Hard on the heels of No Nonsense's men's pages, Gerbe have published their own men's pages!
Gerbe of France is one of the premier European hosiery companies. They make tights of a very high quality – those that I have tried have been excellent in fit and feel. Last autumn the company announced their intention to produce a range of men's tights, comprising both sheers and opaques, the latter with and without feet. Apparently they took advice from male wearers on the French c-tendence forum. See the thread on LAUF.
Here is a quote from Gerbe:
(with acknowledgement to collants-mode.fr)
Tous ces produits seront sous packs réservés spécifiquement à la gamme HOMME et ainsi, complètement différenciés des produits destinés aux femmes; Les clients pourront alors, tout à leur aise et sans ambiguïté choisir un produit qui leur sera exclusivement réservé.
My quick translation, (which PH is welcome to correct!):
"All these products will be in packs reserved specifically for the MEN's range, and thus distinguished completely from products destined for women; customers will therefore be able very easily and without confusion to choose a product that is reserved exclusively for them."
Gerbe have therefore gone much further than No Nonsense in designing their range of tights specially for men. They have also linked their men's page from the Gerbe.com home page.
The men's page is here:
http://www.gerbe.com/gal_men.asp.
The products are à découvrir prochainement – available shortly.
Meanwhile Gerbe have taken the trouble to present some high quality images of their forthcoming products. The resolution is extremely high – you can even see the individual stitches in the tights! They have depicted the sheers being worn with shorts – excellent! The model wearing the products is not the bodybuilder type favoured by some other companies marketing men's tights; but an attractive, normal-looking man - the sort of man you would be happy for your daughter to bring home. That seems to me a good marketing choice!
I cannot believe that it is a coincidence that both No Nonsense and Gerbe have published men's web pages at more or less the same time. The time is obviously right: what is happening on the catwalks proves that. But I suspect that there is more to it than that – I guess that Gerbe have seen the NN pages and said, "hey, we have got something better than that – let's get it out!"
I think other manufacturers will be looking closely at these developments and deciding whether this is a band wagon that they need to be on!
Thanks to Keith for having his eye on the Gerbe website and alerting me to the publication of the men's pages.
Hello Geraden,
It is nice to know that the market is expanding and changing. I think if a company can make $$$$$ by selling to men, they will make a change. :)
I just hope women never stop wearing hosiery. They look too nice wearing them. Nothing more aweful looking, than a nicely dressed lady with naked legs.
Keep wearing and be happy.
-Wolfords
Good to see you around, Wolfords.
Hi Gerden,
I just happen to say women on one part and lady on another.
Wolfords
Sorry, Wolfords, I did not make myself very clear. It is not a riddle or a
joke, and certainly not a reflection on what you said. It is just my
slightly non-PC opinion. If a woman wants to be thought a lady, she should
wear hosiery to complete her elegant outfit!
Hi Geraden.
Outstanding move by Gerbe...
Times are changing...
Hope now that we can start to be seen wearing our tights for the right
reasons...Not for the wrong..
The collants-mode.fr site has
now published the Gerbe for Men press release as a .pdf file. Yes, it is
in French, and no, I am not publishing a translation! Sorry, no time for
that. It is just press release blurb and some pics that we have already
seen on the Gerbe website.
I see that the articles posted to the right read, "The pantyhose comes with
a larger belt than for women as well as an opening". Does that mean that
they will have a fly?
Full details of Gerbe's mens range are now on their web site!!!!
Geraden,
Thanks for your comments, Keith.