It should be all about you… but here’s a little about us
Founded in 1885, FELINA has developed from a small local corset factory to a lingerie business that is now active all over Europe, and even beyond. Our lingerie collections are created and crafted at the company’s design center in Mannheim, Germany.
The company’s strengths are still in making women feel good, self-confident and look great with a focus on the best materials, high quality production and perfect fit for that legendary FELINA comfort factor.
The Felina and Conturelle ranges include clean, modern lingerie for everyday needs, sensual lingerie accented with lace and embroidery, and functional shape wear.
Since 2017 Felina International is part of European Lingerie Group E.L.G., who also produces intimate apparel laces and fabrics. Our brands FELINA and CONTURELLE are available throughout Europe and even beyond.
Our in-house design team in Mannheim and production in our own factories in Europe guarantees the highest quality standards and social responsibility for all our employees.
We work hard to become more and more sustainable every day: a never ending effort. Some 3,500 retailers across the globe belong to the international FELINA family.
90s
In the 90s, bodies and lingerie become articles of fashion. The trend towards body accentuating cuts and deeper necklines contribute to this, but there’s another important factor: there are more and more young women with large busts proud of their curves and their beautiful cleavages. In addition to fashion looks – from sporty to extravagantly decorated models – customers are placing greater value on a well-fitting bra. This is precisely FELINA’s strength.
80s
A Swiss investment group takes over FELINA in 1981 and establishes FELINA INTERNATIONAL AG in Wettingen near Zürich. FELINA GmbH is a 100% subsidiary. Production takes place in the company’s own factories in Hungary and Poland.
70s
FELINA invests in love and romantics. In line with the era’s biggest blockbuster film “Love Story,” FELINA develops the Love Story bra which comes with an exclusive gift tag. Even today, the film is still one of the most highly rated of all times – and FELINA is just as delicate and seductive as it was then.
60s
The lingerie industry in West Germany experiences a huge upswing at the beginning of the 60s. It has over 25,000 employees. The miracle fibre Lycra, the first tights and the mini skirt are permanent features in the fashion industry. FELINA is set on an expansion course. The company celebrates its 75th anniversary and offers its customers over 250 models to choose from.
50s
It is the era of the economic miracle. After the war, FELINA also embraces the spirit of optimism. But not just in Germany. FELINA‘s attraction grows internationally and by the end of the 50s, the company is exporting to over 50 countries!
30s & 40s
The businessman Richard Greiling takes over the company from the Jewish founding family Herbst, who are forced to leave the country in 1936 under the growing pressure of persecution. The company survives the upheaval of war and currency reform in a financially healthy state, despite the destruction of the production facilities.
The 1920s:
The products from the Mannheim-based company are great hits. This success now has a name. FELINA with its feline allusions becomes the official company name. The 20s are golden years for FELINA. By the end of the 20s, the company has 660 employees and everyone’s talking about FELINA lingerie.
1890s: Mannheim becomes our hometown
The demand for the new and attractive products is so large after five years that the company expands and moves to Mannheim, which has remained the company’s headquarters to this day.
1885: Humble beginnings, but already innovative
Eugen J. Herbst lays the foundations for the company’s history when he establishes a corset factory in Bad Rappenau with some 10 employees. This is an innovation in Germany, because till then, corsets primarily came from France.
