MONTREAL — Intrigo, a new hosiery line from Oroblu of Italy, is taking its first steps in Canada for fall.
The line comprises legwear in a 20-denier medium weight with a built-in thong panty to reduce undergarment lines, explained Ari Zucker, whose company NikPaul is handling the importing and distribution for Canada.
“We’ll probably bring in the 10-denier next summer, which is sheerer,” he said.
In addition to Intrigo, which will retail for around $20, Zucker will be importing Oroblu seamless underwear and some lingerie.
Zucker has modest goals for the complete line for the first year.
“We’ll probably only sell 20,000 pairs of stockings, mostly to independents,” he said. “But the company is very innovative and very aggressive, introducing two to three dozen new items each season, so it should do very well in Canada.”
Oroblu was founded in 1948 and is the largest hosiery company in Italy, with 11 million pairs of stockings and tights sold annually in some 50 countries, including the U.S., where its products are available at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, among other stores.
The company claims to have one of the lowest defect rates, 0.001 percent, in the world. In addition, Oroblu stockings are sewn in an anatomical shape to hug and enhance the appearance of the leg.
The U.S. distribution of Oroblu is being handled by Bello Mondo of Miami, a company created in May to become the exclusive distributor of CSP International Brand, which includes Oroblu hosiery, corsetry, seamless swimwear and men’s underwear. It also includes Sanpellegrino tights and Le Bourget hosiery and lingerie.