to get 100% sustainable in the next 2 to 3 years: to create a positive human impact on the environment but keeping in mind the social responsibility.

So far we are sending all the invoices online, we use upcycled and recycled fabrics and leather, leftovers from big leather industries that normally are being thrown out. At this moment we are in discussions with pinaTEX and bamboo cotton: organic cotton to use alternative and natural fibers. This summer we travelled to Bucovina (a region in Romania) to find small manufacturers for flax fabric and wool and in the near future we will launch a line, with Romanian folklore and traditional patterns, manufactured and produced there to support and promote local craftsmanship and traditions.

All the garments are created only after we receive the order, so no mass production, no leftovers or stock is being created, we are keeping all the supply chain fully optimized. For shipping we are using DHL GOgreen to help reduce climate-damaging CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts in the transportation and storage of goods.
This becomes an advantage to our customers, as we choose to produce quality over quantity, we choose the best fabrics for your comfort and well-being, we are a brand with values that we wish to share with the world. And you, our dear customer can help us spread the word.

What materials do you use?

Lace, silk, cotton and leather (leftovers from other productions) until this moment. In the near future we will launch a line made exclusively out of organic cotton and flax.

Do you still see a prejudice against eco-fashion as lacking style?

More and more people are starting to be aware of what and from whom/where they are buying things from and a movement towards eco fashion and slow fashion is being made. Unlike fast fashion, slow fashion production ensures quality manufacturing to lengthen the life of the product. Slow fashion may be considered a revolt or action against the fast fashion movement. Developing a garment with a cultural and emotional connection is also pertinent to the purpose behind slow fashion: consumers will keep an article of clothing longer than one season if they feel emotionally or culturally connected to the article of clothing. Who can understand this will support this movement/trend.
So, from Amoreze point of view slow fashion has everything we need: it’s edgy, sexy and stylish and most importantly sustainable.

A lot has to also do with the choices we make. So are we willing to go green?

How would you describe your sense of style? Who are your style icons?

I would say that my style is closely connected to my personality, my feeling and my interests. I wear lots of dresses and skirts in bright colors in the summer as it resonates quite well with how I feel. I am a happy person: I smile and laugh a lot. I think positivity attracts the best people and experiences. Your vibe attracts your tribe!
So I would go for feminine but casual, as I have more than 10 pairs of sneakers, that I combine with all sorts of pencil skirts and t-shirts. Also, at times I like to dress very functional, utilitarian and inconspicuous, yet other times I like to pay extreme attention to detail and be slightly overdressed even for no particular reason/occasion. And fragrance, by the way, is just a very versatile component of my outfit. This is why I like to keep a supply of pretty diversified fragrances in my wardrobe, so that I can “wear whatever I like”, be it a scent which is in perfect balance with the most casual or most formal clothes and fragrances that are in contrast in relation to my outfit. I deeply appreciate the sense of style of Julie Sarinara (sincerelyjules) and from Germany: Marina Hoermanseder.

When I am creating for Amoreze, I get my inspiration from women, different sizes, different styles: I hear them closely and pay attention on their wishes. I try to discover them and guess their fitting desires. Some prefer black, some want a soft bra, so every time when I am in the atelier I think about them. This is how one of the best seller bralettes were born. As a tribute to a woman’s body and beauty, created by a woman for a woman.

Would you consider yourself as someone who lives a green and conscious lifestyle? Maybe you are vegan, compost, avoid plastics, or you use natural cosmetics?

I recycle as much as I can, use natural cosmetics: soaps, fragrances, face masks ,shampoo etc, buy locally with every chance I have, from weekend markets, directly from the producers.

Do you have a beauty secret?

Yes, I am happy and almost all the time positive and this is keeping my skin stretched and glowing. I try to exercise as much as I can and to eat good, health food: lots of vegetables and fruits. I am quite crafty and I am trying to get the most out of everything, including the leftovers, for example I am using the coffee ground as a facial mask and when I have more I am scrubbing my full body with it. Sometimes I am washing my teeth with charcoal or starch. I am using ginger mixed with chamomiles tea for the face, after I had the tea. I also tried to make my own natural shampoo, but unfortunately that was one big fail. But, i’ll keep on trying.