Ten Minutes with Tiffany Phipps of T. Luxe

Green is good. Well, except when it comes to lingerie. Who wants to sacrifice sexy for sustainable? Thanks to T. Luxe Eco-Lingerie, you don’t have to. The year-old line of organic lingerie lets you slip into something more comfortable and shrink your carbon footprint too!  Silk nightie with peek-a-boo cutout? Check. Frilled panty with contrast-colored waistband? Check. Vintage-look matching bustier and thong? Check. And with luxe fabrics like organic silk, silk-hemp, soy, and cotton, these not-so-naughties-after-all—at least as far as the planet goes— feel just as good as they look. Here’s Tiffany on going green one tap pant at a time.

Oligoville: In five words or less, T. Luxe is. . .

Tiffany: A luxury eco-friendly lingerie line. We use organic silks, soy fabrics, organic cottons, and hemp silks that are dyed in a low-impact manner.

Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?

Tiffany: The ideal customer for T-Luxe is a woman that lives a green lifestyle and wants lingerie that is not only chic and luxurious but also made in an ethical and eco-conscious manner. We wanted to do something that was produced in an eco-friendly way that didn’t sacrifice style. We were trying to avoid the “brown burlap bag” stereotype around green fashion and make something that was super luxe and silky!

Oligoville: How’d you end up a designer?

Tiffany: It’s an interesting story! I come from the corporate finance and real estate industries and, while finishing a master’s degree from NYU in Real Estate Finance, I decided to pursue something I had dreamed about for a long time–starting an eco-friendly lingerie line. It’s been a long road but a lot of fun and rewarding.

Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?

Tiffany: We launched in April of 2008 at the Project Earth Day runway show here in New York City.

Oligoville: Why lingerie?

Tiffany: Because I am obsessed with lingerie! I also think it makes a woman feel sexy and confident.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Tiffany: People that are pushing the green envelope and trying to better our way of producing garments. Rachel Faller of Keekojay started a line in Cambodia employing local women to handweave and natural dye fabrics, which now supports many orphaned children and women who would otherwise have no other way of making money. This is inspiring.

Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Tiffany: Crazy…I am all over the place at shows, showing the line to retail stores, and following up with press and writers!

Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?

Tiffany: I love snoflake! I just did the NOW Showcase with them, and their eco line of contemporary fashions is amazing! I also adore Rag and Bone. They don’t use organic fabrics (soon hopefully!) but are produced locally in the USA which I feel strongly about.

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Tiffany: EOS lip balm, jasmine oil, pen, recycled leather notepad, organic hand sanitizer, navy scarf, iPhone, and a vintage Chanel wallet.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Tiffany: Although everyone likes the idea of buying eco garments, it’s a tougher sell to retail boutiques than one might think!

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Tiffany: Feeling good about what I make.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Tiffany: I hope to see the line everywhere! I would love to have a few retail stores and also be available in bigger department stores, e.g. Fred Segal, Harrods.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Tiffany: Do your research, market research. This business is about much much more than just designing lingerie.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Anything classical and modern pianists-I LOVE Philip Glass.

Oligoville: Any last words?

Tiffany: www.t-luxe.com