Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Kelly.
Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Years ago, I was shopping in the mall and walked into the store we all know the name of. You see their models on the wall, you’re kind of embarrassed to walk out with their bag and then when you put it on you look nothing like the women you saw wearing the pieces. That is what initially sparked the idea to start a lingerie company that made women feel good about themselves. Along with that, lingerie has always been a taboo topic, when really, it’s something that should be normalized.
In 2017, decided to take $1000 of my money, buy some product, put up a site, and see how people reacted to it. The name “Mentionables” is a play-off of “unmentionables” because we are making lingerie shopping something worth mentioning. A lot of women loved that message and “mentioned” us themselves on social media, which is how we initially grew. We spent very little on marketing the first couple of years, being completely bootstrapped, and have consistently grown from there.
We’ve gone from my basement to my spare room, to renting out a section of someone’s warehouse, to our small warehouse, and finally to our current warehouse with a team of 10+ employees. I think our initial success/growth was successful because the company was started during a time (2017) when body positivity and empowering women were starting to be a common topic in media and trends and taboo topics were starting to be talked about more. We were one of the early brands to focus on that and include plus sizes which is a huge reason it’s been so successful.
Our unique approach to showcasing lingerie on mannequins allows women to envision the pieces on themselves. Essentially, letting customers be their lingerie model and removes the sexualization associated with lingerie ads.
We’ve created a community where women feel like they have a place they fit in without comparison, allowing women who don’t fit societal molds to feel confident and sexy. With our commitment to classy styles, affordable prices, and inclusive sizing (XS-3X), it’s easier than ever to shop online for lingerie without any guilt or body shame. It’s also a great place you can share with your significant other, allowing them to shop without having to scroll through half-naked images of other women online.
Not only is the brand model-free but it is a woman founded, run, and owned business, unlike most lingerie brands. This enables Mentionables to create lingerie that is comfortable and styles that women want to wear on their own; not what someone else wants them to wear.
Mentionables has turned into something so much more than just pretty lingerie. Every time we help a woman FEEL more confident and empowered is what drives our team to continue working hard.
I never thought I’d be in the lingerie industry. I almost didn’t start Mentionables because of what people might think of me. But here we are making lovely lacy things “mentionable” in the best way possible and I’ve loved every minute of it.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’d be surprised if anyone who owns their own business says it’s always been a smooth road! I feel like the main part of my job is solving problems daily.
There’s been major wins and also struggles along the way. During the 2020-2021 period when Covid was happening, we saw tremendous growth but also a lot of challenges operationally. I’ve learned to look at these challenges as creative opportunities to shift my thinking from “now what…” to “now what if we….” and find a new way to solve the problem and be resourceful.
I think the biggest growth comes in those times of discomfort and that’s what sets you and your brand apart from everyone else.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ll say it myself, Mentionables is the Anti-Victoria’s Secret Brand Every Woman is Searching For.
Mentionables is a model-free lingerie brand empowering women to feel confident, inspired, beautiful, and sexy in their skin. Our unique approach to showcasing lingerie on mannequins allows women to envision the pieces on themselves. Essentially, letting customers be their lingerie model and removes the sexualization associated with lingerie ads.
We’ve created a community where women feel like they have a place they fit in without comparison, allowing women who don’t fit societal molds to feel confident and sexy. With our commitment to classy styles, affordable prices, and inclusive sizing (XS-3X), it’s easier than ever to shop online for lingerie without any guilt or body shame.
The brand is perfect for women to share with their significant others. It allows them to shop without having to scroll through half-naked images of other women online.
Not only is the brand model-free but it is a woman founded, run, and owned business, unlike most lingerie brands. This enables Mentionables to create lingerie that is comfortable and styles that women want to wear on their own; not what someone else wants them to wear.
It might sound silly, but I’m most proud of the messages we get from customers daily saying how Mentionables has changed their lives and made them feel more confident. As one customer put it, “This company is empowering women to feel comfortable in some very beautiful pieces of lingerie. After having a baby, I no longer “looked the same” in my old lingerie. I looked everywhere for something to make me feel beautiful again.
That is when I stumbled upon Mentionables. I didn’t have to compare myself to the models, because THERE ARE NONE. How empowering. Seriously, I’ve never felt so beautiful. This isn’t just about this one piece of lingerie, it’s about changing the outlook we have on ourselves. Thank you Mentionables for empowering me to feel beautiful again. It was worth every penny.” – Shandel
Pricing:
- Pieces ranging from $15.95-$64.95
Contact Info:
- Website: shopmentionables.com
- Instagram: @mentionables
Image Credits
Brittany Summers
